The Beauty of Snow (24)

Both catkins and some patches of snow were used by nature to decorate these Black Alders.

The slender male (5–10 cm. long) and the smaller cone-shaped female catkins (2 cm.) remain on this species all winter long.
They are important and healthy foods for birds in this cold season (see picture below).

Dutch name : Zwarte Els
German name : Schwarz-Erle
Latin name : Alnus glutinosa [fc-foto:15641655]