2016 tree following 10: Gold among the green
November 10, 2016 by squirrelbasket
Autumn leaves on the oak tree (Quercus robur) in Cardiff’s Thompson’s Park
I had hoped by now that the oak tree (Quercus robur) I am following in Cardiff’s Thompson’s Park would be gold all over, but it seems to be one of the last trees to change colour, along with one or two stubborn ash trees (Fraxinus excelsior) I have seen around.
It has been a wonderful autumn for trees in the city this year, as we have had mostly cold and dry weather throughout October. See my other autumn blog posts here.
Most of the following pictures were taken on November 10.
At first sight the oak still looks green
Some leaves are dry and brown
Some have fallen
The ram’s horn galls made by the Andricus aries wasp are still there, but now dry and withered
A different view of the galls
The trunk is still wonderfully textured
Bark and autumn leaves
If you look carefully you may see the grey dots that are feral pigeons under the tree and on top…
…this is why it will always be the pigeon tree to me
The oak now looks a bit bare from this direction and is surrounded by other trees that have their autumn colours
A pretty contrast
From a distance I saw this grey squirrel under the oak…
…and leaping up into the tree
All my other oak tree blog posts are here.
great shot of squirrel in action! 🙂
Very blurred 🙂
it has been mild down there, mine are in winter bareness, there are a lot of pigeons, and the tree looks like it is stretching it’s arms to create some shade over the seat, Frances
Yes always mild down here in the south, but not as wet as usual…
Take care 🙂
Interesting how the UK provides its various regions with different expressions of seasons. Our autumn has been pretty un-interesting this year – even haws look dull instead of shiny. A beautiful blue-sky day as I write this though.
It is odd, although I wonder if part of it is my mood – I had just been made redundant this time last year, whereas this year I am back in the world of the living!
Most berries are bright here, but I admit I have seen some very rotting hips and haws.
All the best 🙂
Oak trees tend to change colour later than other trees. It will get there in the end 🙂
I have never been that familiar with oaks, they haven’t been in my everyday environment, so I am only just learning that! For some reason I always saw more ash, beech and sycamore.
‘My’ oak was late starting into leaf in Spring, too…
All the best 🙂
blurred but soooo “squirrel” … made me smile 🙂