Trees from here and there
We do a lot of walking in woodland on our travels. Trees always offer some amazing shapes and forms, whether in natural or unnatural growth, or in decay. Below is a selection of photographs from some of our travels.
Witch's broom
2014Lastingham
Witches brooms at Lastingham, I think in birch trees. Brooms occur when twiggy growth bursts from a single spot, triggered by a fungal attack.
Oak burr
2014Wallington
Oak burrs in abundance in the woods at Wallington - on the walk from the house to the garden.
Lime
2014Wallington
Nothing special, just a fine free-standing example of a mature lime tree at Wallington Hall, Northumberland. I am not sure which lime
Japanese red cedar
2013Glamis Castle
Multiple trunks of a red cedar in the pinetum at Glamis castle. This is probably cryptomaria japonica, which is not a "true cedar" despite its common name.
Hollow oak
April 2014Farndale
A battered hollow oak by the River Dove in Farndale, North Yorkshire.
Acer
July 2015Brodsworth Hall
An acer in the acer dell at Brodsworth Hall. In fine shape here in July. What must it be like in Autumn colours?
Oak
September 2015Lake District
A fine oak viewed from the terrace of Blackwell, a beautiful Arts and Crafts house near the shores of Lake Windermere.
Tulip tree
June 2016Dalemain
Liriodendron tulipifera. An ancient tulip tree, planted around 1815 in front of the house. It still flowers.
Giant redwood
2016Sledmere
Sequoia giganteum behind the walled garden at Sledmere House.
Lime avenue
2016Wentworth Castle, Barnsley
Tall limes narrowly planted form Lady Lucy's Avenue at Wentworth Castle. An almost obligatory feature for stately homes to have (though usually wider).
Hemlock hedge
2013Threave
Tsuga heterophylla, or hemlock, provides a dense clipped hedge at Threave Gardens in Dumfries and Galloway.
Weeping beech
2013Threave
I am fairly sure this is a weeping beech tree, in the National Trust training gardens at Threave, Dumfries and Galloway
Yew
November 2017Strid Wood
A yew trunk in November sunlight at Strid Wood, Bolton Abbey.
Birch trees
November 2017Strid Wood
Birch trees in November sunlight at Strid Wood, Bolton Abbey
Madrone
May 2019Castle Menzies
Arbutus Menziesii - growing at Castle Menzies, Perthshire. Collected by botanist Archibald Menzies who originated from Weem near the castle, and at one time worked in the castle gardens.
Weeping ash
2014Seaton Delavel
This weeping ash, fraxinus excelsior 'Pendula', stands in the grounds of the ruined Seaton Delaval Hall, just north of Newcastle. The tree is almost 300 years old, and has fared better than the hall.
Old mulberry
April 2014Stratford on Avon
An old mulberry tree, morus nigra, in the garden at Hall's Croft, one of Shakespeare's houses in Stratford on Avon.
Indian bean tree
October 2015Levens Hall
Catalpa bignonioides, the Indian bean tree in the front garden of Levens Hall, near Kendal, more famous for its topiary.
Indian bean tree
October 2015Levens Hall
Flowers and leaves of Catalpa bignonioides. These will develop into long bean pods.
Cedar of Lebanon
July 2015Brodsworth Hall
A large, majestic cedar of Lebanon, cedrus libani, in front of the house at Brodsworth Hall. A couple of hundred years old, this is the Girth County Champion of South Yorkshire. (Tree register)
Copper beech
October 2016Sledmere House
A large fagus sylvatica purpurea at Sledmere House - a reminder to myself to get the copper beech in my garden pruned!
English oak
June 2016Mayburgh henge
Old oaks seem appropriate next to a much older standing stone, all that remains of a Neolithic henge at Mayburgh, near Penrith.
Hawthorn blossom
May 2019Appleton le Moor
Hawthorn (crataegus monogyna) on Appleton common, with the finest display of May blossom I have ever seen