The Living Forest (349) : Hazel catkins

Today, 21th of december, the start of the astrological winter and the shortest day of the year.

It should be snowing, it should be freezing, it should be bloody cold, but it’s 14°C in Belgium and look what I found : catkins in full bloom on a common hazel !!!
Normally, this deciduous tree is the first one to awake from hibernation, mostly mid winter.

Seasons have gone mad. Help !!

Dutch name : Hazelaar
German name : Gemeine Hasel
Latin name : Corylus avellana