Since
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Dedicated to the Preservation and Restoration of the Whole of Creation
Humans - Animals - Environment
"And God saw all that He had made, and behold, it was very good. And there was evening and there was morning, the sixth day" (Genesis 1:31)
(To enlarge photos, click on the photos or links)
Since
(Pussy Willow - 01) The
winter of 2001-2002 was the mildest we could ever remember. For the first
time in the 22 years we've lived at Sleepy Hollow Lake, the lake never
completely froze over. On March 4th, as we were taking a walk, we spotted
this pre-spring gift of God's creation. The pussy willows were beginning
to bloom!
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(Pussy Willow - 01a)
Pussy willow grow along the East coast of North America from Newfoundland to
Delaware and extend westward to Missouri and British Columbia. The
silky-haired blooms normally appear in early spring and are attached to scales
on the catkin (branch).
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(Pussy Willow - 02) The
scales of the catkin (branch) are more visible in this photo, but only one grey
silky-haired bloom has developed. It is too early to see the 2 stamens and
the 1 pistil.
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(Pussy Willow - 02a)
When magnified, as in this photo, the silky gray hairs of the pussy willow look
very much like one of our cat's fur coat.
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(Pussy
Willow - 03) The pussy willow has no brightly colored flowers to attract attention.
Instead, it draws our attention with its
soft silky gray-haired blooms that have a "gentleness" and beauty all their own.
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(Pussy Willow - 03a) If
we look closely at the spot where the bloom of the pussy willow appears, we can
see where the branch seems to "bleed" sap. Looking at this, during the
season of Passover and Easter, reminds us of God's deliverance and
redemption.
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(Pussy
Willow - 04) Pussy willow plants are either male (staminate) or female
(pistillate). In this picture we can see the pussy willow flowers blooming.
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(Pussy
Willow - 04a) In this enlargement of the pussy willow, we can see the
pollen grains on some of the maturing stamens. Pussy willow flowers have
from 1 to 7 stamens.
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(Pussy
Willow - 04b) This is another close-up of another blooming pussy
willow catkin with its many flowers.
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(Pussy
Willow - 05) We normally think of pussy willow blooms as being the
soft gray projections along the branch, but they are really the "bud" stage of
the bloom. Here we can see the yellow and red color of the stamens.
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(Pussy
Willow - 05a) The pollen grains on the stamens on the right side of
the photo are more evident in this enlargement.
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(Pussy
Willow - 06) This is another photo of a male pussy willow bloom
contrasted against a clear blue sky.
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(Pussy
Willow - 06a) This is the kind of photo that, when viewed out of
context, might carry the caption, "What is it?" These enlarged pussy
willow photos give us a glimpse into the wonderment, variety and, detailed
beauty of God's infinite creation and blessings.
|
(Pussy
Willow - 07) The stamens of the pussy willow bloom stretch out to
deposit their pollen grains on the body of a visiting bee, several of which were
busily buzzing around the blooms of the bush when we took this picture.
|
(Pussy
Willow - 08) This is the bloom of the female (pistillate) pussy willow
with its single pistil coming from each flower on the catkin.
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(Pussy
Willow - 09) This is an enlarged view of the pistils and ovaries of
the pussy willow bloom that are beginning to swell with the developing seeds.
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(Pussy Willow - 10) The
fertilized seeds continue to grow and mature in the ovaries of the pussy willow
until they are ready to produce other pussy willows. Since the pussy willow
is unable to move and plant her seeds elsewhere, God has provided the pussy
willow with a helping hand. Each seed has silky hairs that allow the seeds
to be carried away by the wind.
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(Pussy Willow - 11) The
seeds of the pussy willow are held just firmly enough so that they will not fall
out by themselves. But when the wind begins to blow strongly enough to
allow the seeds to be carried away, the seeds are pulled loose from the ovaries
and become air borne. Some of the empty and partially empty ovaries can be
seen in this photo. The small dark oval shapes are the seeds.
|
(Pussy Willow - 12) In
the top center of the this photo we can see one of the swollen ovaries of the
pussy willow with the silken hairs just beginning to project out the top.
When the seeds are mature the ovaries open to allow the seeds to be carried away
in the wind.
|
(Pussy Willow - 13)
To us, the various stages in the development of the pussy willow, which we have
depicted in this series, is evidence of God's perfect love. If we allow
ourselves to receive God's perfectly created love and beauty into our hearts,
souls and minds, and allow it to mature as the seeds of the pussy willow, then
we will be able to send forth that love to the whole of creation and no longer
hurt or destroy each other, the animals, or the environment.
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(Pussy Willow - 14)
On 1 March 2004, we spotted these pussy willows beginning to open.
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(Pussy Willow - 14a)
Where the snow had melted and the ground had begun to warm, the pussy willows
were starting to open; but where snow cover remained, they were still dormant.
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(Pussy Willow - 15)
This pre-spring pussy willow branch sweeps upward toward the sunlight: an
announcement that winter will soon be over.
