A tiny spider like bloom, no more than an inch from petal tip to petal tip. The leaves had already begun to turn the sweet golden yellow that brightens this corner of the wildflower garden; when 
the tiny flowers began to open.
the tiny flowers began to open.
The petals curl and twist like no flower we have seen before.More are waiting to unfurl and
festoon the tree with flowers~~ sending their sweet fragrance through the garden.Gail
Every leaf speaks bliss to me, fluttering from the autumn tree. Emily Bronte
Good morning Gail, what a delicious tree. Very highly scented, no? Our Diane is putting on a leaf show like never before with entirely new colors. No flowers until much later. Very good shots of the intricacy of the flowers. Love the quote too, I feel exactly like that. Each leaf is special. Have a great weekend.
ReplyDeleteFrances
yes great quote, what an interesting bloom. that is very special indeed.
ReplyDeleteDear Gail, I am especially drawn to the tiniest of flowers with enormous detail. And yes, I am pleased and delighted to see the "first flowers" of such a cherished tree. It is a lovely tribute to your memories.
ReplyDeleteHave a wonderful day.
Meems
Good morning Gail, what a sweet little bloom! It's got interesting timing for a tree, blooming in the autumn like that. I can see why you were drawn to it and how it symbolizes your mom's late bloom. It's a lovely little tree, and I hope it gives you many years of beautiful fall fragrance and color.
ReplyDeleteVery sweet and delicate little blooms. One of those things in nature that a person has to pay attention to appreciate.
ReplyDeleteLove the Bronte quote.
Marnie
Thank you for sharing those first flowers with us. They are so delicate looking. Just lovely!
ReplyDeleteFrances,
ReplyDeleteIt is a delicate and sweet flower....I took photos of the seed capsules that popped open but did not release the two seeds it makes. I will show that another time! I can't detect any fragrance yet! Perhaps there aren't enough blooms. It is so fascinating to me that your Diane is coloring up and mine is still pretty green... Is yours in fuller sun? I am glad you like the quote, it seemed perfect.
Gail
Marmee,
ReplyDeleteI like this little tree for so many reasons; the tiny little spider blooms are fun to observe. Bronte really said it well!
Gail
Looks like the bloom is stretching out it's little arms from a long nap. I need to go down to trees and shrubs end of our nursery and see if I can catch a whiff.
ReplyDeleteGail, I know nothing about Witchhazel, obviously. But, isn't it amazing that it's blooming in the Fall as the leaves prepare to drop?
ReplyDeleteUnusual flower... spidery describes it. But, what a fitting tribute to your mother. I recall that you'd posted she'd "bloomed in the Fall."
Enjoy your memories as this lovely plant flowers for you. Blessings. :-)
Thank you for stopping by yesterday to share special moments with me.
meems,
ReplyDeleteIt is a cherished tree...for many reasons. The flowers are quite intricate and the seedheads are equally fun to examine. I am glad you came by on an early morning to take a peak at the first flower of this special tree Have a wonderful weekend with your family and garden.
Gail
I've never grown Witch Hazel in my garden Gail. It has a nice little bloom and the fall color is pretty too. Thanks for sharing. :)
ReplyDeleteI love the close up shot. Witch Hazel is underused. I'm guilty of not planting it here at my current home...had it before when I was located in the woods with spots of sunlight. Just wonderful! Cameron
ReplyDeleteI love that you have blooms to look forward too Gail. (when many of us are facing a bleak period in the garden). This bloom is as unique as I've ever seen. Mother Nature is a marvel when you consider the wide assortment of plant and animal life she graced us with.
ReplyDeleteSo lovely. My witch hazel blooms in March - very weird - snow all over the ground and shocks of spidery scented blossoms - quite otherworldly. Does this variety recoil its petals when it's cold and release them when it's warm again?
ReplyDeleteThose witch hazels are cool trees! I thought they usually bloomed later in the winter to early spring. I think the cool temps are here now to stay. Did you get much rain up there? We had .25 inches.
