Year of trees 2024 -January: Red Alder and Pacific wren

I have been drawing PNW flora and fauna for awhile, focusing on flowers, shrubs and berry bushes and moths or butterflies. This year I want to focus on drawing native trees of the PNW, especially in the coastal region. For each month of the year I plan to draw a tree that is striking for that time of the year, and also represent a bird, butterfly or moth that depends on that tree.I wanted a seasonal year round project that I could build on throughout the year and work with the changing seasons.  I will take inspiration from working in my yard, walking in the neigbourhood or hiking the trails.
For January I am drawing Red Alder and Pacific Wren. Red Alder has a unique red bark, but in winter it often covered in lichen and can be mistaken for birch trees. The leaves of Red Alder are very healthy for the forest floor and enrich the soil in nitrogen. I have a few of these trees in my yard, and a week ago I tried cleaning up some of the leaves next to my garage and found a juvenile newt. I quickly covered him up and decided to leave the leaves alone till spring. Red Alder branches break off and fall all over my yard, and can be quite beautiful with its small dark cones. I chose to couple the Red Alder branch with a baby Pacific wren, its a small chubby little bird with a beautiful long song. I love seeing and hearing them around my house.