====== Old Hazel (or Crab Apple) ======

**//Corylus avellana//** (likely) — Common Hazel; or possibly **//Malus sylvestris//** — Crab Apple

{{https://immich.macduff.info/api/assets/4cdcd9c8-9b10-441c-bb42-1157685c44cb/thumbnail?key=YWdSvihUoWNd7BrEOtpKJhXiaSYt6DWnVnIhx03u2ztgIK9-duecheLeaAxwy1BgCtQ&size=preview|Old mossy multi-stemmed tree in the Trails Retreat, March 2026}}

//Photo: March 20, 2026 at 14:16 — a gnarled, mossy, multi-stemmed deciduous tree fully bare in early spring. The branches are heavily clothed in moss and lichen, suggesting considerable age and a sheltered, humid position. The outbuilding is visible through the branches, and a grassy path runs to the left.//

===== About =====

This venerable old tree, with its mossy, lichen-covered branches and multi-stemmed base, is a character piece in the [[garden:trails_retreat|Trails Retreat]] — the kind of tree that takes decades to develop this much personality. The heavy moss and lichen indicate clean air and a sheltered, consistently humid microclimate. Species has not been confirmed from the winter photograph, but the multi-stemmed, shrubby base and branching pattern are characteristic of **Hazel** (*Corylus avellana*).

A **Crab Apple** (*Malus sylvestris* or cultivar) is the alternative — these too develop gnarled, mossy character with age and are commonly found in older Pacific Northwest gardens.

===== Identification Notes =====

To confirm:
  * **Hazel:** Produces catkins (male) in late winter; round, toothed leaves; hazelnuts in late summer
  * **Crab Apple:** Produces pink-white blossom in spring; small round fruits in autumn
  * Both will leaf out April–May

===== Care Notes =====

^ Aspect          ^ Details ^
| **Maintenance** | Very little required for an established specimen of this age |
| **Moss/Lichen** | Leave undisturbed — lichen is a sign of clean air and is not harmful to the tree |
| **Pruning**     | Remove any dead or crossing branches after leafing out (easier to assess in summer) |
| **Hazards**     | Old trees should be checked periodically for dead wood; the character branches are worth preserving |
| **Wildlife**    | Hazel provides catkins for bees in late winter; nuts for squirrels/mice; lichen for nesting birds |

===== Notes =====

  * The outbuilding visible through the branches may cast some shade — monitor for any structural concerns
  * The grassy path beside it suggests this is a focal point visible from the trails through this area
  * Hazel can be coppiced to rejuvenate but at this age and character, preservation is preferable
  * If confirmed as Hazel: look for catkins February–March and nuts August–September

===== Action Needed =====

  * [ ] Photograph in spring/summer to confirm species (leaves, catkins or blossom)

===== See Also =====

  * [[garden:trails_retreat|Trails Retreat — area overview]]