Clues on the path

Although we are encouraged to lift our eyes to see more, sometimes looking at the floor can tell you things.  If you come across little furry items like these, it tells you that you are passing under a male pussy willow tree.

You know it's male for two reasons: 

(a) a close look will show you lots of tiny stamens, which produced pollen and 

(b) the female flowers don't drop off - they develop into seeds.

Such is the fate of the male.