The medicinal and magical properties of the hazel tree are many. And in the process they provide us with the tastiest nuts to eat. Haze...
Firstly, my apologies for the delay in this second 'tree following' post. May turned out to be a rather busy month! The Hazel tree I'm following is coming on well, all of the buds have now broken into leaf, and the tree has become alive with all sorts of flying and crawling insects! Perhaps I will focus a future post on the invertebrate life living on this Hazel tree, however this month I've decided to focus the post on the way in which people have utilised the natural properties of hazel for thousands of years. Some of these uses I've only just learnt about in the past month or so, others I've known about for a little longer. The European hazel is well known for it's properties as a very flexible wood when green, similar to some species of willow ('green' meaning when the wood still has a lot of moisture present within the wood, normally not long after the tree has been felled). I knew that willow could be used to create living structures, However, I had never seen the same technique applied to hazel until recently. On a recent trip back to Oxburgh Hall (National Trust) I was shown an amazing living hazel structure that the estate ranger has created. Though the tree I'm following is not among the trees used for this structure, they are the same species. I really like the structure that's been created, it's sited within the den building area of their woodland and provides a shelter that looks great. The ranger (Damon Hill) has used some simple weaving techniques to great effect! Another well known use for Hazel is the making of hazel hurdles, these were traditionally used by shepherds to corral sheep. Hazel is perfectly suited to making hurdles because it's so flexible; you have to bend the weavers through 180 degrees when bending them around the end zales (zales are the upright posts within a hurdle that the weavers are woven around). Below is a small hurdle that I made recently for a stall at a Norfolk Wildlife Trust event. Coppiced hazel poles have also been traditionally used to hold together the thatching on roofs. Short hazel rods are split in two and pointed at each end. These rods or 'spars' are then twisted into a hook shape and bashed into the thatch. Photo credit: BBC News in pictures Other uses which don't really rely on the flexible properties of hazel, but more on it's ability to grow back after being cut are bean poles, pea sticks and washing line props. All of these above mentioned uses for hazel rely on it's ability to grow back after being harvested or 'coppiced'; that's what makes hazel such a sustainable resource. If you cut down a coniferous tree to harvest the wood for timber that individual tree will die, you will have to plant another tree in it's place if you want to harvest timber again in the future from that exact spot. Many of our native deciduous trees have the ability to grow back again after being cut down. This ability of hazel to be coppiced is why it has been so widely used throughout our history here in the UK. The Hazel trees I've been cutting over the winter have begun sending up their new growth. It's so satisfying to see this new growth coming up, knowing that in about 8 years time it'll be ready for harvesting again! It's been really interesting getting involved in this project, remember if you'd like to get involved with the project then check out the Loose and Leafy blog.
Witch Hazel (hamamelis virginiana) is a small tree well-known for its use in cosmetics. This beautiful specimen produces prolific yellow blooms that give off a lot of fragrance. Witch hazel extract is commonly used to treat various skin irritations. They can also be shaped as a large shrub and used as a border or mixed hedge. Witch hazel is one of the hardiest plants, and is drought-tolerant and pest-resistant. Please note that these seeds require a lot of patience. However, if directions are followed, they’re very reliable for germination and well-worth the time it takes. Each pack comes with basic instructions for germination. I’m a USA seller which means faster shipping times as well as higher quality seeds. A vast majority of my seeds either come from my garden, from my neighborhood or in the local area. If not, I’ve acquired them on trips around the country. I’ve tested and grown many of these myself. I’m always here for assistance with germination and growing. Your success is my success!
Common name: Corkscrew Hazel tree. Height and spread in 20 years: 3 x 3 metres. Seasons of interest: Spring, Summer, Autumn, Winter. Foliage: Yellow green leaves in spring, summer and autumn. Flowers: Yellow catkins from winter to spring. Soil: Tolerant of most soil types and suited to moist but well-drained sites.
"May gifts of friendship, care, and love stay with you all the year!" - Lyrics from The Gifts of the Year, a song by Phoebe Fawn to Gwendolyn Raccoon Hi Hazelnuts, thanks for checking out our sneak peek of the Present Tree Dress-Up collection! This collection will be live on our website on Friday November 19th at
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Tree Leaves - Learn how to describe the identifying features of tree leaves and use them to recognise the trees around you.
