Tree following link box for August 2020

Green acorns in the rain in a Cardiff park this week

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 August 14.

I can’t believe it’s August already – my mind is still stuck back in March when the Covid-19 lockdown started.

Here in South Wales we have had sunshine and rain – but at least it means we haven’t had to water the plants. I will be posting about the Parrotia tree in my back garden later in the week.

Some of you may be able to visit your trees but for others any tree-related post will be acceptable during these unusual times. I’m sure you will think of something interesting to say.

I am hopeful that we will continue to have some new tree enthusiasts joining us, so point to any post you would like to share, using the link box below. And please don’t forget to leave a comment.

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

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Summer Photography Scavenger Hunt – July

Something that holds your favourite beverage: Wine glass for chilled rosé wine mixed with elderflower pressé…

Last month I signed up for the Summer Photography Scavenger Hunt hosted by Mary-Lou at Patio Postcards – details here. During this coronavirus lockdown I have again not strayed far from the house and garden. Here is my second attempt…

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Victoria Park in the pandemic summer

Billy the Seal, a Cardiff character who lived in the pond in Victoria Park’s zoo from 1914 until 1939, when he died and it was discovered he was a she…

Somehow I have been so very busy during my four months working from home that I have had trouble keeping up with my blogging. I have also totally abandoned my initial idea of visiting a different Cardiff park every week. Here I am eventually sharing my pictures from Victoria Park, although I took them in late June.

I managed to clock up 5,500 “steps” walking to the park and back, so hopefully that will give you an idea of how close to home it is. For all that, I have only ever visited it twice before, and then only passing through without a camera.

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Unearthed – a love of potatoes

Charlotte potatoes reveal themselves

Many people have turned to a spot of gardening during the lockdown and I must admit that I just happened to have ordered some patio tubs and a potato growing kit long before the Covid-19 pandemic hit. As a child I had helped grow potatoes in the garden but never in containers. Here are some images of the results of my efforts…

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2020 tree following 7: Parrotia in July

Leaves of Persian ironwood (Parrotia persica) in early July

Well, it’s week 17 of my Covid-19 lockdown here in Cardiff and I’m still happily working from home and not going out much – although I have managed to arrange a much-overdue haircut for next week!

I was concerned that the Persian ironwood (Parrotia persica) I have discovered in my back garden would struggle as it is so overshadowed by a big sycamore, but on the latest inspection it seems to be doing fine.

Here are some pictures of my discoveries in the last few days.

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News from the world of trees 2020 #6

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.

Two-acre cashew tree looks like a mini forest

The largest cashew-nut tree in the world is featured in the Mail Online…

Big cats love climbing trees

Researcher Alexander Braczkowski spent a year monitoring and filming tree lions in the Queen Elizabeth conservation area in Uganda – the drone video is on the Guardian website…

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Summer Photography Scavenger Hunt – June

A favourite piece of jewellery: I probably haven’t worn this necklace and earrings for 30 years or more, but loved them when I was younger – they are pictured against a background of a plain pair of black trousers as I couldn’t find velvet…

Having enjoyed the Winter Photography Scavenger Hunt with Eileen at A Bracelet of Days, I have signed up for the Summer Photography Scavenger Hunt hosted by Mary-Lou at Patio Postcards – details here. The first monthly link-up is here.

This time there is an added challenge as during the coronavirus lockdown I have hardly strayed from the house and garden.

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The back garden in June

Persian bellflower (Campanula poscharskyana) in the garden in June

There are some splashes of colour in the garden this month as well as the ever-present green of the trees and shrubs, so I thought I would celebrate this. Here are some recent pictures…

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Garden birds in early summer

Young blackbird (Turdus merula) on the last day of May

I have had a chance to notice more garden birds than usual in recent weeks and it has been a good year for certain baby birds. I have seen very young nuthatches for the first time – two of them – although the parents have disappeared at the moment.

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2020 tree following 6: Mystery tree has a name

Developing seed-head of the mystery tree in my garden on the last day of May

Well, here we are in June and for me it’s the end of the 12th week of working from home in the Covid-19 lockdown here in South Wales.

You may recall I began the year following some lovely Turkish hazel trees in Cardiff Bay, but they are now a long way away so I am observing a tree in my own back garden, visible from my study window.

Actually it is becoming less and less visible as it is overhung by a rapidly growing self-seeded sycamore tree (Acer pseudoplatanus) and as it is on a difficult slippery slope I have not yet been able to cut back the sycamore branches.

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