I took this pair of pictures a little while ago, but didn't manage to get them onto the blog in a timely manner. Witch hazel is an interesting shrub. It is one of the few that actually needs cold weather in order to bloom, so when color is fading and leaves are falling, there is a wonderful profusion of yellow flowers along the edges of the forest.
They also have a very distinctive fragrance that is a welcome addition to the air.
Here's a closer look at the flowers. I love their very relaxed and almost crumpled presentation - almost as if they just got out of bed and forgot to comb their hair... er... petals.
It's also an odd and interesting fact that the fruit and flowers appear at the same time on this plant. So, the fruit from last year's flowers is maturing at the same time this year's blooms are gracing the woods with their sunny color and lovely smell.
Witch hazel has a long history of medicinal uses as well. It is seen most commonly as an astringent these days.
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