flowering in october

alder is a common tree in minnesota, but it likes wetlands mostly, and i like walking on dry land. so whole i know it is always near me when i walk–over there by the water’s edge–i rarely get up close and personal with it. so, i was super puzzled when i found this alder tree in minneapolis, planted by the city as a boulevard tree.  hmmm, a little weird, but at least they are planting native trees. anyway, the interesting thing about alders are these woody cones. they look just like pine cones once they dry out and open up to release their seeds. but they are not cones, they are the female flower (catkin).  why this alder is flowering in october, in a urban minnespolis is all very confusing to me. but i’ve only ever seen alder cones in their brown (open) form…so this was  treat,

alder cones (Alnus)/ female alder catkins