More remarkable is that the hazel catkins are already open. The male ones, that is - the female flowers aren't so much in evidence.

On 2014-01-17 13:36:23 +0000, kay said:

'Pam Moore[_2_ Wrote:
;997559']On Thu, 16 Jan 2014 16:42:56 +0000, Sacha

wrote:
-
The early primroses are out in their usual spot a couple of miles from
here. I don't know when they emerged this year, as I haven't been that

way for a few weeks but last year they were out on 5th January. And I
noticed magpies are definitely pairing up, unless of course, they're
like that all the time in or out of the breeding season! Even the
rooks seemed to be doing their jostling for space and cawing loudly
stuff two days ago and the tawny owl was making a real racket last
night.-

I have one small clump of primroses and noticed a bud half open
yesterday. I've not been near it today as it never stopped raining!



More remarkable is that the hazel catkins are already open. The male
ones, that is - the female flowers aren't so much in evidence.

Yes, I've seen a few of those about, too. What will happen about
pollenation, I wonder,or is it windborne in their case?
--
Sacha
www.hillhousenursery.com
South Devon

On Fri, 17 Jan 2014 15:53:29 +0000, sacha wrote:

On 2014-01-17 13:36:23 +0000, kay said:

[]
More remarkable is that the hazel catkins are already open. The male
ones, that is - the female flowers aren't so much in evidence.

Yes, I've seen a few of those about, too. What will happen about
pollenation, I wonder,or is it windborne in their case?

The catkins are well out. I haven't noticed any of the wild primroses,
but the cultivated ones are blooming away.

Today noticed forsythia starting to bloom. Only a few flowers, but...

-E

--
Gardening in Lower Normandy

On 2014-01-18 17:14:37 +0000, Emery Davis said:

On Fri, 17 Jan 2014 15:53:29 +0000, sacha wrote:

On 2014-01-17 13:36:23 +0000, kay said:

[]
More remarkable is that the hazel catkins are already open. The male
ones, that is - the female flowers aren't so much in evidence.

Yes, I've seen a few of those about, too. What will happen about
pollenation, I wonder,or is it windborne in their case?

The catkins are well out. I haven't noticed any of the wild primroses,
but the cultivated ones are blooming away.

Today noticed forsythia starting to bloom. Only a few flowers, but...

-E

The blackbirds are definitely thinking about mating. We watched a male
blackbird chasing a female around for ages in one of the greenhouses
today. Eventually, he flew outside, rather by accident, we think and
she spent some time going back and forth, watching him, as if to tell
him how hopeless he is!
--

Sacha
www.hillhousenursery.com
South Devon
www.helpforheroes.org.uk

On 18/01/2014 17:19, Sacha wrote:
On 2014-01-18 17:14:37 +0000, Emery Davis said:

On Fri, 17 Jan 2014 15:53:29 +0000, sacha wrote:

On 2014-01-17 13:36:23 +0000, kay said:

[]
More remarkable is that the hazel catkins are already open. The male
ones, that is - the female flowers aren't so much in evidence.

Yes, I've seen a few of those about, too. What will happen about
pollenation, I wonder,or is it windborne in their case?

The catkins are well out. I haven't noticed any of the wild primroses,
but the cultivated ones are blooming away.

Today noticed forsythia starting to bloom. Only a few flowers, but...

-E

The blackbirds are definitely thinking about mating. We watched a male
blackbird chasing a female around for ages in one of the greenhouses
today. Eventually, he flew outside, rather by accident, we think and she
spent some time going back and forth, watching him, as if to tell him
how hopeless he is!

Round here we have the odd hazel with catkins showing yellow but most
are holding tight and closed,
There are about 6 blackbirds squabbling over territory or something and
making a hell of a racket, of course they could be fighting over a small
dry patch that someone has found.
David @ a still very wet side of Swansea Bay.

On 2014-01-18 18:31:09 +0000, David Hill said:

On 18/01/2014 17:19, Sacha wrote:
On 2014-01-18 17:14:37 +0000, Emery Davis said:

On Fri, 17 Jan 2014 15:53:29 +0000, sacha wrote:

On 2014-01-17 13:36:23 +0000, kay said:

[]
More remarkable is that the hazel catkins are already open. The male
ones, that is - the female flowers aren't so much in evidence.

Yes, I've seen a few of those about, too. What will happen about
pollenation, I wonder,or is it windborne in their case?

The catkins are well out. I haven't noticed any of the wild primroses,
but the cultivated ones are blooming away.

Today noticed forsythia starting to bloom. Only a few flowers, but...

-E

The blackbirds are definitely thinking about mating. We watched a male
blackbird chasing a female around for ages in one of the greenhouses
today. Eventually, he flew outside, rather by accident, we think and she
spent some time going back and forth, watching him, as if to tell him
how hopeless he is!

Round here we have the odd hazel with catkins showing yellow but most
are holding tight and closed,
There are about 6 blackbirds squabbling over territory or something and
making a hell of a racket, of course they could be fighting over a
small dry patch that someone has found.
David @ a still very wet side of Swansea Bay.

I doubt we're dryer here, David, or not much! Water is running down
the lanes and the nursery paths but thank goodness we are on a slope
and surrounded by fields!
--
Sacha
www.hillhousenursery.com
South Devon

In article ,
David Hill wrote:

There is virtually damn-all here yet. Hazel, Japonica, Hamamelis and
Viburnum, and a few snowdrops next to a building are starting to
appear, but the bulk of even the earliest bulbs are still dormant.


Regards,
Nick Maclaren.

In article ,
Nick Maclaren wrote:
In article ,
David Hill wrote:

There is virtually damn-all here yet. Hazel, Japonica, Hamamelis and
Viburnum, and a few snowdrops next to a building are starting to
appear, but the bulk of even the earliest bulbs are still dormant.

Sorry - snip failure. That was me. And the hazel is still closed.

Wind pollination. That's what catkins are designed for - dangly, easily blown in wind, copious easily released pollen. The female hazel flowers consist entirely of sticky stigma-lobes - no need for petals to attract pollinators.

On 2014-01-19 17:58:20 +0000, kay said:

sacha;997590 Wrote:
On 2014-01-17 13:36:23 +0000, kay said:

More remarkable is that the hazel catkins are already open. The male
ones, that is - the female flowers aren't so much in
evidence.

Yes, I've seen a few of those about, too. What will happen about
pollenation, I wonder,or is it windborne in their case?


Wind pollination. That's what catkins are designed for - dangly, easily
blown in wind, copious easily released pollen. The female hazel flowers
consist entirely of sticky stigma-lobes - no need for petals to attract
pollinators.[/i][/color]

Thanks, Kay. I rather thought that must be the case though I do wonder
what pollinates e.g. Sarcococca, which is flowering like crazy here.
I've seen bumble bees on the Lonicera purpusii on sunny days in winter
but not on the Sarcococcas.
--

Sacha
www.hillhousenursery.com
South Devon
www.helpforheroes.org.uk