Plant watch

Witch-hazel Hamamelis

Both shrubs and tiny trees, witch-hazels are known for their sluggish growth. Bees will be enticed to come out for their first feed on a sunny day in late winter or early spring so that they may take advantage of their potent aroma and the'spidery' yellow blossoms. Hamamelis is a Latin word that meaning "together with fruit," because the blooms bloom at the same time as the fruit from the previous year. Herbal medicine has been using extracts from the leaves and bark of the plant for as long as anybody can remember to treat a wide range of skin ailments. In modern times, it is available for purchase without a prescription in the form of gels, lotions, and ointments due to its anti-inflammatory and antibacterial properties. Additionally, it can be utilised to alleviate the discomfort associated with diaper rash and haemorrhoids.

Snowdrops Galanthus

The appearance of snowdrops in the middle of winter is a sight that brings with it the promise of spring. When the weather is warm, a few forager bees will come to the store in search of a taste of new pollen. This is done to provide a break from the bee bread that has been stored for quite some time. The shape of the pollen itself is somewhat peculiar; it is flat on one side and arched on the other; it is referred to as a "boatshape" in the textbooks, or it is comparable to a half egg (see the image above).
There are no holes that are readily apparent, and its length is around 35 micrometres, and its width is 25 micrometres. Bright yellow-orange is the colour that it possesses.