Dino-lite+Pussy+Willow

=Pussy Willow= There are male pussy willow trees and female pussy willow trees. The furry catkin buds are on the male tree.

**At the end of winter, the ground begins to warm.....**...
The sap starts flowing into the branches and the buds start to swell. || It's still quite cold when the buds begin to split in early spring but... || ... the soft, silvery hairs are the fur coat that keep the flowers warm. || Tightly bunched inside the catkin's furry coat are hundreds of stamens and anthers, the male parts of the flower... || ...each with its own warm tuft of silvery hairs. || As the spring sun shines, and with the help of its fur coat, the catkin gets even warmer.... || The warmth starts the pollen developing in the anthers. || As the pollen gets ready, the stamens grow, ready to reach out and rub against visiting insects. || Then, in millions of tiny explosions all over the tree, the anthers split, revealing thousands of pollen spores. || The anthers peel back completely - at the ready... || ...for the bees and flies which, dusted all over with pollen, go visiting the female pussy willows. || Their job is done! The anthers shrivel and the catkins fall. Now its time for the leaves... ||
 * [[image:dinopusseywillow-38.jpg width="280" height="208"]]
 * [[image:dinopusseywillow-45.jpg width="284" height="200"]]
 * [[image:dinopusseywillow-71.jpg width="277" height="210"]]
 * [[image:dinopusseywillow-48.jpg width="286" height="212"]]