As we step gently into the turning of another cycle, the forest offers quiet reassurance that life is already responding to the light. Even in the heart of winter, subtle changes are underway, often long before we consciously register the arrival of spring.
This is a time for slowing down, softening our gaze, and listening closely. Two trees, in particular, invite our attention right now: Hazel and Hawthorn.
Hazel: The Tree That Knows
Hazel is one of the earliest trees to whisper of spring. Biologically, it is fascinating. Hazel forms its catkins in late summer, holding them tightly through autumn and winter. As January draws to a close, these catkins begin to lengthen and loosen, releasing pale yellow pollen into the cold air. These are the male flowers of the tree and are often the first visible sign that change is underway.
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But if you slow right down, forest bathing slow, and really look, you may notice something far subtler. Nestled along the twigs are the female flowers, tiny and easily overlooked, revealed only by delicate crimson threads emerging from small buds. They do not shout for attention. They reward presence.
In Celtic tradition, hazel was known as the Tree of Knowledge. It was believed to know when spring was arriving before any other tree, responding not to temperature but to the returning light. Hazel reminds us that wisdom is often quiet and emerges through sensitivity rather than force.
This, to me, is the heart of forest bathing: meeting the world as it is and allowing understanding to arise through careful noticing.
Hawthorn: A Winter Gift Still Holding On
While hazel hints at what is to come, hawthorn is still offering a gift from the season just passed. Many hedgerows are holding onto their haw berries even now. Having weathered several frosts, these berries are at their sweetest, softened and mellowed, ready to be gathered with care.
One of my favourite ways to use them is to make a simple hawthorn ketchup, a grounding and warming condiment that brings a taste of the wild into everyday meals. You can find the recipe HERE.
This time of the season sits on a threshold. Hazel is already responding to the returning light, while hawthorn still holds the memory of winter. Together, they remind us that we do not need to rush. Spring arrives in its own time.
With warmth and woodland whispers,
Lisa
