Frosty yellow flowers, the hamamelis mollis

hamamelis mollis in the winter, such a happy tree in the middle of winter!

7 January, I notice the first witch hazel flowers emerging. Fragrant yellow curls uncoiling out of their buds.

A few days later, the entire tree is decorated with glowing yellow flowers. I imagine them as reminders of the summer sun, bright and golden.

As the days become colder, frost settles on the petals.

They seem to be quite immune to the cold and frost, continuing to glow underneath the frosty coat.

The frost grows with each passing day...

Until the blooms are covered by shaggy and spikey white crystals.

The sun sets on another frosty day. The witch hazel blooms go to sleep for the night, to awaken again the next day, spreading their lovely winter fragrance through my back garden.