The witch hazel at @annsplaceinc looks even more spectacular than normal as its background is mostly empty of greenery. Its feathery, mid-to-late Autumn butter yellow flowers stand out in their color and unusualness.
Witch hazels are an unusual example of co-evolution as they are pollinated by the winter moth, which can raise its body temperature by 50 degrees F through extreme shivering. This plant is abundant in my home state of Connecticut, which is probably why the largest manufacturer of witch hazel, Dickenson’s, is located nearby.
When its flowers emerge, so do the dispersal of its seeds. They are crammed into a little packet and during colder temperatures their casing begins to open. Once fully open a simple jostle can cause the seed to exit in an explosive fashion, being propelled as far as 30 feet. (Don’t look too closely without protective glasses).
The fragile looking flowers will hold up during the first few frosts and light snows. But in a few weeks, they too will be gone leading us into colder and darker days ahead.
