The Boldness of Pussy Willows

Earlier in March, I cut a few branches from my pussy willow shrub and brought them inside. The warmth of the house quickly turned the silvery white pillows of the catkins into yellow caterpillar creatures.  They seem so alive, they almost appear to be moving and twisting towards the sun.

 

When the honey bees are lured out of their hive on a sunny winter day, pussy willows provide the first pollen of the season.

They seem to draw the sun’s light into their little furry bodies and keep growing and expanding. Boldly, they lead the way, undaunted by howling winds or snow that covered the first crocuses and daffodil greens, until yesterday.