The First Signs Of Spring A common shrub in damp habitats, pussy willows are one of the first signs of spring. Their buds are called catkins, meaning "small cats" because of their soft, kitten-like fur. Each catkin is actually a bunch of flowers. Bud scales protect each catkin from the cold. As the days grow warmer and the catkins larger, the buds fall off. By the time the catkins are about an inch, tiny flowers emerge, often seen in February. A tiny green leaf or shoot appearing magically on a cutting put in water or in the earth is like a revelation, almost an epiphany - the appearance of the Other - a life with it's own laws. Jane Hollister Wheelwright in The Long Shore Click [HERE] for more Field Notes.

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