Merry Christmas everyone!

Moonlit Owl by Kirsty R Walker for the Alzheimer’s Society

After a relentlessly dismal 2020 it’s time to sit back and admire all the Christmas cards we have received.

Last Christmas I was expecting an imminent hip replacement for my husband but the Covid pandemic put paid to his operation date in March, at the last minute. He has been in agony and shuffling with a Zimmer frame for months but finally had the hip replacement last week – and he came home to me on Christmas Eve a much more cheerful man! So we hope “things can only get better” as long as we can avoid the dreaded virus.

Is it just me or did Christmas cards seem a bit subdued this year? Anyway, here are just some of the designs that caught my eye. As usual, click on the image to go to the source if it’s a charity.

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2020 tree following 12: A winter surprise

Persian ironwood (Parrotia persica) on December 8, 2020

This has been a very satisfying month for the Persian ironwood (Parrotia persica) in my garden.

The big success has been calling in our tree surgeon to cut back the big branches of the sycamore (Acer pseudoplatanus) growing through the ironwood and obscuring its loveliness.

As I have said before, I have no idea where the ironwood tree came from. It seems to be self-seeded, as is the sycamore. We have lived here for 40 years, since the house was built, and only now have I bothered to identify the Persica.

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Tree following link box for December 2020

The last leaf on the sweetgum tree (Liquidambar styraciflua) in my front garden

The tree-following link box has closed for another month.

Here in South Wales the temperatures have dropped and there has been some snow on the mountains. In Cardiff there is just cold rain and some sunny intervals brightening up the very short hours of daylight.

Any tree-related post is acceptable in these lock-down times and everyone has found something interesting to say. You will find everyone’s updates below – enjoy exploring…

Erika Groth in Sweden – possibly Salix fragilis

Crafty Green Poet – Juliet in Edinburgh, Scotland – horse chestnut

And as a bonus here is Juliet’s tree for next year.

Food For Thought – Sherrie in Indiana – maple and lots of other interesting stuff

Alison at the Blackberry Garden – quince – still leafy…

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

Pat – Squirrelbasket – Cardiff, Wales – Persian ironwood – a winter surprise

Hollis – In the Company of Plants and Rocks – Laramie, Wyoming – chokecherry (Prunus virginiana) in LaBonte Park

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

Thanks so much to everyone who contributed in December – and throughout 2020. Why not join us next time? 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 our tree followings every month, we are very forgiving if you post less often.

See you in January – that’s 2021! I’ve chosen my new tree – have you?

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News from the world of trees 2020 #8

Here is another (occasional) round-up of tree news articles from around the world – I can’t believe I have not had time to post one of these since August! Click on each of the pictures if you would like to read the full stories.

British Christmas tree grower of the year

A family business in York has been crowned the winner of the Champion Christmas Tree Grower of the Year competition – Guardian report in pictures…

Donate a tree for a brighter 2021

New Zealand is hoping to inspire some positivity for 2021 with its Forest of Hope campaign, reports Travel and Leisure…

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