Alder is a motif along the RIver Kent, favouring riverbanks and wet ground. In winter, the crowns of mature trees are dark with cones, and catkins awaiting the coming of spring.
In Kendal. a mingle of alder and hazel grows in a sliver of river bank beside the walkway. Hardly trees, there's little soil for them to grow to maturity but a couple of days of perfect light when catkins are at their best gives a rare opportunity to study them close-up. All the image lacks is siskin, redpoll and goldfinch feeding on seeds as last-summer's cones burst open.
In Kendal. a mingle of alder and hazel grows in a sliver of river bank beside the walkway. Hardly trees, there's little soil for them to grow to maturity but a couple of days of perfect light when catkins are at their best gives a rare opportunity to study them close-up. All the image lacks is siskin, redpoll and goldfinch feeding on seeds as last-summer's cones burst open.
Yellow male catkins are fully open. Above them are much smaller female flowers, in purple.
Catkins show well because they flower before Alder comes into leaf. Discrete twigs bear leaf-buds, last year's cones and new tree-flowers.
Catkins show well because they flower before Alder comes into leaf. Discrete twigs bear leaf-buds, last year's cones and new tree-flowers.
I shared my alder images with a forester friend and here's something of her reply.
The variety is Alnus glutinosa, a welcome weed in our forest. It seeds everywhere, stabilises pond and river banks and burns well. (image of a cosy fireside.) In good damp soil it makes huge trees. What really surprises me is the growth rate of alder- metres per year if they like the situation- they grow as quickly as our sequoias and sempervirens although they won't last the thousands of years that the conifers will, barring accidents.
The variety is Alnus glutinosa, a welcome weed in our forest. It seeds everywhere, stabilises pond and river banks and burns well. (image of a cosy fireside.) In good damp soil it makes huge trees. What really surprises me is the growth rate of alder- metres per year if they like the situation- they grow as quickly as our sequoias and sempervirens although they won't last the thousands of years that the conifers will, barring accidents.
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