Crook, County Durham: The tree currently wafting out clouds of golden pollen is also called Harry Lauder’s Walking Stick. But why? There have been some fine displays of catkins in hedgerows here, but ...

When the sap falls in the autumn — yes, I know it's spring, but bear with me — a few shrubs and trees become prettier. The cold and the dormancy cause their bark to glow more intensely than in the ...

We have a contorted hazel growing near the house, a sitting tenant inherited when we moved here. I can’t say that this would have been a natural choice of plant for me, the name is off-putting to ...

The corkscrew hazel is a great curiosity and immediately grabs attention, especially at this time of year, when the branches are bare and the catkins begin to open. Although the branches are twisted ...

At this time of year, when so many branches are bare, it's the quirky plant forms -- zigzags, corkscrews and loops -- that call attention to themselves. Their winter forms alone makes them worthy to ...