Catkins - take a closer look

Hazel catkins (Corylus avellana)
Nikon D5200 Nikkor 18-55mm f8 55mm 1/250 ISO 180
It’s been nice to see some sunshine today, a much needed reminder of the coming spring. Hazel is 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. The yellow male catkins appear before the leaves in February. Take a closer look at these dangly male genitalia (you need a macro lens to make much of the separate tiny female flowers).