It remains rather brown outside and when it is dreary and rainy it's difficult to imagine spring. That is, unless, you get out of doors and examine the natural world that surrounds you.
From our walk yesterday there was this.
This is the petal-less flower associated with willow, birch, hickory and a few additional trees.
Willows thrive in the wetter soils found around here and form tangled thickets that provide valuable wildlife habitat. The flowers you see pictured emerge in early spring before the leaves. Willows are dioecious with male flowers are associated with a separate plant from those that bear female flowers.
This is a common native tree found throughout Wisconsin. 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.
*Memo to self - be sure to keep a lookout for the first honey bees of 2021
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