The Squirrels' Favorite Tree
The hazel tree is often planted to form loose or rustic hedges. This tall shrub is very easy to grow. Its bare branches can be used in floristry to add character to a floral arrangement. The flavor of hazelnuts has made them an essential ingredient in confectionery and pastry making. It is also of great interest to truffle farmers because it can live in symbiosis with truffles. The truffle is a fungus that requires a host plant.
The hazel tree is believed to be one of the few species from the Mesozoic Era (70 million years ago) to have survived to the present day. Corylus means “helmet” in Latin, a reference to the shape of the cupules (the part of a plant that forms a small cup covered with scales) that surround the hazelnut.
Squirrels love my fruit and store it for the winter so they'll have enough to eat before spring arrives.
