the urban willow in front of my son’s school is in full bloom with catkin spikes shouting spring. i saw it friday morning and made a note to myself to snip some willow for STILL blog. but here at home, the north facing lakeshore willow in my back yard has barely let the tips of its buds loose. those you see above, bursting shyly from their casings, will look like peeled green corn cobs in a week. the bees will be joyful.

april weeping willow branches and buds

turtle lake, saint paul, minnesota