Despite the recent arctic week, a Garrya bush in this neighborhood has fully-formed catkins

that are shedding pollen when disturbed, right on  time.

I am glad February arrived and more plants have flowered. We have some of the few stands of old growth Red Maples. And the sounds of tens of thousands of bees buzzing around last month was getting annoying. Though at least we know the local bee population is robust.

deniasa:

The garrya mentioned above currently shows extensive cold damage, and all the catkins fell off

some days after the cold spell. Curiously, I could not find any catkin remains on the ground.

The plant is about 10 feet in all directions and is planted under a large deciduous tree.

I believe it is a male as the catkins are several inches long. Another garrya bush closer to home

has 2-3" catkins, likely a female. I have not walked past that bush recently.

I have no pictures of these bushes. Although considered semi-hardy, the plants apparently

do OK long-term in portland. Fruits are said to have medicinal uses but are not palatable.