Help, if you got it?

Once again I am asking for the identification of this tree. I've looked everywhere, and the best I can do is maybe an alder. The main problem with it being an alder is that they are not native to the area. In fact, this is the first one of whatever it is, I've ever seen in my life.

After about three years of watching, I finally located a berry. But it has over-wintered and is wrinkled, small, and very much out of reach. I estimate the size to be that of a pencil eraser, but I can't be sure, because it's so high.

The tree itself spreads out beautifully! Nicer than an apple or cherry, for instance. It has leaves and blossoms like those fruit trees, although the blossoms are not very pink. And the darned thing is covered with very long, hard thorns. Much nastier than even a rose thorn.

The branches tangle just like the fruit trees, but the fruit is just a tiny berry. What's more, they are gone long before they are even ripe, so I can't tell you what color they are.

It's bark is heavily grooved, and of course the tree itself is gnarled.

Can anyone give me a link to check on this thing?

Thanks.

pb

Little Pond

Very odd sound

Don't expect wonderful cinemaphotography here. Just listen. Four seconds of crackling. The river is thawing, inch by inch. Ellie was perturbed and stood at attention for what had to be three or four minutes. I thought she even whined, so I shut off the camera to see.

The sound moved downriver and she turned to follow it. There were some weird pinging and sqeaking, too. Ellie would not walk on the ice. Unusual for her, but she seemed spooked.

Me, too.

pb

Little Pond

Happy Holidays

The RiverHag hails incognito from her office in Binghamton, New York.

Peace to All.

pb
Little Pond