Holm oaks and the Pontcanna wall

The Pontcanna Fields wall, on the right, is accompanied by maybe a hundred holm oaks

This is a blog post I have been mulling over for years but finally I have drawn together all my snaps of what I like to call the Great Wall of Pontcanna, which runs around Pontcanna Fields in Cardiff. Also fascinating for me is the fact that for its entire length it is accompanied by a row of evergreen holm oaks (Quercus ilex), which must be a century old.

Please indulge me, as many of you will not find this at all interesting and there are lots of pictures! But I have considered it a sort of journey of exploration, like the search for the source of the Nile…

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2017 tree following 12: The year of the 100 elms

The end of the year for the 100 elms, Ulmus ‘New Horizon’, in Cardiff’s Pontcanna Fields – with next year’s buds waiting…

It’s time to say goodbye to the avenue of 100 disease-resistant elms, Ulmus ‘New Horizon’ in Cardiff’s Pontcanna Fields.

I visited for the last time on Christmas Day, when the trees were more or less the same as when I first chose them to follow just under a year ago.

Next month I will choose a new tree for 2018, but here I will look back with fondness on the year of the 100 elms…

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2017 tree following 11: Autumnal orange at last

Some of the 100 elms (Ulmus ‘New Horizon’) in Pontcanna Fields, Cardiff

My tree following has not been totally successful this month. On Sunday, November 26, I was passing by and noticed that the 100 elms (Ulmus ‘New Horizon’) in Cardiff’s Pontcanna Fields were a lovely orange colour at last. It was a grey day but I thought I should catch the colour while I had the chance, so I snapped these pictures.

I had hoped to return last Sunday, expecting to see the trees almost bare, but I didn’t get out of the house, as it was snowing – and not in a good, picturesque way, but in a dank, slushy way.

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2017 tree following 10: Signs of stress

Browning leaves at the top of one of the 100 elms (Ulmus ‘New Horizon’

It’s November – the days are getting shorter and the shops have already started playing Christmas songs (it must be terrible to work there).

We have had out first frost here in Cardiff, although there is still plenty of rain, too.

The 100 disease-resistant elms, Ulmus ‘New Horizon’, in Cardiff’s Pontcanna Fields still seem green from a distance, but up close the leaves are looking rather poorly.

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2017 tree following 9: Signs of autumn

Autumn leaves on one of the elm trees

Another month has passed and the 100 disease-resistant elms, Ulmus ‘New Horizon’, in Cardiff’s Pontcanna Fields still seem very green.

There are signs of autumn if you look for them – although not the glorious orange hues I had been hoping for.

Quite a few leaves have turned lemon yellow, but we have had a windy few weeks, so most of these leaves are already on the ground all around the elm avenue.

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2017 tree following 8: Darker days are drawing near

One of very few yellow leaves fallen from the 100 elm trees in Pontcanna Fields, Cardiff

I really shouldn’t be disappointed, but I was hoping for a hint of fall colour in the 100 disease-resistant elms, Ulmus ‘New Horizon’, in Pontcanna Fields this month. After all, September is officially the start of autumn, according to the weather people.

The trees may still be as green and lush as ever, but the weather has definitely become more “back-end-ish” as the daylight hours grow shorter. The summer never did come to anything, the rain continues and now it’s getting colder, too.

There’s that distinctive something in the air that inspires nostalgia for childhood and renewed ambitions to cuddle up and do something creative.

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2017 tree following 7: A time of swallows

Fresh growth on one of the 100 elms in Pontcanna Fields, Cardiff

A month ago we were coming to the end of a mini-heatwave, but now I can hardly remember a day without rain this summer. It’s very cool for August, too.

I visited the 100 disease-resistant elms, Ulmus ‘New Horizon’, in Pontcanna Fields one morning this week and drizzle was threatening.

The recent wet weather means the elms are looking as green as ever and not much has changed since last month.

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2017 tree following 6: A summer evening

Elms in Pontcanna Fields, Cardiff, on July 10

This month for a change I visited the 100 disease-resistant elms, Ulmus ‘New Horizon’, in Pontcanna Fields in the early evening, having usually made it a morning date.

This was after a few weeks of very dry, sunny weather, so I was pleased to see that the trees were all still very green and healthy.

Over the next 24 hours we had thoroughly soaking rain, so hopefully that has also topped up their resources.

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2017 tree following 5: A change of scenery

A field of tents beyond the row of elms in Pontcanna Fields

The 100 disease-resistant elms, Ulmus ‘New Horizon’, in Pontcanna Fields saw a different background in early June, as soccer’s European Champions League final came to Cardiff’s Millennium Stadium.

In the game on June 3 Real Madrid beat Juventus by four goals to one, which was a bit disappointing and one-sided after all the build-up.

The whole city was affected and in expectation of a huge number of visitors a special campsite was set up in the fields, right beside the elm trees.
So of course I went to explore a few days before the match.

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2017 tree following 4: Green light for growth

Young leaves of elm in Pontcanna Fields, Cardiff, in late April

The 100 disease-resistant elms, Ulmus ‘New Horizon’, in Pontcanna Fields, Cardiff, are growing greener as spring moves on towards summer and the leaves open out to their full extent.

They are rather delicate leaves at the moment but I expect they will later harden off and turn to a darker colour.

This monthly tree-following visit was on April 28, during a lengthy dry spell with quite cold north-easterly winds.

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