ReplyDeleteDave,
ReplyDeleteI do like this little tree! This particular one, the
H vernalis, blooms during the fall, the H vernalis and intermedia blooms much later..up until February. One of these little beauties would look lovely in your yard!
It certainly seemed like more than .26 that the weather channel says~but any was most welcome.
gail
Susie,
ReplyDeleteThat sounds like a good idea..tell mw what you think it smells like afterwards!
Gail
cindy,
ReplyDeleteYour welcome...I'm glad you wanted to see them! Aren't they just wispy little dancers...you must get close to really see them!
gail
I love going out in the woods at this time of year & seeing the Witchhazels in bloom, although the fall color is so great I'd love them even if they didn't bloom.
ReplyDeleteThe Witch hazel bloom is just lovely!
ReplyDeleteI love the color of Witch hazel. It is so nice to see it when all others are starting to go to sleep for the winter.
ReplyDeleteWhat a great honor for the remembrance of your mother. Just the other day I discovered a plant with my mothers name. I do not have it just yet but fully intend on getting one as soon as possible. Stokesia, in yellow.
MMD,
ReplyDeleteI haven't noticed them in the woods! But I will start looking and sniffing them out! They do have outstanding color....Gail
Hi Lola,
ReplyDeleteAre you collecting plants with your mother's name? That would be so nice to do...check out daylilies there are so many names! I like Stokesias.
It is nice to see the sweet color of the Witch Hazel flowers! I am glad you like them.
Gail
Racquel, I have had "Diane" for over 10 years and she is just over my head. Not fast growing and she would look sweet in your garden! I have decided to urge folks to get Witch Hazel, it is so underused! Seriously, they aren't big! Cute flowers! Fall color!
ReplyDeleteGail
Linda,
ReplyDeleteIt does symbolize her late blooming so well! Such a cute flower and delightful fall color. Is it in your nearby parks?
Gail
Marnie,
ReplyDeleteYes, exactly, it does require paying attention or you can miss the last act of the show. The showy fall color is good and then there are the flowers. Bronte had a way with words!
Gail
Shady,
ReplyDeleteYou are welcome, I wouldn't have missed it for the world!
Witch Hazel could grow in your yard...(I am pushing it) Zone 4 and possibly Zone 3! I do like them and the flowers of this particular one bloom now, but the other ones I have bloom in late winter!
Thank you Shady, for your sweet message and kind thoughts! Gail
Cameron,
ReplyDeleteYou know WH so I don't have to push it on you! But i can tell you that if you wanted to plant a non native, Diane is not a fast grower. Right now after, 12 years it's only just over my head! Good fall color, winter flowers! Pollinated by a winter moth!
Thanks , Cameron, for stopping by. Have a good weekend.
Gail
Kathleen,
ReplyDeleteWe are indeed fortunate to have so many different plants to enjoy. I love that there are trees that bloom in the fall and winter. A winter moth is needed to pollinate the winter blooming witch hazels...isn't that remarkable? What a world of mystery.
gail
TileLady,
ReplyDeleteI think so, too! Have a great weekend!
gail
barbarapc,
ReplyDeleteHi there! There are several WHs. I have one that blooms in the fall and two that will bloom in the late winter. The native winter bloomer is Hamamelis vernalis. H virginiana is the fall bloomer in this post...all are pretty cool. Yes, the winter bloomers roll up their petals to protect themselves when it gets cold! Nature is amazing with its adaptions!
Gail
Gail, My husband's aunt told me that she collected posies of the victorian era. They didn't bath very often but yet wanted to smell fresh. They carried the posies with Witch Hazel in them to mask the bad body odors and stale clothes. I would think it would take a lot of them as small as they are. She grew them in her yard. I don't know much about this plant either but I like it's attitude and it's so interesting.
ReplyDeleteI hope it saves a few blooms for later during winter. It sure is pretty.
