Posted in Nature, Uncategorized, tagged Cardiff Bay, Nature, The Wharf, winter on November 28, 2018| 6 Comments »
Ripening fruit seen during my walk around the Wharf (former Bute East Dock) in Cardiff on November 20 – I have been calling this dogwood (Cornus sanguinea) but I am still not totally convinced
It has now become my habit to go for a walk around the Wharf (former Bute East Dock) at least once a month to document the plants. The darker days are here but I am still finding plenty in nature to brighten my day.
Mahonia is one of my favourite winter plants…
Posted in Birds, Nature, Uncategorized, tagged birds, Cardiff Bay, Nature, The Wharf on November 24, 2018| 8 Comments »
Grey heron (Ardea cinerea) on the Wharf in Cardiff Bay, November 20, 2018
There was a pleasant surprise on my monthly walk around the Wharf (former East Bute Dock) in Cardiff Bay this week. It was a very cold day with watery sunshine breaking through.
As I walked along the far side from my offices in County Hall I saw this grey heron (Ardea cinerea) quietly standing on the edge of a nesting platform provided for the wildfowl. The Wharf is full of carp and other fish, so this is a good place for a heron. (more…)
Posted in Nature, Trees, Uncategorized, tagged autumn, Cardiff Bay, Nature, Trees on November 17, 2018| 6 Comments »
The blue BayBus – a long bendy bus – heading down Lloyd George Avenue towards Cardiff Bay
It is now nearly a year since I started working in Cardiff Bay and every day my bus ride takes me down Lloyd George Avenue, a broad, mile-long road linking the city centre and the bay.
For many months I had been meaning to walk the tree-lined avenue but it is only now in autumn that I have finally made the effort – hoping to identify the trees before the last leaves fall and identification becomes difficult again.
The red pin marks the middle of Lloyd George Avenue – click on the image to explore – with thanks to Google Maps
Posted in Nature, Trees, Uncategorized, tagged autumn, linden, Nature, Trees on November 11, 2018| 7 Comments »
The seasons turn – and this abandoned bicycle wheel among the fallen leaves of my little leaf linden (Tilia cordata) on The Wharf (former East Bute Dock) seems an appropriate image
We are in late Autumn here in Cardiff and the small-leaved linden (a cultivar of Tilia cordata) next to the Wharf in Cardiff Bay has lost nearly all of its golden leaves, although in other parts of the city and on other trees, such as ash, maple and hornbeam, there is still a great deal of colour.
I took these pictures on November 3 during an overcast lunchtime in the middle of a spell of very wet weather last week, which will be continuing into next week.
This time my visit was not part of my long monthly circuit of the Wharf but just a quick foray specifically to visit the linden. (more…)
Posted in Nature, Trees, Uncategorized, tagged Nature, Trees on November 7, 2018| 10 Comments »
Many leaf colours of a tulip tree (Liriodendron tulipifera) in Cardiff Bay in late October 2018
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.
If you are new to tree following, read all about the idea here.
Here in Cardiff we have had a mixture of weather in the last month, with one or two crisp, frosty mornings and many more days of rain. The worst weather came with Storm Callum in mid October, when there was flooding in Wales that even affected Mermaid Quay in Cardiff Bay, where I work.
Meanwhile it has been a wonderful autumn for tree colour, with golds, oranges and reds everywhere.
I wonder what the weather is like where you are?
Our ranks of tree followers are growing all the time, so why not join them next time? Point us to any tree-related post you would like to share, using the link box published on the 7th of each month and lasting for a week.
We always love to read your tree news – so thank you to everyone who contributed this month. Here are the links…
Annie and the Acer mono – Cardiff
Alison at the Blackberry Garden – Quince Crumble
Flighty’s Plot – Liz’s black walnut in Lexington, Kentucky, and Mike’s medlars
Erika Groth in Sweden – bird cherry
Pat – Squirrelbasket – small-leaved linden
Hollis (In the Company of Plants and Rocks) – boxelder (Acer negundo) and what’s nearby
Lea’s Menagerie in Mississippi – red maple
Thank you to everyone for taking part – see you all again on December 7!
Posted in Art & Design, tagged architecture, art, Cardiff Bay on November 4, 2018| 10 Comments »
A stone egg is a useful landmark on Schooner Way
I love this very big stone egg in Schooner Way, in Cardiff Bay. A map tells me it is the centrepiece of an attractive apartment development called Henke Court.
It is a great landmark as I can use this cut-through to reach the Wharf (former East Bute Dock) now that a stretch of the walkway around it is sealed off for building work and it is impossible to do a complete circuit. (more…)
The Squirrelbasket 