Mid-February brings the full breeding season for Pacific tree frogs (Pseudacris regilla), with males producing their characteristic two-part "ribbit" calls from the edges of ponds, wetlands, and temporary pools throughout the Pacific Northwest. These small frogs (1-2 inches) gather in large breeding choruses that can include hundreds of individuals, creating a cacophony that carries for considerable distances on mild evenings. Simultaneously, pussy willows (Salix discolor and other native willow species) produce their distinctive fuzzy silver catkins along streambanks and wet areas, creating soft gray accents in the landscape. The willow catkins, which appear before leaves emerge, provide crucial early-season pollen for native bees and other insects. Together, these phenomena signal the true beginning of spring in Pacific Northwest lowlands.