Witch hazel, flowers in winter!

On a brisk chilly walk today, I remembered the witchhazel bush I spotted last year, and included it on the walk to see if it was in flower.  And it was. I love witchhazel for flowering at the most unpromising time of the year.  Early this year, too.  Usually I pick a sprig or two in January, and as it warms in the house, it scents the air.

So here's this year's sprig, in glass pebbles in water, along with peppermint from the patio.  And the other container has parsley.  t
They rooted in water so they may keep going for a while.  

Herbs need the hot sun to move the aromatic oils about and give that scent off, but they have a pale version of it indoors, too.  In the background you see the Russian sage, out in front of the window, now dozing off and ready to be trimmed back before we get snow.