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Witch hazel should be on every gardener’s wish list. The flowers release a spicy scent when they bloom.
Hazelnuts, also known as filberts, are easy-to-grow compact trees that begin producing buttery sweet nuts in just a few years. Read more on Gardener’s Path.
Here's a hazel tree colouring page, perfect for nature study.
Botanical Name: Hamamelis virginiana. The English common name derives from the Anglo-Saxon word for flexible, 'wytch', because of the Native Americans’ uses of witch hazel for making bows. Other Common Names: Hazel nut, snapping hazel, tobacco wood, hamamelis water, spotted alder and winterbloom. Habitat: Witch hazel (Hamamelis virginiana) prefers northern-facing slopes, river banks, fences, and other places with shade and well-drained soil. This plant ranges all over the lower 48 states of the U.S. and up into Nova Scotia and Ontario in Canada. Other species include vernal witch hazel (Hamamelis vernalis), which is found in the Ozark Mountains in the
Common name: Common Beech tree. Height and spread in 20 years: 10 x 6 metres. Awards: RHS Award of Garden Merit. Seasons of interest: Year round, Spring, Summer, Autumn, Winter. Environmental benefits: Native to UK, high carbon storage, food for wildlife. Foliage: Lime-green in spring, dark-green in summer, bronze in autumn. Soil: Suited to most conditions, does especially well in lime, alkaline soils. Position: Full to partial sun.
Discover 40 small flowering trees perfect for enhancing your home's landscape. From vibrant blooms to year-round beauty, find the ideal addition to your garden.
Explore UGArdener's 70021 photos on Flickr!
Hazel is half sloth and half rabbit just like her other Slobbit family. Hazel is one of a kind and comes in the category of our extra-large super posh range for adults to work and enjoy. Her fur is extra soft with a gorgeous stripe. I've added eye lids to enhance Hazel's cheeky smile. Watching the squirrels eating hazelnuts off the tree as I finished making her, added to Hazel's name and cheeky charm. Hazel is handmade using faux fur, safety eyes, material nose and with Velcro on her front paws. From head to toe, she is 82cm long. She is suitable for an adult. Your hand can go over, or under her puppet brain (stuffing ball) to create a range of facial expressions and movements. Your thumb sits in her lower jaw giving you the perfect position to help her speak. Your elbow tucks into her bottom meaning plenty of puppet fun before your arm will become tired. Her legs sit either each side of your body or in front of you, supported by your other hand. Having Hazel’s arms around your shoulder or neck, also helps with supporting this puppet and means she snuggles up like a true friend. Alternatively you can open the Velcro paws and use a puppet rod or your own hand to help her gesture. There is only one Hazel Slobbit in the world which makes this puppet very special. All of my puppets are designed to look as if they are alive quickly and easily. They are simple to manipulate with great results and the design allows for a beginner to progress to skilled puppet user in no time at all. All it takes is a little practice in front of the mirror and some imagination to create your puppet’s movement style and you’re away! Due to small parts and long faux fur, this puppet are not suitable for small children and has been designed for an adult to work.
Most gardens have shaded areas created by buildings, walls, fences or tall trees. Too often these areas contain a few sad looking plants quite unsuitable for the conditions.
Free amigurumi patterns... On our blog, you can find great ideas, crochet step-by-step tutorial about amigurumi hedgehog. You will not have a hard time crocheting Amigurumi free crochet patterns.
Noted for its fantastic fall attributes, Hamamelis virginiana (Virginian Witch Hazel) is an erect large, deciduous shrub or small tree, with sweetly-scented, pale yellow flowers in fall and early winter. Each flower consists of 4 golden ribbon-like, slightly-twisted, crinkled petals. Clustered along the arching branches, the flowers emerge when you least expect them and may linger on the branches into December.
Create the perfect winter-interest garden with these expert tips from Adrian Bloom
One of the primary attributes of witch hazel is that it is one of the earliest of any shrub or tree to bloom. Which Winter Witch Hazel Should You Grow?
