March 18, 2015

Alder catkins (male flowers) and last year's cones (female flowers)

Hazelnut catkins

River birch catkins

Red maple flowers

March 11, 2015

Bird's nest fungi grow on spall pieces of wood debris and are particularly common in mulched garden beds. A raindrop hitting the cup will splash the "eggs" (spore packets) several inches to a few feet.