We saw our first catkins of the year today. A sure sign that spring is on its way! These are the catkins of the Common Alder Tree. Each tree bears both male and female flowers. The male catkins are dark yellow-brown in colour, and are around 4 cm long when they are fully open. The female flowers are much smaller in size, and cone-like in shape. In this photo you can see the male catkins, and the old woody cones of last years female flowers.