The last of the three hazels in the garden is beginning to unfurl its catkins. The Nottingham cob and the Red filbert were the first and now the twisted hazel by the back door is starting to follow. Most of the catkins on that tree are still small and tight, but a few are starting to expand and become flexible so that the wind can disperse their seeds.
Twisted hazel unfurling its catkins (19 Feb 2011)
The female flowers are much harder to see than the showy catkins, but you can see them if you look carefully. They stick out of the end of the buds like tiny hairs ready to catch the pollen from the catkins.
Female flowers of Red filbert (19 Feb 2011)
The Kentish cob is growing well but hasn't borne any nuts so far and doesn't have any catkins yet either - I'm sure it will eventually. Whilst checking on the rhubarb by the Nottingham cob I noticed about 10 nuts that had fallen from the tree last year still in their husks. I'm not sure if they will still be ok to eat as they were pretty wet, but I thought I would clear them up to reduce the chance of attracting any squirrels.
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