young catkins on felt-leaf willow (Salix alaxensis) and diamond-leaf willow (S. pulchra), our local “pussy willows.” Along with the arrival of migrant songbirds, the pussy willows announce ...

A worker uses a specialized machine to quickly remove fallen willow catkins from the ground in Beijing on Wednesday. YUAN YI/FOR CHINA DAILY Residents in Beijing are advised to go outside only in ...