Buds ready to pop, I hope, on my pigeon tree
There doesn’t seem to have been much change this month in the tree I am following in Thompson’s Park, Cardiff. Or are the buds plumper than they were?
I am pretty sure it is an oak (Quercus) of some sort (there are many sorts) and this has been reinforced by a comment from Maria at Leafencounter, who said: “I learned a shortcut to winter plant ID a few years ago – only cherries and oaks have terminal clustered buds.”
That seems excellent advice and I have since identified a few cherry trees using this as a rough guide.
A longer view of the terminal clustered buds
With the mild wet weather for most of the winter I had expected slightly more indicators of spring, but after all the bulbs flowered a few weeks ago we have had a colder snap and although there were early signs of cherry blossom the trees now seem to have had second thoughts.
“My” tree in Thompson’s Park this week
On my latest visit to Thompson’s Park the gardeners were busy draining the duck pond and cleaning it, as well as pruning the plants around its edge.
Under the willow tree by the pond
A closer look
The ducks carried on regardless, blissfully unaware that they were now paddling, not swimming
I know Annie at Earthstar saw the pigeons on the willow when she visited this park recently, but to me “my” tree is still “the pigeon tree” whenever I see it…
Feral pigeons in the oak
More pigeons
The tree’s branches are very twisted
From this direction it seems to be reaching out to the sun – the left of the picture is more or less a southerly direction
The rugged trunk of the tree…
…with purple crocuses in the grass beyond
Some dead brown leaves – looking like oak – still hang on to these twigs
I wonder how long I will wait for some green leaves? The saying goes: “Oak before ash we’re in for a splash; ash before oak we’re in for a soak” – I see both species, so I wonder which will be first into leaf this year…
The tree waits for spring
Are you following a tree? Look out for the link box on this blog on March 7.
Want to know more about tree following? It’s all here.
The Squirrelbasket 
I must remember the saying you quoted. Lovely photos, looking forward to another post on tree following.
Thank you – and I think I am now following your blog, too…
All the best 🙂
Thank you!
Awesome update thank you for sharing have a blessed day
Thank you 🙂
I reckon the mad weather this winter is wreaking havoc with natural cycles including the trees. The temperature seems to be swingling between 5 and 15C on an almost weekly basis, no wonder the trees are confused!
I guess it’s also not good that in some parts we haven’t really had any cold weather, so maybe some pests and diseases haven’t been killed off?
All the best 🙂
I must go back to Thompson’s for a wander – ’tis a lovely park.
But we are so spoilt for choice here. I hoped this would be the year I made it to Roath Park and to Cefn Onn Park, but we shall see…
All the best 🙂
‘Tis true Cardiff has some beautiful green spaces. I live across the road from Roath rec grounds so the park is a favourite of mine. And went to Cefn Onn for the first time last week – loved the wild overgrown bit & has some beautiful trees in the more manicured part.
Lucky you to be so close to Roath Park! And thanks for describing Cefn Onn – I really must take a train there one day 🙂
Pat..Very informative and interesting and well written. Nature appears to work
together so much better than society…humans should take note ..as the saying
goes ” beauty is in the eyes of the beholder ” and you see it with your awesome writes…
Last two years been having health issues, that’s the reason for lack of comments…thanks for the share, it really lifted my spirits…
as always a fan…kj
Thank you so much.
And I am so glad you are still in touch!
May the coming of spring uplift your spirits and health even more 🙂
Pat interesting what you said about your tree reaching for the sun, the windswept branches on my tree are also reaching to the south, your tree does have wonderful textured bark, thanks for hosting I will add my post to the link tomorrow, Frances
Yes, I don’t think it’s being blown by the wind here, as that is usually a southwesterly so it would point the other way.
Or maybe it has just been trimmed on the other side by those wonderful park gardeners, to stop it overhanging the path…
All the best 🙂
It’s a tree with great character. The limbs and bark are wonderfully gnarly.
What a wonderful word “gnarly” is!
All the best 🙂
With all those twisted branches, it’s a great looking tree without leaves! I will check some oaks and cherries for clustered terminal buds. Winter tree id is turning out to be fun–learning more and more.
And just when you think you have cracked it the summer comes and you have to wait until the leaves drop off again to practise your skills.
Best wishes 🙂
Your tree has a really cool shape.
Thanks 🙂
I’ll bet that tree has seen a few things in it’s lifetime. Looking at this tree – I wonder now if the tree on the other side of the riverbank in my blog may also be an oak. They do look familiar.
Tree-following. What a brilliant idea! Any changes yet? I suppose we have to wait until the 7th?
Yep, you do!
I am holding off my visit until as late as possible as here we are still hovering on the brink of spring and the oak in particular seems to be keeping its buds closed.
All the best 🙂