News from the world of trees 2020 #3

Despite the COVID-19 coronavirus crisis I intend to carry on regardless with my regular blog posts and hope for the best. So here is another monthly round-up of tree news articles from around the world. Click on each of the pictures if you would like to read the full stories.

The European Tree of the Year and others

From a stately Scottish elm to a mighty Russian oak, competitors for the title of European tree of the year do their nations proud, says The Guardian…

New Zealand’s most famous tree vandalised

A willow tree at the southern tip of Lake Wanaka, which appears semi-submerged in the water and is a massively popular Instagram spot, was attacked by someone with a saw, says CNN Travel…

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Rediscovered delights of the garden in spring

Lesser celandine (Ficaria verna) in the garden

I cannot avoid mentioning real life now. I dare say most of us are in some kind of lockdown as the Covid-19 Coronavirus spreads in the UK. It all seems so surreal and here in Cardiff it still does not feel that close, although it must be out there somewhere, prowling the city streets and the supermarket shelves.

It looks like I am one of the lucky ones, working busily from home for the council Highways department, with laptop and mobile phone. It has been a week now and the novelty has not yet worn off.

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2020 tree following 3: Signs of life

Buds breaking on the Turkish hazels in front of the Wales Millennium Centre in Cardiff Bay

In the first week of March there were at last signs of life returning to the Turkish hazels or Turkish filberts (Corylus colurna) in Roald Dahl Plass, Cardiff Bay.

Or at least one of the trees was starting to show buds – I am assuming catkin buds rather than leaf buds.

I had to look very closely but something is definitely opening up for spring.

Here are my photographs from March 2.

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Tree following link box for March 2020

Catkins emerging from one of the white poplars outside County Hall in Cardiff Bay

The tree-following link box has now closed for another month. Amazingly it’s nearly spring!

We have had plenty of rain and wind in South Wales in the last few weeks, with Atlantic storms Ciara, Dennis and Jorge arriving in quick succession and bringing flooding and falling trees.

You will find everyone’s updates below, so enjoy exploring…

Erika Groth in Sweden – tree in the snow – possibly Salix

Flighty’s Plot – Liz’s white oak in Lexington, Kentucky, and Mike’s plum tree

Alison at the Blackberry Garden – quince – life is returning quickly

JayP – Amblings around Penwith (Cornwall) – Cornus kousa

Frances at Island Threads, off the North West coast of Scotland – Populus in the garden and Fagus sylvatica in Lews Castle grounds

Hollis – In the Company of Plants and Rocks – Laramie, Wyoming – desperate to post about a tree…

Pat – Squirrelbasket – Cardiff, Wales – Turkish hazel in Roald Dahl Plass – signs of life

If you are new to tree following, read all about the idea here.

Thanks so much to everyone who contributed in March. Why not join us? You could start looking for a tree to observe at any time of year, but spring is as good a time as any. Just 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. Although we all try to publish every month, we are very forgiving if you post less often.

See you next month…

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