The hornbeam (Carpinus betulus) on July 10…
I thought by now that following a hornbeam in Llandaff Fields in Cardiff would be boring, especially as I wouldn’t expect much change in high summer. It’s my least favourite season, when the sheer weight of greenness everywhere grows tired – and tiring.
I usually visit between 8am and 9am every month, but to vary it a bit, I had planned to go at a different time of day, maybe on my way home one evening.
It never happened, as I have been so busy at work, so this week I ended up going at the usual morning hour.
All the trees are green – hornbeam in the middle, marked by a white dot (which is a person)…
On every visit I am surprised by the different combination of weather and the sun’s position. It is now high in the sky by that time of day, having risen somewhere which seems well to the north of west. It was a blue-sky day with mares’ tails (Cirrus clouds), although some of the mares’ tails were probably vapour trails from jets. It was not too hot yet, so ideal for walking.
Blue skies over Llandaff Fields
The hornbeam was a mass of green leaves – although the green is still the BEST green, very different from the other trees around. Perhaps in future I could recognise a hornbeam JUST by the colour?
Hornbeam in sunlight…
Drown yourself in that green…
I was hard pushed to spot the fruit, though. For such a big tree, it doesn’t seem to have many. Perhaps they will show up as if by magic when they change colour in autumn.
I did spot this fruit, high in the branches…
What absolutely wowed me this time, though, was the dappled sunlight beneath the tree. I had expected to be standing in deep shade.
Sunshine through hornbeam branches…
A pool of dappled sunlight beneath the tree…
The direction of the sun is drawn on the trunk – perhaps we could make a sundial?
A sunny delight for the moss and lichen…
The light reflects off spider webs, high up…
I usually walk around and around, inspecting the bark, but this time I stood still long enough to spot this fly. It just looked like a “common fly” to me, and indeed I later identified it as a Musca domestica or house fly.
House fly (Musca domestica) on bark and lichen…
It must have been out for a walk, just as I was.
I also snapped the usual lichen (Platismatia glauca)…
…and this tiny sprig of moss caught my eye…
Is this a seedling? I’m so tempted to put it in a pot…
The seedling may just be a sucker, of course. When you get a minute, go over to Laura Bloomsbury’s tree following blog, as she also has a hornbeam and her latest post is about a sucker.
The clover under the tree is now in bloom. According to Wikipedia, this Trifolium repens is also known as Dutch clover and grows among crops and in turf, as here. It likes clay soils, and I think that is what we have – certainly the soil is reddish.
White clover (Trifolium repens) under the tree…
Common plantain (Plantago major) in flower among the clover…
Creeping buttercup (Ranunculus repens)…
There were some daisies (Bellis perennis) around, but I couldn’t be bothered to pursue them.
Nearby there is a hedgerow, which had plenty of interest…
Stinging nettles (Urtica dioica)…
Isn’t it funny that wherever you find nettles you find dock leaves, used to relieve nettle stings?
Broad-leaved dock (Rumex obtusifolius) alongside the nettles
Looks like giant hogweed (Heracleum mantegazzianum) to me…
…rather “architectural” leaves…
I made an effort to identify these pretty grasses…
I am purely guessing that this is cocksfoot (Dactylis glomerata)
A very pretty and delicate grass – possibly a meadow grass (Poa pratensis)?
It was all so lovely that I sat down on the wooden bench shaded by the tree. And I was glad I did, as immediately a female blackbird came out to dig for worms under the hornbeam…
Female blackbird (Turdus merula) foraging…
She seems to have unearthed a worm and a leatherjacket (crane fly larva)
Thanks again to Lucy Corrander at Loose and Leafy for taking us all on this treefollowing journey.
Looking back on the journey I have taken…
Bye till next time!
See my other tree posts here.
The Squirrelbasket 
It’s rather like a meditation.
I suppose it is. I get so little time to think in everyday life…
Thanks again for the project 🙂
It IS rather like a meditation–just hanging around one spot, looking at what’s there, waiting for what will come. The stately trees and the down to earth blackbird. Such lovely photos.
Yes, it’s wonderful to have this mini-break every month. I never stop and think in my daily life.
And even on these visits I don’t usually stop and sit. On another day I would have missed the blackbird.
All the best 🙂
dappled is a deluverly word
Indeed it is! Maybe I’ll do a blog post about it…
It’s nice to take the time to look an listen, we all rush about far to much these days.
Amanda xx
Indeed it is. Although you seem to be very good at stopping and observing. I can’t believe how many moths you see! All I ever notice is the occasional white-shouldered house moth, which is at least easy to identify!
All the best – I will tweet your latest post 🙂
The great thing about tree watching is how observant it makes you, noticing little details you would never have seen if you weren’ t watching so closely. It is like a meditation.
I agree with you on that. The trouble is that there are so many things to look at in daily life that it’s all a blur. You could choose anything to look at really. But very glad we have chosen trees…
All the best 🙂
Wonderful observations and pictures – I think that this tree will always be special for you now that you have come to know it so well.
Thank you, Elaine. It will be special, but that means one day I will care when it dies. But I have just had the horrible thought that I will possibly (probably?) die first…
Wish I hadn’t said that!
Best wishes 🙂
like mine your seedling might be a sucker – why not scrape it back and see if its independent. Love the way you described the day and the environs too. p.s. am linking to you as interesting to share our hornbeams and seeing the differences and similarities.
I certainly started off by thinking it was a low-growing shoot, but It does now look like a little independent tree. Not sure if I dare disturb it. But maybe I will take some better pictures around it.
As I said over on your blog, I am surprised your hornbeam fruit are already changing colour. I suppose you are further South and East and London is a bigger, hotter city…
I will put a link to you in my post.
All the best 🙂
The dappled sunlight really is beautiful. And thanks for including the other plant photos. I always enjoy seeing what grows in other parts of the world.
Yes, it is fun seeing other parts of the world. I particularly liked your latest post about the cottonwood trees and the way the Russians call the fluff “pukh”!
I have only just realised you come from Laramie in Wyoming. You are probably too young to remember the western series that was so popular here in the UK in the 1960s, but now I will be going around all day singing “The Man from Laramie…”
All the best 🙂
You were very observant–and what a glorious, stately tree to follow. I always find the lichens and mosses so fascinating. And dappled sunlight is so magical. Great post!
Thanks for that – I’m also enjoying your shagbark hickories.
And I’ve just signed up to follow your blog!
We live in shade here, too, but ashes not hickories…
All the best 🙂
How fab that you got time to just ‘be.’
I enjoy reading your tree following posts Pat.
Thank you for entertaining me.
Shaz
Thanks. And hopefully I will have some more time to “be” when I take a holiday in a few weeks’ time.
Keep up the good work at Jera’s Jamboree!
Best wishes 🙂
Thanks ,love the play of light on the tree and through the branches. Look forward to your next update. I love Autumn time .
Thank you for your kind words. By the way, I have revisited the tree twice since then, although we haven’t quite reached autumn yet – see my other tree posts here, if you are interested.
Best wishes 🙂