Sorry for the blurry pic of the leaf, my cameraphone did *not* want to focus on the foreground... the leaf is on the small twig that is coming across from the right-hand side of the picture and has green mini-pinecone-looking things...

And lastly, a picture of the mini pinecone-looking things once they've dropped. Whole bits of twig are falling with with these attached.

Looks like an alder tree.

From looking up alder trees online, I think you're right! Thank you!!!

From what I am reading, I don't understand why someone would plant this tree... it seems like they are woodland/water-hungry trees and we're in SoCal, inland... I'm guessing part of the reason it looks the way it does is that it's being watered as part of a drought-tolerant landscape and that's not what it is.

I can give it more water to try and bring it back... should I trim all the dead-looking twigs and branches off first, or let it leaf out in spring and do it then?

Thanks again! I'm excited about having a lush-looking tree this coming year.