2020 tree following 5: A puzzling specimen

The mystery tree in my garden

Here we are in the eighth week of the coronavirus lockdown in the UK, with nothing but sunshine since it began.

I am very busy working from home for the Cardiff Council Highways department but more able than usual to watch the natural goings-on in my own garden.

Being separated from my Turkish hazel trees in Cardiff Bay, last month I chose a new tree to follow in my own backyard and had some strange idea that it was another hazel of sorts. But now I am more puzzled than ever about the species. Perhaps you can help.

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2020 tree following 4: An alternative hazel…

The Wales Millennium Centre in Cardiff Bay is closed for the duration of the coronavirus lockdown

These are grim times here in Wales and in many other parts of the world with the coronavirus pandemic leading to so many deaths and the lockdown of normal society to try to contain the Covid-19 cases.

So it is a minor irritation, I suppose, that I will not be able to visit the Turkish hazels in front of the Wales Millennium Centre this month. They were so close to where I worked in Cardiff’s County Hall until we were all sent to work at home.

From here in the Canton area it would take more than an hour to walk to the bay and another hour to walk back. Or it would take two buses and in these days of social distancing that would just be too risky – and it could be said that my journey was not essential.

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2020 tree following 2: Nothing to see here

Turkish hazels in front of the Wales Millennium Centre in Cardiff Bay

Perhaps I should have left it until February to launch my tree following for 2020, as there is nothing new to report since my first bulletin in January.

The Turkish hazel or Turkish filbert (Corylus colurna) trees in Roald Dahl Plass, Cardiff Bay, are still dormant.

There has been one change – the small, strange metal sculpture of a Boudica character shown last time among the trees has disappeared as quickly as it appeared.

Here are my photographs from February 5.

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2020 tree following 1: New year, new species

The twigs on the right belong to my latest subject for tree following, in Roald Dahl Plass, Cardiff Bay

Well here we are again – a new year and a need to find a new tree to follow in 2020. I think I decided a couple of months ago, despite the fact that I am breaking all my own “rules” and once more going for a group of trees rather than a magnificent solo tree (I had such good intentions when I first followed a tree in 2014 – here)…

I have been interested in these trees in Roald Dahl Plass, Cardiff Bay, since I noticed the fruits for the first time in autumn and managed to identify the species – Turkish hazel or Turkish filbert (Corylus colurna).

Clearly it’s not native here but this public space seems to be full of them. They have interesting catkins in spring and nuts in autumn so I am looking forward to taking more notice of these street tree specimens throughout 2020.

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Mystery tree fruits identified

Frilly fruits on the trees in front of the Wales Millennium Centre in Cardiff Bay

There’s always something I haven’t seen before when I am in Cardiff Bay. This time, on a blustery day, I noticed these unusual, heavy fruits on the trees in front of the Wales Millennium Centre.

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