Bill's Botanical Forays

Today, I spotted some American Hazelnut (Corylus americana Walter) along Bald Eagle Drive just north of the Contact Station. It was in full bloom with both male (staminate) flowers and female (pistillate) flowers. The staminate flowers were on 3 to 4 inch long pendulate catkins and the red pistillate flowers were on the tips of buds. I am going track these plants this year to see if they will produce nuts.