A close-up image depicts a branch of a plant displaying spring growth in Mettlach, Germany

A close-up image depicts a branch of a plant displaying spring growth in Mettlach, Germany. A light brown and green woody stem extends diagonally from the upper left to the lower right of the frame. Small, bright green, oval leaves are attached along the stem. Several elongated, cylindrical catkins, light green to whitish and spiky in texture, are present. One prominent catkin hangs from the main stem towards the lower left. The background is significantly out of focus, showing blurred brown and green tones indicative of ground or distant vegetation under natural light.