The Celtic ALDER experience

18th March Celtic Tree Month
ELDER Begins

Although the look completely different
The birch and Alder they
Are based around their flowering structures
The BETULACEAE
Female and male flowers in the same Tree
1 cm long 6 cm male
Shedding copious pollen
Into the wind to sail
The female it extends to form
The cone like holder and
It will remain stuck fast
Upon the tree we understand

It likes its roots in water
At tHe ery worse it needs
A dampness to be present
When this tree then succeeds
Along the banks of rivers
Damp floored lowlands too
Sometimes grown on hillsides where springs
And mountIn dew
Or best within the fenland
Where other trees may fear
Elder likes the flood plains
That is very clear