Bloom Alert: Pussy Willows (Video)

Pussy willows—a member of the willow family, Salicaceae—are blooming in the area around Belle’s Brook and the Water Garden.

Their strange, velvety coating is part of a flower spike called a “catkin,” explains Belle’s Brook gardener Ronén Gamil. “When they open up, the male flowering parts turn this lime green-yellow,” he says. In the video below, Gamil offers a brief tour of the Garden’s spectacular pussy willow blooms. Next time you visit, take a peek at these wild and wonderful flowers.