ReplyDeleteOkay, do tell! What does it smell like? Sure is lovely and such a good picture!
ReplyDeleteOoh, I have to go check on the wild witch hazels near our house in northern Virginia. In my memory, they always bloom around Halloween, but maybe I should start looking earlier. I never noticed any fragrance from them, but since so many people mention it, I will make a point of sniffing them this time.
ReplyDeleteI planted my first witch hazel this past spring - Jelena. It's now losing its leaves after having some spectacular fall color. I hope it wasn't just due to drought stress.
Your tree looks like it is doing well; I can't wait to see these flowers as they open fully. How wonderful to have something blooming this winter!
ReplyDeleteGail, what a nifty looking little tree! I love the spidery flower, but looking at it makes me feel like I'm about to sneeze! Ha.
ReplyDeleteHugs, Lynn
Gail it is hard for me to grasp flowers just opening now and we are headed for the final shutdown time here with our weather.
ReplyDeleteI wish I had some of that .. anything with "witch" in it has to be perfect for October? LOL
Joy, They are hardy to zone 4! http://ontariotrees.com/main/species.php?id=2092
ReplyDeletefor the tree propaganda I am using on my more northern friends!
You need a tree the explodes its seeds out of the pod and is named witch!
Gail
Lynnie,
ReplyDeleteHi there! Where are you?
Gail
rose,
ReplyDeleteThey are cute little guys...as soon as they tree is festooned with flowers I will gladly post a photo! Nature is so darned incredible to give us flowers in the winter; the early crocus, the hellebore and the witch hazels!
Gail
Entangles,
ReplyDeleteJolena is a beauty! Please post photos when she blooms! MIne is not very fragrant but I have 4 flowers open! I hope that it does have more then the interesting scent it seems to have. Not quite wafting through the garden, yet!
Gail
Tina,
ReplyDeleteJust a little fragrance...I keep hoping there will be more! Maybe when there are more than 4 flowers! You must get you some Witch Hazels!
Gail
Gail ~ Wow! Isn't it early for blooms? We just planted our first witch hazel this spring and it's got gorgeous yellow leaves right now, which it will lose. I hope we get some blooms later on. They should look just like yours - I hope so anyway! So pretty and unique, aren't they?
ReplyDeleteGail, I have a witch hazel, but I don't know what kind. Your post had me running out to see if it had flowers. :-) Not yet, and not even fall color yet, which surprises me. The Itea virginica have all turned mahogany, and the usually late-turning sugar maples across the street are in high color. One day, I'll figure out what I have. Until then, I'll enjoy your witch hazels.
ReplyDeleteSuch a delicate flower!
ReplyDeleteBrenda
Wow, that's really a neat looking bloom. I've never seen anything like it. Wouldn't those look great as a crafty Christmas ornament?
ReplyDeletecinj,
ReplyDeleteAre you a crafty Christmas ornament lady? I hope so! Crafty people rock!
Gail
brenda,
ReplyDeleteIt is a lovely delicate flower...you could easily overlook it.
Gail
Kim,
ReplyDeleteI have two others...one is H vernalis and it won't bloom until Christmas or later. Tell me about your Itea. What conditions is it growing in? I tried it before but it wasn't happy. The flowers and the fall color are wonderful....lucky you and sugar maples!
Gail
Kylee,
ReplyDeleteI lost your comment in there. I am so happy you have a witch hazel! Wasn't the yellow a good color! All of a sudden the leaves are gone...then you can see the blooms! If it's a vernalis the blooms will be later in the season, but if it's virginiana any day now! I hope it bring you enjoyment...I am going to look for a little moth that pollinates it! Gail
Hi Gail,
ReplyDeleteI'm back in Hong Kong, as of yesterday. I don't remember where I was when I commented on your blog last - maybe Columbia. Its good to be back "home", but I wish Hong Kong would cool off a little. Well, I guess lows in the 70's IS cooler here, come to think of it. Sigh!
Love, Lynn