February 15, 2006
Witch Hazel, Hamamelis vernalis
The golden streamerlike petals of the witch hazel are an early harbinger of spring. This species is a native of the southern United States. A New England native witch hazel, Hamamelis virginiana, blooms late in the fall. Both species are fertilized by tiny gnats and bees that venture out from their winter hiding places on warmer days. This small tree is growing near the bike path where the railroad tracks cross Fresh Pond Parkway.