Witch-hazel
Witch-hazel leaves & flowers
Witch-hazel is my favorite tree for many reasons. . . . It has always been a topic of discussion on if it is either a tree or a shrub?? My personal feeling is that this is more of a tree than a shrub but that is just my personal thought (no science behind that statement). I also love that this trees leaf is odd shaped and has some unique flowers. I can always find this tree flowering around mid October which I think is an excellent time of the year!! The greatest part of Witch-hazel is that people can extract an astringent from the bark and leaves that is used for things like; a hemorrhoid medication, shaving lotion, bug bites, acne cream and even helps with poison ivy!
Macro of the flowers!
Last year while the Witch-hazel was flowering and buffalo was being hammered with a freak snowstorm . . . I was helping with a flickr event here in Allegany. I was very jealous because Young Naturalist J was at the Roger Tory Peterson Institute listening to David Sibley speak.
David Sibley signing Young Naturalist J’s field guide.
He heard the lecture, got his book autographed, got an original Sibley bird sketched in his book and had a great 1 on 1 discussion together; Young Naturalist J (and his family) also got me an autographed Sibley calendar as a perfect Christmas present!! The kid is good because look what he had David Sibley put on that calendar!!
OWL UPDATE: Thursday night I caught 1 Northern Saw-whet Owl and last night (Friday) I caught 2 Northern Saw-whet Owls. Things are really starting to pick up with these fluff balls.
Mon@rch's Nature Blog 
Happy birthday! That is such a cool gift! What a great kid!
Witch Hazel is such a cool plant. The astringent is also good for treating “hot spots” on dogs! 🙂
-llm.
13 October 2007 at 9:37 am
Happy birthday! I have to say, I wish I was back in Allegany with you this weekend celebrating your birthday around a campfire. Hope this next year brings you all the best…
13 October 2007 at 9:46 am
I love witch hazel, too! That is an awesome thing J did for you! And Happy Birthday, yet again!
13 October 2007 at 10:13 am
@ Liz – thanks and didn’t know about the spots on dogs!
@ Jeremy – I know your busy but you are always welcome to come over banding Saw-whets! Thanks!
@ Pam – thanks and did you notice you commented on 10:13am!!
13 October 2007 at 10:47 am
Happy Birthday! I hope you see lots of Saw-whets today!
13 October 2007 at 11:25 am
Wow! Happy Birthday, you and Spaz share the same birthday!!
I also love witch hazel, going for a walk soon, maybe I’ll see some.
13 October 2007 at 12:48 pm
Happy Birthday Tom! Hope you have a great day and a super year.
It’s my son’s 40th BD today – I’ll never forget your BD again!
Wishing you lots of Witch Hazel and as many “fluff balls” as you can handle. Keep up the good work.
13 October 2007 at 1:48 pm
Tom-
I’ve been meaning to ask what you’re shooting with in regards to body/lens. Your shots are always well composed and tack sharp. Inquiring minds want to know the details!
-Kaz
13 October 2007 at 2:32 pm
Does Witch-hazel have a strong aroma? I think I saw a garden show featuring Witch-hazel last year.
So glad the little fluff balls are showing up for you.
I took my niece to the bird banding at PI this morning.
We had a good show of birds so you know what my next post will be.
13 October 2007 at 2:43 pm
Happy Birthday Tom! We have an old Witch Hazel factory in CT. I remember having that stuff around the house when I was a kid.Our field trip leader was just talking about Witch Hazel flowers today.-I had no clue what the stuff looked like.
13 October 2007 at 3:43 pm
@ Barb – thanks and I also hope to get many!
@ Chicago – thanks and how cool!
@ LOB – thanks and didn’t know your son’s birthday is today also! Very cool!
@ Kaz – 75% of my pictures on this blog are taken with my point and shoot (Sony Cybershot) and the other 25% are taken with my Nikon D70s.
@ Toni – Hmm, not that I have noticed. Can’t wait to see what you ended up finding at the banding station.
@ Larry – thanks and it is a great product. Glad you found some flowers around where you were at.
13 October 2007 at 6:06 pm
Tom, Happy Birthday dude! I’ve been gone all afternoon and I am just checking your site, wow I can’t believe you and C.j. have the same birthday, too cool. I hope you are having a great evening. And I hope that a thousand wishes may come true for you. ~nita~
13 October 2007 at 7:41 pm
Noreen and I hope you have a great year Tom! Happy Birthday.
Where in teh park do you find teh Witch haxel I would like to see some. Also I can attest to it great work as an after shave.
13 October 2007 at 11:25 pm
@ Nita – thanks and that is very ironic for sure! Thanks my friend!
@ Mike – thanks and it is more common than you might think! This picture was taken on Eastwood Meadows hiking trial!
14 October 2007 at 11:43 am
OMG Tom, LOL on the 10:13 am! I couldn’t have done that on purpose if I tried!!
14 October 2007 at 9:33 pm
I grow two different types of Witch Hazel in my backyard! I too enjoy this “Tree/shrub”.
Happy Birthday. May you have a birdful year.
Thank you for sharing your knowledge and your photography. Coming to your site is enjoyable and I always learn something…
Sherry
15 October 2007 at 10:44 am
That’s a great kid – I’m not sure which I’m more jealous of: the calendar or catching those saw-whet owls!!
15 October 2007 at 12:55 pm
@ Pam – I found that very cool for sure!
@ Sherry – how great and thanks! Glad you learn something here!!
@ Marty – I get to use the calendar all year and only a few months I get to see the saw-whets!
15 October 2007 at 5:07 pm