island threads

time seems to have gone even quicker this month, it really does not feel like it’s a month since I last posted, no change now the tree is in it’s winter sleep, though the lichen on it and other birches seems more prominant,

the usual view from the path,

lichen growing in patches on the bark,

and almost hidden in the middle three small dry leaves cling on,

not so good I noticed right in the middle these two branches rubbing and growing into each other I will have to cut the thinner one off before the end of February,

I went outside the gate, view from the road, the tree I’m following is in the middle between the fence posts, between it and the tree to the right, almost hidden by the fence post on the right is a hawthorn,

they were all planted early in 2002, the intention was that the birches would grow up and the hawthorns would be trimmed as a hedge, the books said it was easy and in 10 years I’d have a nice thick wildlife friendly hedge with tall birches coming throught it, haha, the authors must live with good soil and tame weather, it will be 15 years in a few months and most of the hawthorns are dead or smaller than when planted, the birches are more like bushy shrubs than trees,

under the birch outside the fence, I got the grass cut before I went away with the intention of planting some daffodils along here, not accomplished yet, I’ve got so many bulbs need planting, there has been so much rain in November and so far December,

it occured to me that some may be wondering why I alway take the phots from within the garden at an angle and not straight on, as I do the photos from the road, well this is why,

coloured willow, Salix Basfordiana Farndon, now it is bare you can see some of the birch through it, when it leafs out the birch is almost totally hidden,

when I turned to go back to the house, I was pleased with the view of the phormium bed, 2 years ago just the phormium, weeds, grass and a few struggling plants, I am pleased with how the euphorbias are growing, the bronze leaves are C. Lucifer,

and from the other side,

thank you Pat for hosting tree following, to see more tree following post please click through to Pat’s blog,

next year I am going to follow the Rowan in my front garden, why don’t you chose a tree to follow and join in,

Saturday update

listening to Out of Doors on Radio Scotland this morning, I was shocked and sad to hear of the theft of 5 rare conifers that were part of a conservation programme, especially as the theives dug them up so badly they will have killed the trees, it is though they were stolen to use as christmas trees,

here is the short mention on the Out of Doors webpage:
‘Perth and Kinross Countryside Trust recently had five rare trees stolen from woodland just outside Perth. Euan finds out more about the theft from trust manager, Morag Watson.’

and a link to more detailed information on the website of Perth and Kinross Countryside Trust who are caring for these trees,

https://www.pkct.org/news/trees-stolen

so sad,

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