Posted in Nature, Trees, Uncategorized, tagged Lombardy poplar, Nature, Trees, Victoria Park on January 14, 2022| 3 Comments »
The Lombardy poplar (Populus nigra ‘Italica’) in Victoria Park, Cardiff, a year ago
It’s a new year and time to draw a line under the tree I followed last year – a Lombardy poplar (Populus nigra ‘Italica’) in Victoria Park, Cardiff – and to move on to a new subject for observation, which will be a tulip tree, Liriodendron tulipifera‘ also in Victoria Park.
You can find all my Lombardy poplar posts here but these are some of my pictures showing how the tree changed through the seasons. (more…)
Posted in Nature, Trees, Uncategorized, tagged Lombardy poplar, Nature, Trees, Victoria Park on December 14, 2021| 4 Comments »
Afternoon shadow of the Lombardy poplar (Populus nigra ‘Italica’) in Victoria Park, Cardiff
I was up against it this time in trying to find an opportunity to visit the Lombardy poplar (Populus nigra ‘Italica’) I am following in Victoria Park, Cardiff. It has been quite wet and windy in the last month but when the sun shines it is glorious.
I managed to grab a moment with the tree on Friday afternoon as the sun was already low in the sky and the shadows were stretching out across the grass. It seemed sad and appropriate as it was the last time I would focus on this particular tree.
My abiding memory of this occasion was a grey squirrel that gazed down at me from a low branch on the tree throughout my whole visit.
Here are my pictures: (more…)
Posted in Nature, Trees, Uncategorized, tagged Lombardy poplar, Nature, Trees, Victoria Park on November 14, 2021| 8 Comments »
Leaves on the pavement from the Lombardy poplar (Populus nigra ‘Italica’) in Victoria Park, Cardiff
The days are growing short here in South Wales and the ground is sodden with recent weeks of rain.
But the weather brightened enough on my day off this week to visit the Lombardy poplar (Populus nigra ‘Italica’) I am following in Victoria Park, Cardiff.
There are still small yellow leaves attached to the branches and even one or two still green.
Here are my pictures: (more…)
Posted in Nature, Trees, tagged Lombardy poplar, Nature, Trees, Victoria Park on October 14, 2021| 2 Comments »
A few golden leaves on the Lombardy poplar (Populus nigra ‘Italica’) in Victoria Park, Cardiff
It’s definitely autumn in South Wales now, with changeable weather and lower temperatures. Some trees, such as lime/linden and chestnut are well into their fall finery, but the Lombardy poplar (Populus nigra ‘Italica’) I am following in Victoria Park, Cardiff, is still mainly green.
Perhaps this is because the small yellow leaves do not hang around very long on the tree but leave a slightly thinned-out effect, letting more daylight through the branches. (more…)
Posted in Nature, Trees, Uncategorized, tagged Lombardy poplar, Nature, Trees, Victoria Park on September 14, 2021| 10 Comments »
A tiny face looking out from the bark of the Lombardy poplar (Populus nigra ‘Italica’) in Victoria Park, Cardiff
The weather continues to be changeable in South Wales in early September. For a few days it was so dry with an easterly wind that I thought I would have to water the garden. Then the weather broke – luckily with no thunderstorms here but heavy rain.
This was just at the time I needed to visit the Lombardy poplar (Populus nigra ‘Italica’) in Cardiff’s Victoria Park, so I delayed going until it cleared up on Sunday, a day I normally stay at home.
The poplar still looks very fresh, with none of the tiredness you might expect towards the end of summer.
Here are my pictures… (more…)
Posted in Nature, Trees, Uncategorized, tagged Lombardy poplar, Nature, Trees, Victoria Park on August 14, 2021| 8 Comments »
Populus nigra ‘Italica’) in Victoria Park, Cardiff, in August
I’m sure we were expecting a mini heatwave in South Wales this month but instead August has been cool and mainly wet.
The light rain did ease off enough for me to visit the Lombardy poplar (Populus nigra ‘Italica’) in Cardiff’s Victoria Park this week.
Nothing much changes in mid summer but I was able to take some general views and found some details to photograph.
Here are my pictures… (more…)
Posted in Nature, Trees, Uncategorized, tagged Lombardy poplar, Nature, Trees on July 14, 2021| 6 Comments »
Young leaves growing from the trunk of the Lombardy poplar (Populus nigra ‘Italica’) in Victoria Park, Cardiff, in July
For a moment there I thought I was going to miss my own deadline. There has been so much rain over the last couple of weeks that I didn’t make it to visit the Lombardy poplar (Populus nigra ‘Italica’) in Cardiff’s Victoria Park until yesterday.
It was the first dry day for ages and heralded what we are told will be a mini heatwave here in South Wales.
On this visit the poplar hadn’t changed very much from the previous month – such is the way of things once we reach summer. So I was left scrabbling around to find details to photograph.
Here are my pictures… (more…)
Posted in Nature, Trees, Uncategorized, tagged Lombardy poplar, Nature, Trees on June 13, 2021| 10 Comments »
Green leaves and dead leaves of the Lombardy poplar (Populus nigra ‘Italica’) in Victoria Park, Cardiff, in June
The first half of June has been changeable here in Cardiff. We have had cool days and warm days, damp days and sunny. All this has been good for nature and gardens.
There was a strong breeze as I set out to visit the Lombardy poplar (Populus nigra ‘Italica’) in Cardiff’s Victoria Park this week, but the clouds were clearing.
On this visit the poplar was looking green but I did spot some small damage from gales towards the end of May. Here are my pictures… (more…)
Posted in Nature, Trees, Uncategorized, tagged Lombardy poplar, Nature, Trees on May 14, 2021| 2 Comments »
Leaves of the Lombardy poplar (Populus nigra ‘Italica’) in Victoria Park, Cardiff, in May
Just for a change there was a hail storm as I set out to visit the Lombardy poplar (Populus nigra ‘Italica’) in Cardiff’s Victoria Park this week. After a very dry April May has been very showery and a bit cold. I guess we have already had our summer…
On this visit the new golden leaves of last month had turned a fresh green. Here are my pictures… (more…)
Posted in Nature, Trees, Uncategorized, tagged Lombardy poplar, Nature, Trees on April 13, 2021| 10 Comments »
Pretty golden leaves of the Lombardy poplar (Populus nigra ‘Italica’) in Victoria Park this week
For all my good intentions it has been a full month since I visited the magnificent Lombardy poplar (Populus nigra ‘Italica’) in Cardiff’s Victoria Park.
I had hoped to see last month’s red male catkins develop but I have been so busy that I missed my chance of an extra visit in between times.
I went to see the tree this week on a cool spring day with sunshine and light cloud. This time the catkins had all gone and instead there were beautiful golden diamond-shaped leaves breaking through. Here are my pictures… (more…)
The Squirrelbasket 