Thompson’s Park in early winter

Lush leaf of bear’s breeches (Acanthus mollis) in December

At the beginning of 2016 I promised myself I would keep an eye on Thompson’s Park in Cardiff as the seasons changed through the year, so I have just enough time before Christmas to fit in a snapshot of the park as we pass from late autumn into early winter.

I took these pictures on November 25 and December 9 and in just a fortnight almost the last of the autumn leaves fell. Some berries and seeds remain and there are a few winter blossoms. Please let me know if I have misidentified anything…

One thing I hadn’t noticed before, even though it is very near to the oak I have been following, is this patch of bear’s breeches or Acanthus mollis

The Acanthus flowers have now faded – I should have spotted them when they were purple

The beech trees (Fagus sylvatica) were wonderful while autumn lasted

Another beech in the field part of the park

Glorious colours

This burr (burl) was on another beech trunk nearby

Maple keys

Small-leaved maple with lemon leaves

Maple leaves against dark pine needles

Fallen maple leaves

A pine tree felled by Storm Imogen in February now looks like a sculpture

Berries of cherry-leaved hawthorn Crataegus persimilis ‘Prunifolia’ – I think

The small tree the berries adorn

I think these are pin cherries (Prunus pensylvanica)

…and this is their tree

Daphne in flower in December – I think it is a variety of Daphne bholua

I think this must be a winter-flowering cherry…

…and this one?

Silver furry buds…

…on this tree I can’t identify – but of course I am reminded by Maria at Leafencounter, Brian at Ourgarden@19 and Regina Johnson that it is a Magnolia. Doh! Looking back I actually photographed it in March and it has white flowers!

Glorious beech a fortnight ago…

…now with its bright leaves all over the ground

Other leaves under foot

This still had leaves on December 9…

…I think it’s a sweetgum (Liquidambar styraciflua)

The slope between the bottom park and the top field wore daffodils in spring…

…I can’t quite identify the trees on the bank

One of the paths

Tiny birch leaves (Betula) are always pretty

I can’t identify the colourful tree beyond the dead black branches…

These are the red leaves…

…but it also has yellow leaves – and thanks to Maria and Regina again for suggesting it’s an ornamental pear (Pyrus) – and I’m now thinking it’s maybe Pyrus calleryana?

A small Magnolia beside the duck pond doesn’t look very good at this time of year but has big purple blooms in spring

A weeping willow (Salix) is the centrepiece of the duck pond in Thompson’s Park – beyond on the right is a spindly Eucalyptus

As winter comes we will still have the conifers…

…animals and birds have already been at the cones

All my other Thompson’s Park posts are here.

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