IT MIGHT AS WELL BE SPRING: PUSSY WILLOW AND ALDER FLOWERS

PUSSY WILLOW CATKINS

ALDER CATKINS, HANGING FROM THE BRANCHES.,,

ALDER MALE CATKINS AND FEMALE FLOWERS (at thumb)

Tuesday, 9:30 AM.  23 degrees F, wind NNE, calm with occasional moderate gusts. The sky is partly cloudy and it some very light snow has fallen.  The humidity is 62% and the barometer stands at 30.12". Heavy snow, 6" to 12" is predicted for the region, starting late tonight and lasting through Wednesday evening.  I see no fishermen out on the ice anywhere now (although there must be a few intrepid souls out there somewhere), nor do I see any motorized activity, which is probably a very good thing.
   As the old song says, "It might as well be spring."  In fact, it is spring, regardless of what the thermometer says.  Spring is, of course, more than warmth; it is also, and primarily, day length.  The pussy willow catkins have shed their bud scales (although they are not yet shedding pollen, as are the alders).
   The alder male catkins in the photo are at full anthesis, that is,  shedding pollen. And when pollen is being shed, there has to be a female flower blooming to receive it; and there are several of the tiny, cone-like  flowers pictured,  just at my thumb nail.  Roadside alders are now easily recognized even at a distance by the profuse, pendulous male catkins.
   It not only might as well be spring, it actually is.