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(Pussy Willow - 16)
After the ground thaws, the sap begins to flow into the branches, and the scale
nodes begin to swell, soon followed by smooth grey points sticking out their
tops. As the bloom swells, the node splits, and as the bud dries, it
begins to assume its fuzzy appearance.
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(Pussy Willow - 17)
Cold weather set in again after the early budding on 1 Mar 2004 and it was
another four weeks before these pussy willows fully opened.
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(Pussy Willow - 18)
Some of the pussy willow branches were either slow to bud out or they had
suffered some frost damage.
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(Pussy Willow - 19)
The beauty of the pussy willow seems to stand out best when contrasted against
the bright blue sky.
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(Pussy Willow - 19a)
This is a closer look at a couple of the pussy willow blooms.
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(Pussy Willow - 19b)
These pussy willow catkins are just beginning to send forth their stamens or pistils.
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(Pussy Willow - 20)
This is another look at a pussy willow branch contrasted against the bright blue sky.
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(Pussy Willow - 21)
This pussy willow is nearly completely budded out.
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(Pussy Willow - 22)
These pussy willows are beginning to mature, sending forth their stamens with
the yellow pollen just beginning to develop on their anthers.
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(Pussy Willow - 22a)
This bee's eye view of a pussy willow bloom gives us a closer look at the
stamens with their translucent white filaments topped with anthers. The
yellow coloring on some of the anthers is from the developing pollen grains.
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(Pussy Willow - 23)
The beauty of this pussy willow branch is enhanced by its background of white
clouds and blue sky.
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(Pussy Willow - 24)
Normally, we don't see the green pussy willow leaves developing until after the
catkins are fully matured. This bush was an exception to the "rule."
It also may have something to do with the cold weather and snow we had after the
catkins had begun to open.
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(Pussy Willow - 25)
And once again the pussy willows go to seed.
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(Pussy Willow - 25a)
This puff of pussy willow cotton no longer resembles the delicate grey buds of
early spring, but these seeds will insure that pussy willows will continue to
grow in this area.
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(Pussy Willow - 26)
The leaves of the pussy willow seem to obscure most of the remaining flowers and
seed clusters, and they fade away for another year.
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(Pussy Willow - 26a)
It only when we look closely that we can see the remains of the many pussy
willow blooms.
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(Pussy Willow - 27)
The bright blue sky gives highlights the remaining pussy willow blooms, as they
push out their seeds in anticipation of the next gust of wind.
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(Pussy Willow - 27a)
As we take this close up look the silky threads of the the pussy willow seeds
that will carry them to a new place to grow, we look forward to next year's
early spring buds.
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(Pussy Willow - 28)
We photographed these pussy willow branches in the middle of March 2006, before
the ice on the lake had melted. It was like an announcement that Spring
was just a short time away.
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(Pussy Willow - 28a)
This is a closer look at some of the pussy willow blooms.
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(Pussy Willow - 29)
In this photo, we zeroed in on one of the budding pussy willow catkins.
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(Pussy Willow - 29a)
This is a close up view of the budding pussy willow catkin.
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(Pussy Willow - 30)
Cindy sent us this photos: I took this photo of a pussy willow when it was
opening up in the spring in my back yard. Thought you would enjoy seeing it from
a different angle.
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(Pussy Willow - 31)
On 30 March 2008, we spotted the first blooming pussy willow of the season.
They were the first sign that Spring had arrived.
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(Pussy Willow - 31a)
In this photo, we can see the some newly budding catkins as swollen
grayish-white dots along the branches below the already blooming catkins.
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(Pussy Willow - 32)
This is another look at the first blooming pussy willows of 2008.
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(Pussy Willow - 32a)
This is another look at some of the blooming pussy willow catkins.
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(Pussy Willow - 33)
The contrast of the pussy willow against the blue sky added to the beauty of
this spring day.
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(Pussy Willow - 33a)
When we take the time to stop and really see the pussy willow, as well as the
other beautiful creations of God, our day becomes more joyful.
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(Pussy Willow - 34)
After taking this photo of the pussy willow, we continued with our walk.
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(Pussy Willow - 35)
We took this photo on 21 March 2009, while on one of our walks.
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(Pussy Willow - 35a)
We love the contrast of looking at the pussy willow against a clear blue sky.
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(Pussy Willow - 36) This is another look at the blooms of the first pussy willows of the 2009 season. |
| Flowering Trees and Shrubs of SHL | Art and Photos |
Presented here are just a few of the countless components of God's creation. Just as we
cannot have human and animal life without water and plants, neither can we have lasting peace without
love and compassion. It is our hope
and prayer that this series will motivate people to live and act in a
cruelty-free manner; that we would no longer hurt or destroy each other, the
animals or our environment.
Photos by Frank L. Hoffman unless otherwise noted.
If you would like to contribute a photo and/or comment to these series, please
contact:
Frank L. Hoffman flh@all-creatures.org
© 2002-2009 - The Mary T. and Frank L. Hoffman Family Foundation. All rights reserved. May be copied only for personal use or by not for profit organizations to promote compassionate and responsible living. All copied and reprinted material must contain proper credits and web site link www.all-creatures.org
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