These photos were taken near Mount Pisgah on the Blue Ridge Parkway in North Carolina this week. What an interesting tree this is. This time of year some Witch Hazel leaves have little hats on them. They actually look like little Halloween witch hats. The little hats are actually a gall where an aphid is living and depositing eggs. This little aphid is called the Hormaphis hamamelidis.
The Witch Hazel tree is the "A Year With The Trees" tree for Feb. 28, May 28, and Aug. 28th. See http://ayearwiththetrees.blogspot.com.
Peace,
Rebecca
http://ayearwiththetrees.blogspot.com.
