2019 tree following 7: Summer in the city

Hot town, summer in the city
Back of my neck getting dirty and gritty
Been down, isn’t it a pity
Doesn’t seem to be a shadow in the city
(The Lovin’ Spoonful – Summer in the City)

After cool and wet weather last month, we have had a heatwave for a few weeks here in Cardiff and one day, for the first time, I noticed the bright dappled shadow of the London plane (Platanus × hispanica or Platanus × acerifolia) I am following in Mermaid Quay, Cardiff Bay.

The tree itself has not changed much in the last month but I have noticed the new Greek street food cafe beneath it has been open during the day on a few occasions, particularly when we had a three-day food festival in the nearby Roald Dahl Plass.

Advertisements

Read Full Post »

Tree following link box for July 2019

Alder (Alnus glutinosa) in July

It’s that time again for the monthly tree-following link box, which will stay open for your tree-related links until 7pm GMT on July 14. You can find the box at the bottom of this post. AND APOLOGIES I THOUGHT I HAD SCHEDULED THIS TO PUBLISH ON TIME BUT IT DIDN’T! I will leave it open for a few days extra to make sure no one loses out. Oops!

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

After a cool early June the jetstream has moved north to hold back the Arctic air and we have had a heatwave here in Cardiff. For the first time I have had to unpack the expanding hose I bought too late last summer. The garden appreciated the thorough soaking, especially the container plants, and a young robin invited me to give it a gentle shower.

I will post about my London plane in Mermaid Quay later in the week – but in the mean time I look forward to reading everyone’s news.

Why not join us and follow a tree throughout the year? Although we all try to publish every month, we are very forgiving if you post less often. 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.

Read Full Post »

2019 tree following 6: Another change of scenery

The street food cafe under the plane in Mermaid Quay has changed hands – here it is being repainted on May 20

Although the London plane (Platanus × hispanica or Platanus × acerifolia) I am following in Mermaid Quay, Cardiff Bay, has changed little in the last month, nearby there is a lot going on.

Around the corner on Roald Dahl Plass (which used to be called the Oval Basin), from May 27 to June 1, there was the Urdd National Eisteddfod, a Welsh language youth festival of words and music.

Read Full Post »

Tree following link box for June 2019

Green cherries in late May on one of the magnificent white-flowering trees around County Hall in Cardiff Bay

The tree-following link box has now closed for another month. It’s very cool and wet for June here in Cardiff and I managed to visit my London plane in Mermaid Quay without getting my camera wet. You will find everyone’s updates below, so enjoy exploring.

If you are new to tree following, read all about the idea here. Why not join us? 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.

Here are the all-important links from this month’s tree followers…

Erika Groth in Sweden – aspens

Frances at Island Threads, off the North West coast of Scotland – hawthorn

Andrew – Kind Hearts and Corydalis – Oliver the oak

Hollis – In the Company of Plants and Rocks – still unknown! maybe it doesn’t matter

Flighty’s Plot – Liz’s witch hazel in Lexington, Kentucky, and Mike’s apple tree

Alison at the Blackberry Garden – a game of two halves

Pat – Squirrelbasket – the London plane of Mermaid Quay

We always love to read your tree news – so thank you to everyone who contributed this month. See you all again on July 7. Why not join us and follow a tree throughout the year? Although we all try to publish every month, we are very forgiving if you post less often.

Read Full Post »

A handful of garden birds in spring

Female blackcap (Sylvia atricapilla) eating mahonia berries in the garden this spring

I’m afraid I am growing complacent about the birds in my garden – seen one baby robin in spring and you have seen them all! However, there are always some comparative rarities to be captured on camera.

Read Full Post »

2019 tree following 5: Leafy backgrounds

Developing leaves and flowers on the London plane (Platanus × hispanica or Platanus × acerifolia) in Mermaid Quay, Cardiff Bay

The London plane tree in Cardiff’s Mermaid Quay is coming along nicely with the benefit of both rain and sunshine in the last few weeks.

I see it most days as I visit the Tesco store opposite to buy a sandwich for lunch or a few groceries. The changes are small but the leaves are growing bigger and the female flowers are starting their journey to becoming fruit balls.

Here are my pictures from April 29 – I find it difficult to get many of the leaves and flowers into sharp focus as there is such a mass of greenery at different distances from the lens, but here goes…

Read Full Post »

Tree following link box for May 2019

Fresh green leaves on the full moon maple (Acer shirasawanum) in my garden in early May

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. Why not join us? 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.

Here in Cardiff we have again had a mixture of weather this month and our usual warm south-westerlies have deserted us. It was mild for a while, then we had chill winds from the eastern half of the compass, meaning surprisingly steamy breath in the mornings. Later came more rain and a short spell of sunny and almost warm weather, tempting us to “cast a clout”.

Here are the all-important links from this month’s tree followers…

Frances at Island Threads, off the North West coast of Scotland – hawthorn

Hollis – In the Company of Plants and Rocks – a stand-in this month (out of town)

Flighty’s Plot – Liz’s witch hazel in Lexington, Kentucky, and Mike’s apple tree

Anni Kelsey – Gardens of Delight – trees on the Welsh border

Alison at the Blackberry Garden – the two quinces blossom

Erika Groth in Sweden – aspens

Pat – Squirrelbasket – the London plane of Mermaid Quay

Andrew – Kind Hearts and Corydalis – Oliver the oak

We always love to read your tree news – so thank you to everyone who contributed this month. See you all again on June 7. Why not join us and follow a tree throughout the year? Although we all try to publish every month, we are very forgiving if you post less often.

Read Full Post »