The weird spring weather messed up the pussy willows this year as most are still in the cute pussy toes look but one shrub must have thought spring came by the calendar instead of the actual weather as it has reached the bushy, spiky stage already.
Pussy Willow Past Prime
The early sign of spring is when the catkins of the American pussy willow are spotted, long before the leaves are out.
Pussy Willow
Spring officially arrived yesterday when the temperature finally got above 60 and the warm wind brought the return of the bluebirds. The robins, red winged blackbirds, wood thrushes, killdeers, grouse, chickadees, warblers, woodpeckers, cardinals and finches were all singing announcing spring but the loudest voice was the chorus of frogs who had emerged from the cold of winter.
Another sign that spring had finally arrived was the pussy willows catkins merging. Before the male catkins of these species come into full flower they are covered in fine, grayish fur, leading to a fancied likeness to tiny cats, also known as “pussies”. The catkins appear long before the leaves, and are one of the earliest signs of spring. Even though I had to walk through snow to find these pussy willows, finding them is definitely a sign that winter may be over.
Pussy Willows
