Posted in Gardening, Nature, Trees, Uncategorized, tagged autumn, Gardening, Nature, Trees on November 30, 2022| 2 Comments »
A single leaf of Persian ironwood (Parrotia persica) clings to a twig in the garden
Today is the last day of November and tomorrow we start the three cold months of winter. Throughout these last few weeks the colour has gradually been draining from the garden, as viewed from my desk window. Here are some highlights… (more…)
Posted in Nature, Snapshots of the day, Uncategorized, tagged birds, Nature on November 20, 2022| 7 Comments »
Painted lady butterfly (Vanessa cardui) on Mahonia this week
I felt a bit depressed as I sat at my desk on Friday morning, overwhelmed by working full-time from home, an unwell husband and all the housework. But blue skies and a couple of “exciting” nature observations brightened my mood no end…
We pruned our huge Mahonia brutally last year but it has come back better than ever, its yellow flowers attracting so much wildlife with their pollen – and later the berries. It was the subject of one of my very early blog posts in November 2009 – see here.
I picked up my camera and zoomed in on a butterfly I didn’t quite recognise and it turned out to be a painted lady (Vanessa cardui) – we see many speckled wood (Pararge aegeria) and holly blue (Celastrina argiolus) butterflies in our garden but I don’t think I have ever seen a painted lady before. (more…)
Posted in Nature, Trees, Uncategorized, tagged Nature, Trees, tulip tree, Victoria Park on November 13, 2022| 11 Comments »
Autumn leaves of the tulip tree (Liriodendron tulipifera) in Cardiff’s Victoria Park this week
I am glad I visited the tulip tree (Liriodendron tulipifera) in Cardiff’s Victoria Park a bit earlier this time as I might otherwise have missed its autumn colour.
We have had so much rain and wind in recent weeks that most of the loosening leaves have been blown from the branches and now lie in mush on the grass.
Here are the photos from my latest visit, on a rare dry day… (more…)
Posted in Nature, Trees, Uncategorized, tagged Nature, Trees on November 7, 2022| 14 Comments »
Colourful maple leaves in Victoria Park, Cardiff, this week
Welcome to the November tree-following gathering. I look forward to seeing everyone’s news and pictures once again. And newcomers are also always welcome.
I was keen not to miss the autumn tints of the tall tulip tree (Liriodendron tulipifera) I am following in Cardiff’s Victoria Park so made my visit a week early this time, on a rare fine day – I will report on that later.
We have had a great deal of rain here in South Wales after a parched summer but I wonder what the weather has been like where you are? Is it autumn / fall yet? Many trees here are still green and some seem to have leaves that are more damaged than glorious this time around. The strong winds recently have probably not helped.
I’m sure you regular tree followers will have something new to report. Point to any tree-related post you would like to share, using the link box below. And please don’t forget to leave a comment.
The link box is now open for contributions and will stay open until 7pm GMT on November 14.
If you are new to tree following, read all about the idea here, although, as I have been saying for months, I must update that page when I have the chance! Sorry I am being so neglectful at the moment.
The Squirrelbasket 