Red Alder

In 2010 I talked about the Red Alder (Alnus rubra) trees that were very close to pollinating around March 25.  Because we have had such a cool, long drawn out spring we are now about the same stage as we were last spring.  Right now the Alder catkins are very close to popping open and shedding pollen.  The best is yet to come for allergy sufferers as alder pollen is up there on the irritating level.

Another bonus of living in the Bella Coola Valley is the the extensive birch stands which also shed pollen a few weeks after the alder, just to extend the allergy season.

In today's picture the male catkins are on the bottom of the photo, while right at the top is the tiny female flower which will form the 1 cm alder seed cones this fall.  Grizzly