10. Hazel flowers

Miniature hazel flower

One of our February spring flowers is so tiny most people don't even realise it exists.

Catkins get all the attention at this time of year, but look carefully at a hazel twig and you can also see miniature red whorls on top of tiny round buds. These are the female flowers, and when fertilised by pollen from the male catkins the buds will grow into hazel nuts.

Brigit's Garden is close to the wide, spectacular landscapes of the West coast - mountains, bog and ocean - but the Garden itself is different. It is sheltered and green, with fertile soil and tall trees. It invites a more intimate connection with nature, a gentle noticing of stone and water, mossy corners and meadow flowers. It teaches us to slow down, open our senses and become aware of the wonderful detail in nature - and of small miracles like the hazel flower.

Multi-stemmed hazel trees with mossy glacial boulder