March 4, 2012 --pass the Claritin

I shouldn't have these pussy willows in the house, because they will drop pollen all over the place and I will be even more watery-eyed than I am now. However: I couldn't resist. I particularly love these two kinds of pussy willow--one has small black catkins and the other has large (to 4 inches long) silky, white ones. On the ground, the catkins of the latter look like little, furry animals they are so big.

Below are close-ups of the black and big white catkins.

And here's a combination I really love--pussy willow beside a white-barked sycamore, all looking really dramatic backed by red cedar. So pretty!