Odd Spring Flowers

Catkins are the male flowers on birch and quaking aspen trees, odd because they appear early in spring. This year was exceptionally strange because they were already on the trees when we arrived on April 6. Usually it's a few weeks later although now I can't remember exactly when. They were only noticeable as spring breezes carried them from the trees and deposited them like so many caterpillars. 
Leaves are appearing also, which is weeks earlier than ever before. Nature is all mixed up now.