Witch Hazel Relatives

This post will be part Philadelphia Flower Show and part not. I want to shlow you a couple of witch hazel relatives, and the native shrub.

I'll start with one from the Flower Show that I wasn't familiar with. This is Hamamelis x intermedia 'Jelena.' It's a cultivar with reddish flowers, but it's still recognizable as a witch hazel. It's the ragged pom-poms, not the maroon hellebore that is also in the picture.

But I learned something new this year. The very popular 'Mt. Airy' Fothergilla is a witch hazel relative. Fothergilla is a genus in the Family Hamamelidoideae, as is Hamamelis. Fothergilla bloom in the spring (witch hazel in the fall). The exact name of this cultivar is Fothergilla x intermedia 'Mount Airy.'

Here are the flowers a little closer. Mt. Airy has won the highest honor from the Royal Horticultural Society.

Just as a reminder, here is a native witch hazel. It grows as a small tree/large shrub with many stems in a copse. It has yellow flowers in fall. Here is one blooming locally in 2012.

I did pretty well with my work lists today, and had a meeting in the evening. The meeting involved a little walking, so I did get in a short COLD stroll!

Miles walked in 2026: 117.5
Mason County fairgrounds: 1.6 miles

See More Witch Hazel 2024

Nordhouse and Bells

 Cathy and I took a hike today at Nordhouse Dunes. I should be spending more time working, but the colors are peak, and the weather is phenomenal. I really can't stay inside. This is the road into the Dunes.

The trails have names now, so we took the Nipissing, Middle, and Algoma Trails for a loop of about 4.4 miles.

This passes Nordhouse Lake which is often completely dry at this time of year. Three years ago in October, it still had water. Not this year!

Loved this line of ferns

And a gnarly oak tree. Looks spooky enough for October, right?

The witch hazel is in full bloom, and the sun made it look great.

There was even one branch with a fruit from last year still attached.

Managed to do some work, hike, do bell practice, get groceries, and go to the hardware store. Starting to get in gear to get back to writing the next mystery.

Here is the second bell choir piece from Sunday, "This is My Father's World." I think it's one of the prettiest pieces we've ever done.



I've made it to tired. Didn't sleep well last night.

Miles hiked in 2024: 503.1

Nordhouse Dunes Wilderness, Nippising, Middle, and Algoma Trails. 4.4 miles

See Nordhouse Dunes Hike