European Alder watercolor sketch
This is a European Alder tree, Alnus glutinosa, growing along side of Lake Katherine. What caught my attention was the fruits growing near the top. From a distance, I thought they were berries however, when I inspected them up close, I found some neat looking “cone” shape fruits. This deciduous tree’s fruit reminds me of pine cones, I really like them. Unfortunately, I learned that the European Alder tree is invasive on a site called, Invasive Plant Atlas , a great site which lists tons of invasive species in the US.
Here’s my question: If the Alder is invasive, why did the staff of Lake Katherine plant it? What you do not see in this sketch is a wire fence protecting the bark from beavers. Perhaps they did not plant it but it grew from a seed, then maybe they should remove the fence and let the beavers have at it?!?
