2022 tree following 9: A little bit back-endish

A raindrop-splattered leaf fallen from the tulip tree (Liriodendron tulipifera) in Cardiff’s Victoria Park

As the days get shorter and cooler, there is what my Yorkshire mother-in-law would call a “back-endish” feel to the crisp air.

Since last month the parched weather has been relieved by a considerable amount of rain here in South Wales, but I fear it will not be a good year for autumn colour, with many tree leaves falling prematurely, brown and shrivelled.

After a wet week I managed to visit the tulip tree (Liriodendron tulipifera) in Cardiff’s Victoria Park today, on what turned out to be a glorious blue-sky day with quite warm temperatures.

There was a stubborn band of rain farther to the south of Britain, which soaked London during these sad times of national mourning after the death of Queen Elizabeth II.

Here are the photos from my visit this morning…

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2022 tree following 8: The edge of drought

Dry leaves fallen from the tulip tree (Liriodendron tulipifera) in Cardiff’s Victoria Park

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
All around, people looking half-dead
Walking on the sidewalk, hotter than a match head
[The Lovin’ Spoonful – Summer in the City]

Last month we had a mini heatwave with temperatures in the 30s for a few days, but this time we are on the verge of drought, even here in South Wales, one of the wettest parts of the UK. The hot, cloudless weather has lasted about a fortnight and we are really hoping it will break with some welcome rain in the coming week.

It was exhausting walking the mile to visit Victoria Park to check up on the tulip tree (Liriodendron tulipifera) on Friday. The place was full of families, with the loud squeals of children playing on the splash pad – such a good idea in this weather and all the water is recirculated. I don’t like to take pictures of children without permission so this is from the website of the creators of the splashpad…

One of the exciting features of the splashpad is a bucket that gradually fills and then upends over all the children. Click on the photo to go to the Ustigate Waterplay website

Here are my pictures of the tulip tree…

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2022 tree following 5: A blustery day

New flower buds and last year’s husks on the tulip tree (Liriodendron tulipifera) in Cardiff’s Victoria Park

As we pass from late spring into summer here in Cardiff the weather is warming up, although we still have an occasional wet day for the benefit of the garden.

It was sunny but surprisingly blustery when I visited Victoria Park to visit the tulip tree (Liriodendron tulipifera) this week.

The statuesque tree is now full of leaves at that lovely, fresh light green stage of growth.

Here are the pictures from my latest visit…

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2022 tree following 3: Tulip tree in March

The tulip tree (Liriodendron tulipifera) in Cardiff’s Victoria Park

It has been a wet week here in South Wales but one morning I managed to find a weather window to visit the tulip tree (Liriodendron tulipifera) in Cardiff’s Victoria Park.

There has not been much visible development since my last visit but Spring has sprung all around, with a patch of crocuses in the grass beneath the tree.

Here are the pictures from my latest visit…

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2022 tree following 2: Tulip tree in February

The husk of last year’s fruit on the tulip tree (Liriodendron tulipifera) in Cardiff’s Victoria Park

Last week I made my first 2022 visit to the tree I have chosen to follow this year, a tulip tree (Liriodendron tulipifera) in Cardiff’s Victoria Park.

I was a tiny bit concerned I wouldn’t recognise it in winter but I needn’t have worried.

It is the tallest tree in this part of the park and I remembered it was near the bandstand.

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2022 tree following 1: The year of the Lombardy poplar

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.

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2021 tree following 12: Casting a long shadow

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:

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Two magnificent golden trees of autumn

Looking up at the tulip tree (Liriodendron tulipifera) in Victoria Park

On my November visit to Cardiff’s Victoria Park two trees particularly caught my attention for their autumn colour, so I thought I would give them a blog post of their own.

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Victoria Park: A very colourful autumn

Fallen maple leaves in Victoria Park

As usual I took some general photos of Victoria Park when I visited for the monthly tree-following inspection of my Lombardy poplar. I have not seen such excellent autumn colour for years. For the last couple of months we have had mostly mild weather and a mixture of sunshine and rain, with no early frosts. This must have been favourable for the display.

Here are my latest pictures – although I have also saved a couple of particularly good trees for a separate blog post…

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2021 tree following 11: Fading away

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:

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