I spotted the contents of this week's vase on Saturday afternoon. Looking out of the allotment community hut windows I caught a flash of yellow out of the corner of my eye. Later when we had finished our refreshments and caught up with plans for fund raising plant sales this year I decide to investigate and this is what I found. I think that they are hazel catkins but please correct me if I'm wrong.
I wondered why I had never noticed them before and then it struck me that is highly unusual for me to be at the allotment in February. It's usually March before it's warm enough for me to surface there. I'm quite happy out in the garden in February in the knowledge that I'm near all creature comforts should the weather gods be spiteful but the allotment is usually still on hold this month. I was amazed how dry it was down there. Most years the central paths are often underwater or at least muddy at this time of year but then we've had very little rain this winter. I noticed a tweet from Monty Don on my Twitter timeline yesterday which read as follows: "the last time I remember a spell of February weather like this was in 1976 - if we are going to have a summer like that one start storing your rainwater now!"
Plans to add to the catkins where shelved when I realised that the slightest touch resulted in clouds of yellow dust floating through the atmosphere. I also persuaded myself that they looked quite replete on their own without the need for companions.
The vase was bought on a day out with one of my nieces and always makes me think of her.
Thanks as always to the lovely Cathy over at 'Rambling In The Garden' for providing such a constant platform for us to share our vases each Monday.
Out catkins are out too. The female flowers - not the catkins - are wind pollinated so the pollen easily flies about and is plentiful, reminds me of school nature tables when I was a child.
ReplyDeleteThe hazel catkins (not a plant that I'm familiar with) make very nice vase material, Anna. I hope your summer doesn't prove to be as dry as Monty Don's comment suggests.
ReplyDeleteI have always loved to see the catkins. I was just saying the same as Monty today to a neighbour, ‘76 was so bad because the water table was not replenished during the winter following a dry ‘75.
ReplyDeleteHazel catkins seem to be especially prolific this year, Anna - our twisted hazel is smothered which I don't reacll it being before. Did you have to keep yours outside because of the pollen or just make sure you didn't disturb it? That was an interesting comment about the 1976 weatherand I wonder if there is any truth in it as our memories miss out such a lot of things and it was 43 years ago! My Mum says February is invariably one of the most settled and pleasant months of the year where she is - which also sounds a bit unlikely! But Brian was thinking along the same line as Monty... Because it has been so dry here I actually watered my snowdrop bed yesterday, the only watering other than new/moved plantings since last summer...
ReplyDeleteI am storing my rainwater - I have two new large containers (IBC). Who knows what we will get this year? We've had very little rain here. The catkins are very pretty and I was surprised at the amount of pollen which dropped from some I had. Hopefully you are getting ahead at the allotment.
ReplyDeleteThe catkins are amazing this year aren't they? Your pretty arrangement just needs a couple of newborn lambs frolicking by to shout out Spring.
ReplyDeleteI am always surprised when I see catkins so early, but then remind myself that they have opened in January in our garden before now. Ours are still shut tight though, as the sun only really gained strength yesterday. A sure sign of spring for you though! :)
ReplyDeleteCatkins are such a strong indicator of spring so it is lovely to see yours. I do hope Monty is wrong; plants in British gardens are so adapted to have regular rain they tend to suffer very quickly.
ReplyDeleteThat is exquisite, both the catkins and the delicately striped vase.
ReplyDeleteThanks for all your kind and thoughtful comments :) A dry February has given way to a most wet start for March. I didn't bring this vase in to the house as it was going to leave a trail of pollen dust in its wake and possibly trigger some sneezing. Instead I've been enjoying it in the greenhouse.
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