Spring Arrival

By the time you are reading this there may be rain or snow (or both) happening.  That's the thing about spring in Wisconsin - gorgeous one day and crappy the next.  Yesterday was an absolutely gorgeous day and when the girls and I went for our daily mile+ walk we observed honey bees availing themselves of these blossoms. 

click on the image for a closer look

 

Meet Salix discolor - the Pussy Willow.
 

As winter begins its last gasp fuzzy little nubs begin to appear on the branches of this willow.  They look just like the paws of a kitten and even feel furry to the touch – hence the name – pussy willow.  These are called 'catkins' and are the flower buds.  They serve to protect the pre-emergent bloom from the harsh winter elements. 

 

 

 

 

This is a common native tree found throughout Wisconsin - typically in moist soils, wet conditions or the fringes of swampy environments.  Depending upon the season it is also commonly utilized in floral arrangements. 

 

Since this is one of the very first spring blooms they are a sure sign of the end of winter and the beginning of spring. 

 

Bonus is that we spied our first honey bees of 2019.