Lamb's Tails

The Hazel Catkins locally known as lamb's tails are starting to open up after a winter of dormancy. This is a sure sign that Spring is on it's way. The catkin is the male flower and a shake of the twiggy branches usually releases clouds of yellow pollen which fertilise the tiny purple female flowers which you can just see at the tip of the branch. The flower forms into the hazel nut. Hazel is one of the 1st trees to flower and pollenate as it is a shrubby tree of the woodland and needs to get a head start before the main woodland canopy greens up later in the spring blocking out the light. I am quite pleased with the macro capability of the G9 on this shot.