Catkins

On one of the contorted hazel trees. Hazel trees are monoecious, meaning that both male and female flowers are found on the same tree, although hazel flowers must be pollinated by pollen from other hazel trees. Catkins are the male flowers and the female flowers are red; if you look carefully you can see them too.

The sun is now reaching parts of the garden which it hasn't reached for weeks, if not months. It was a lovely sunny day and we managed to have an outdoor birthday tea party for our colleague O at the end of the day.