Spring is finally coming in Georgia. We have lots of daffodils blooming. In town the quince and winter jasmine are blooming, and all around the lake in our back yard, the Hazel Alders are in flower.

The male and female flowers are on the same plant but separated from one another. The male flowers are in long, drooping, yellow structures called catkins. The female flowers are grouped on small cylindrical structures above the catkins. They look red because of the protruding pistils are deep red. In this photograph, one can also see, at the bottom left, the remnants of the female flower clusters from last year. As they develop they become hardened structures resembling pine cones.

This photograph shows a closeup of one of the female flowers clusters. At this stage each of the female flowers appear as a scale-like structure from which the deep red stigma protrudes.

A closeup of the male flowers in a catkin shows a number of flowers. Stamens protrude from each of the flowers. At this stage the anthers are a bit past their peak. They are brown and many have split to reveal the yellow pollen inside.