Witch Hazel is blooming

Merry warm Christmas Eve!

Witch Hazel are a small tree with flowers that have an unusual blooming season - they first appear late fall or mid winter during a warm snap and after the leaves have fallen off. The small blossoms then reclose until early spring when the frilly petals extend into a little tuft. See images of different species flowers: (bbg.org/article/witch_hazels_winter_flowers_fall_foliage_and_lovely_form)

Common Witch Hazel flowers in the early winter stage of their blossom cycle.

The Witch Hazel tree is the small one in the center. Zooming in shows the branches are slightly bumpy.

The branches of Witch Hazel grow in forked Y shapes which were used for dowsing by early energy practitioners and that led to the name “Witch Hazel'“.

Witch hazel was named that because the branches grow in forked Y shapes that were used for dowsing, and early settlers to the American continent found it had medical uses as an astringent. Hazelnuts are from a different species than Witch Hazel trees and are a more rapid growing shrub that can be grown for a food crop or wild animal forage. (thehistoricfoodie.wordpress.com) (*dowsing for water maybe — or ley lines of aether energy?).

Witch hazel branches are also funny looking with a bumpy rippled shaped. Add the odd bloom time and it just seems magical!

**I have a couple posts almost completed but took a few days off for holiday prep. I think I may work too hard 🤔

Disclaimer: This information is being provided for educational purposes within the guidelines of Fair Use and is not intended to provide individual health guidance.