The berries are growing but not ripening yet – can anyone identify this small tree for me? It reminds me of something like a Sorbus or a member of the rose family… but thank you to tree follower Karen Gimson, who says it is probably Crataegus prunifolia, which makes sense as its berries are like hawthorn but its leaves are like cherry!
Here we are again with the monthly shout-out to all tree followers. If you are new to tree following, read all about it here.
I know August can be a difficult time to keep up with the tree following, what with holidays and days at the beach. And in some ways trees look as if “nothing is happening”. So I was delighted so many regular followers – and two new ones – took part this month.
The August tree-following link box is now closed, but at the bottom of this post you will find links to all the wonderful contributions we received this month…
In Cardiff it has mainly been a cool summer. We had about three days of “heatwave” but more recently we have had wet and windy weather.
The trees are at “peak green” and, if they could think, they would probably be thinking about autumn and “letting it all go”.
Grand horse chestnut (Aesculus hippocastanum) in Thompson’s Park, Cardiff
In many cases the trees have made their fruits but not ripened them yet.
Green horse chestnuts
Green holly berries
Linden leaves and seeds
That particular linden tree (lime) always intrigues me as at this time of year, when the flowers have all gone, its perfume is heady and beautiful. How come? And it’s one I have always tried to identify as a Tilia cordata, Tilia platyphyllos or Tilia x europaea, but now I’m wondering if it’s a Tilia tomentosa or silver linden, as the backs of the leaves are downy white. Any ideas?
It has been a surprisingly busy month for followers, considering it’s high summer, and we even have two NEW followers, so let’s welcome them first:
June – The Cynical Gardener – Malus domestica ‘James Grieve’
Karen – Paradise Regained – old oak
Alison – Blackberry Garden – quince
Linda’s Garden and Wildlife – Buddleia
Annie – Earthstar – dawn redwood
Tina – My Gardener Says – American sycamore
Caroline – Wild and Wonderful – Betula pendula and Prunus avium Sylvia
Hollis – In the Company of Plants and Rocks – juneberry
Pat – Squirrelbasket – old oak
Frances – Island Threads – Betula pubescens
Jean’s Garden – Prunus pensylvanica
Thank you to everyone – see you all again on September 7!
Thanks for hosting this meme again. Your tree is looking wonderful, such green!
The trees in this post aren’t actually the ONE I’m following, but that is very green, too! I’ll be posting it some time this week.
Ever so sorry about your quincelet!
Best wishes 🙂
awesome have done have a blessed day
You too 🙂
Liz isn’t doing a post about her serviceberry this month but I’ll be doing one during the week on the young oak tree. xx
Just posted it, and added link here. xx
Lovely 🙂
Lovely, I have no problem with “occasional” followers 🙂
That first photo demonstrates what a gorgeous and stately tree the horse chestnut is. It’s a treat to see that.
Yes, it is magnificent when fully grown 🙂
I hope you’ve had your summer holiday by now, Pat, ’cause there are hints of autumn in my monthly update. 😉
Actually no, I have a holiday soon – and I am told the weather is warming up. About time, too!
I will pop over to see your post shortly – although the dawn redwood in Thompson’s Park isn’t looking autumnal, so you have got me intrigued…
Best wishes 🙂
I’ve just had a week’s holiday in England and the weather was perfect, so good luck for yours. 🙂
Sunshine and a few light showers would be nice 🙂
Finally!
I’m new to this and hoping to join in, if I can work out how to press all the right buttons. I think the first tree is a crataegus prunifolia or laevigata. Possibly. I have one in the garden. It is nearly evergreen, has wonderful white spring flowers and gorgeous orange red berries until Christmas. And best of all, the woodpeckers love searching under the peeling bark for grubs and insects.
Thank you for that. The identification makes a lot of sense, as I was thinking hawthorn but totally thrown by the shape of the leaves! I didn’t know this one existed. It is a park, so obviously chosen for its ornamental qualities.
And thank you so much for following a tree – and for telling me about “lammas growth” on oak trees, which I hadn’t heard of.
Welcome to the band of followers 🙂
thank you for your lovely kind words and warm welcome. I’ve been following for a while and thinking what a good idea. Just needed to buck up courage to have a go myself. We are having a lot of trouble with people illegally chopping off branches with chain saws. We think the fashion for log burners might be the reason behind this trend. Anyway, as I am checking on the trees daily and taking photos, perhaps it might put them off. We can only hope.
Wooo! That’s a threat I hadn’t even considered!
Again, welcome 🙂
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Do you have a way to magnify the leaves on your linden tree (e.g., a hand lens or loupe)? If it’s L. tomentosa, that downy white on the backs of the leaves should resolve under magnification to matted, tangly hairs.
I will pick a leaf next time I am passing, if I can reach one – it has rather a high crown. And yes, I do have a magnifying glass I have used in the past for looking at silver hallmarks.
Thanks for the tip 🙂