THE SECRET LIFE OF TREES
Not long ago, around the time of May Day, I commented on the ERECT flowers of the horse chestnut tree. I noticed at the weekend that they are now completely spent. Here, then, is a nice little feature from the Times.
Trees seem quiet and reposeful in midsummer, but the cycle of the year is gently moving on in them. On hazel tress the dangling yellow catkins that announced Spring are a distant memory and in their place are hardening green nuts, sitting in a green frill. But it will be two months before they are brown and ripe.
The winds have blown down more seeds from sycamore trees, and they lie like little green horseshoes on the ground beneath. There are many more left on the twigs and these are straightening out and looking more like propellors as they grow larger and harder. The flowers have fallen from horse chestnut trees and given way to small green conker shells in which the fruit is growing.
On oak and maple trees, fresh leaves are appearing at the tips of the twigs, some of them pink, some even bright red. Cow parsely has faded and the heads are turning to seed, but the lower leaves are adding fresh colour to the ditches as they turn purple. Hogweed is now the reigning umbrella-like flower of the roadsides.
Not long ago, around the time of May Day, I commented on the ERECT flowers of the horse chestnut tree. I noticed at the weekend that they are now completely spent. Here, then, is a nice little feature from the Times.
Trees seem quiet and reposeful in midsummer, but the cycle of the year is gently moving on in them. On hazel tress the dangling yellow catkins that announced Spring are a distant memory and in their place are hardening green nuts, sitting in a green frill. But it will be two months before they are brown and ripe.
The winds have blown down more seeds from sycamore trees, and they lie like little green horseshoes on the ground beneath. There are many more left on the twigs and these are straightening out and looking more like propellors as they grow larger and harder. The flowers have fallen from horse chestnut trees and given way to small green conker shells in which the fruit is growing.
On oak and maple trees, fresh leaves are appearing at the tips of the twigs, some of them pink, some even bright red. Cow parsely has faded and the heads are turning to seed, but the lower leaves are adding fresh colour to the ditches as they turn purple. Hogweed is now the reigning umbrella-like flower of the roadsides.
