Dead branches on a sycamore in my garden
The tree-following link box has now closed for another month. To explore everyone’s updates, please go straight to the bottom of this post.
Why don’t you join us and follow a tree, too? You can start at any time and you don’t have to contribute every month if that’s too much of a commitment for you.
Here in Cardiff there have been very heavy showers for a few weeks and it’s hard to believe it’s the height of summer. But at least it’s good for the garden. That means the dead branches I can see on a self-seeded sycamore tree (Acer pseudoplatanus) in the garden are nothing to do with drought.
Here is the culprit…
The family of this grey squirrel (Sciurus carolinensis) have been stripping bark from the sycamore for years – this picture was taken in February 2011
On a brighter note, the other day as I sat at my desk I spotted a dragonfly landing on the dead leaves. This isn’t a great picture as it was taken on maximum zoom…
Hopefully you can make out the turquoise markings on this dragonfly, which I think is a hawker (genus Aeshna)
If you are new to tree following, read all about it here.
And without further ado, here are this month’s links…
A big welcome back to Lucy Corrander, who is now following a tree in Halifax
Mike – Flighty’s Plot – dogwood (Cornus)
Alison at the Blackberry Garden – quince
Hollis (In the Company of Plants and Rocks) – poison nut tree (Strychnos nux-vomica)
Frances at Island Threads, off the North West coast of Scotland – rowan (Sorbus aucuparia)
Erika Groth in Sweden – rowan (Sorbus aucuparia)
Pat – Squirrelbasket – 100 elm trees
Thank you to everyone – see you all again on September 7. Why don’t you join us and follow a tree, too?
The Squirrelbasket 
I’ve found a new tree to follow in my new home town of Halifax. It’s possibly an alder but half way up a tall hill – which seems an odd place for it. On the other hand, there must be underground rivers and streams so may it is by one of these even though we can’t see it.
There are Sycamores outside my window and only a few days ago I was wondering what squirrels eat when they are not eating acorns. Here is an answer.
I’m SO pleased you have found a tree to befriend “up north”. I will follow your posts with interest.
I’m not sure if the squirrels eat the bark, I think they may just use it for a nest/dray…
All the best 🙂
Hello I’ve just posted and linked for this month. xx
Thank you – looking good 🙂
Thanks for hosting this meme again 🙂
And thank you for posting – I see congratulations are in order!
All the best 🙂
post is up — yet another “random tree” (I’ve met quite a few lately). cheers 🙂
Thank you – I loved it. You certainly know how to tell a botanical story!
Best wishes 🙂
I didn’t know squirrels striped bark, what a shame about the tree, hawkers are beautiful dragonflies,
my post is linked, my tree had a visiter this afternoon, thanks for hosting, Frances
Thank you for posting – and I loved the rabbit, such an unusual colour!
All the best 🙂