New leaves and flowers of horse chestnut in Thompson’s Park, Cardiff, a few days ago
Here we are again with the monthly meeting for tree followers. If you are new to tree following, read all about it here.
The link box for contributors is now closed, but at the bottom of this post you will find links from all the wonderful people who took part this month.
In Cardiff it is definitely spring, with lots of new growth, but I wonder what the weather is like where you are – do some of you still have snow?
Here I know spring has arrived as I heard the chiffchaff (Phylloscopus collybita) in the garden for the first time on Sunday, April 3. According to maps, we are in an area where some chiffchaffs are resident all year round, but I still prefer to think that the chiffchaff I hear in spring has travelled a long way from overwintering in Spain or North Africa.
Chiffchaff in the garden in 2010
Although that is the only good picture I have ever snapped of a chiffchaff, I did spot this year’s bird flitting against some moss on a wall, pecking for insects. Usually I just hear the bird and its distinctive call, from which we get its common name.
Recently I wrote about five “easy” trees to identify in winter and I am pleased to say that as they start to break into leaf my identification is proving to be accurate. Phew!
Fresh sycamore leaves and flowers in Thompson’s Park
It is interesting to see that the different species of tree come into leaf or flower at different times. If there were a race, this year the horse chestnut (Aesculus hippocastanum) would be winning. But in second place comes the sycamore (Acer pseudoplatanus).
Although not all trees of the same species are sprouting at once, I have seen a few oak (Quercus robur) leaves. But no ash (Fraxinus excelsior) yet, so I guess it’s going to be a dry summer? “Oak before ash we’re in for a splash” – I wonder if that’s because we had a wet winter. It always seems to average out over the year.
A few oak leaves are appearing – Quercus but I’m never sure if it’s a Quercus robur (English oak)
There are also signs of green leaves in the small hedgerow trees such as hawthorn and hazel, along with the catkins of hazel, birch and alder.
Hawthorn hedge starting to sprout
Grand magnolias, which flower early before they leaf, are losing their blooms now, but in their place will soon be the cherry trees. Some white varieties are already in flower, but the pink blossom seems a bit slow this time.
Pink cherry blossom in Thompson’s Park
On the ground around the trees there are other spring flowers…
Primrose (Primula vulgaris) among dead leaves in the park
I wonder what grows around your special tree?
The April tree-following link box is now closed, but follow these links to this month’s contributors…
Alison – Blackberry Garden – Quince
Liz – guesting on Flighty’s Plot – Serviceberry
Linda’s Garden and Wildlife – Butterfly Tree
Beth – Plant Postings – Buckeye
Tina – My Gardener Says – American Sycamore
Caroline – Wild and Wonderful – Birch and Cherry
Hollis – Plants and Rocks – Juneberry surrogates
Frances – Island Threads – Birch
Annie – Earthstar – Dawn Redwood
Brian – Our Garden @19 – Apple
Angie’s Garden Diaries – mystery tree
Thank you to everyone – see you all again on May 7!
The Squirrelbasket 
That chestnut is further on than the one in my garden at the moment, it is still tight in bud. Thanks again for hosting this meme.
I see your quince is still looking hopeful 🙂
Good post with lovely pictures, and lucky you seeing a chiffchaff. It could do with being drier, sunnier and warmer to be really springlike.
I’ve just done and listed Liz’s post about her serviceberry. My young oak shows no real change so I won’t be posting about it this time. xx
Thanks for all that.
The weather was warmer here today as the bitter north-westerly wind dropped at last.
I also have an oak, but have delayed posting until the first leaf (which I spotted today).
All the best – and thanks for giving Liz a platform 🙂
Horse chestnut is just opening up here in London too, but Hawthorn budded out a few weeks earlier. And Elder (which you didn’t mention, but I shall nonetheless) started opening its leaves way back in new year! How’s that for eager??
have left in link https://lindaswildlifegarden.wordpress.com/2016/04/07/butterfly-tree-follow/
Thanks for hosting. This is a great meme. Horse Chestnut and other Aesculus species are found in my part of the world, too. You asked about our weather: Here where I live in the Midwest U.S., spring and winter are still fighting it out. One day feels like summer, the next like winter. Next week is looking more “normal early spring weather” for us, with highs around 12C. I also chose an Aesculus species to follow, and some exciting things are about to happen with my tree, too. 🙂
Thank you for this month’s update. Great pictures!
Your Aesculus is so pink!
Here I wouldn’t say winter and spring are fighting it out, but there has been a nip in the air until today, when the recent north-westerly wind dropped.
All the best 🙂
I is interesting how the schedules of trees vary in their spring flush, though I guess that’s true of most things. I’ve never heard of the Chiffchaff–darling bird with an equally darling name. Thanks for hosting this meme–I always learn….
I see your (American) sycamore has come on hugely in the last few weeks.
I must see if I can spot the male and female flowers on our London plane trees (also Platanus) here in Cardiff – never thought of looking before.
And I love your “grackles”! If I’m not mistaken they are quite close to blackbirds but rainbow black like our starlings when their stars wear off…
All the best 🙂
I’m guessing you are just a little ahead of us on account of milder temperatures, though I guess we have had less in the way of rain and gales. Lovely spring photos including the 2010 one of the Chiffchaff. We used to love seeing and hearing these at WWT Llanelli when we lived in Swansea.
I must admit chiffchaffs haven’t ever been on my mind at WWT Llanelli – I am usually hoping to hear peewits (green plovers).
All the best 🙂
The harbingers of springtime. Lovely collection!
Thank you 🙂
Lovely celebration of spring!
Just posted my link to the lovely Dawn Redwood. 🙂
It was winter here when I left a week ago, and spring when I returned yesterday. But the plants are waiting … they know it will snow again!
you have a nice park near you Pat, with an interesting variety of trees, no trees up here are as far forward as those down south,
thanks foe hosting, Frances
We are certainly blessed with many parks in Cardiff – and the west-coast weather keeps us warm.
All the best 🙂
The willow is coming to live again. At the edge of a ditch, behind our garden shed. At this time of year the banks of the ditch are green and yellow with a carpet lesser celandine. Glorious yellow stars.
Lovely! We have lesser celandine, too 🙂
The Horse Chestnut is a wonderful tree with its early spring leaves that you have captured in your photos followed by the wonderful candelabra of flowers.
Chiffchaffs are indicators Spring has arrived for me too, not a fancy song but undeniably cheerful. Lovely to see the first flushes of fresh Spring greenery. Similar leaf-burst pattern here in the North, but no Oak yet.
[…] tree over the past year as part of the tree-following meme graciously hosted by Pat English at Squirrel Basket has helped me to appreciate what marvelous plants trees […]
Chiffchaff is such a delightful name for a bird. Spring is starting to arrive here, but mostly in the form of swelling buds on trees. It looks as though you are about a month ahead of us.
I think you are right about the climate differences – although some of our Scandinavian friends still have snow…
Loved your bark!
Best wishes 🙂