Jannie's little ginkgo that we planted last year is bursting back into leaf as it has done for millions of years #ginkgo #ginkgobiloba #maidenhairtree #raindrops #dinosaurtree
Down at the bottom of the orchard we now have some useful space after my bramble excavations. This little horse chestnut was grown from a conker off our tree that we planted about 30 years ago. I think it's about four years old and now it's having to make its own way. Yes, I did put a tree guard around it before I left. #treeplanting #horsechestnut #aesculushippocastanum #orchard #herefordshire
Exactly three months on from my last posting of our laid hedge I can report that it's greening up very nicely. As to whether those ashes we left in as hedge trees will survive is still in the balance. Fingers crossed. #hedge # hedgelaying #regen #ash #herefordshire
Common? Yes! Beautiful? Definitely! Red campion (remember there was no pink when this plant was first described) has arrived at the bottom of our track for the first time this year. #redcampion #wildflowers #herefordshire #silenedioica
The grounds of Hampton Court Castle were extensively remodelled by Humphry Repton during the period 1790-1800 and I feel fairly sure that the several massive London planes dotted around the estate date from this era. Good to see plenty of fallen dead wood left around the trees - some of it quite strange! #londonplane #platanushispanica #deadwood #naturesculpture @visithamptongardens@redspooney
We went over to Hampton Court Gardens this morning for a look at the stunning wisteria. Chatting to a couple of the staff there we were told that the estimated age is around 180 years. The one we have in our garden has a little way to go then! @visithamptongardens #wisteria #herefordshire
Heading home from Reading the Wild in Llandovery yesterday I took a wee diversion to check up on the Defynnog yews - four absolute beauties in St. Cynog's churchyard. Usually it's just the biggest tree that gets all the limelight, but I thought you'd like to see all of them. The biggest has had some estimated ages of around 5,000 years attributed to it. Unlikely I feel, but 2,000 - 3,000 not out of the question for sure. Ultimately who cares! It is just very very old & let's just hang on to a bit of mystery here. #ancientyews #defynnog #powys #taxusbaccata #treephotography
To Llandovery today to deliver my Heritage Trees Wales talk at the Reading the Wild lit fest. Room chock full of enthusiastic tree-loving audience. Thanks for coming & hope you enjoyed the session. Huge thanks to Mandy for invite and splendid organising of this friendly and relaxed festival and thanks to all the helpers who rallied to the cause, especially Sue with her busted arm who looked after me. Hope tomorrow is as successful as today. Here's my 16th century Green Man I picked up at St Mary's Bronllys en route - he'll bring good luck to the proceedings. @booksatthedragonsgarden #llandovery #litfest #readingthewild #greenman #heritagetreeswales
Coming through Hereford earlier today & an arb crew busy trimming back these common lines. Always looks a bit brutal to me, but limes, much like the London planes in London streets seem to tolerate this pretty well. Can't say I'm a big fan, but if it's the difference between trees and no trees then ok. Did cross my mind that this was a little late in the year for this. Any nesting birds? #commonlime #tiliaeuropaea #pollarding #hereford #treemanagement
Perhaps the most beautiful of all the different aquilegias in the garden - could be a variety called Dragonfly or perhaps just a chance hybrid. We certainly didn't plant it. #aquilegia #columbine #gardenflower #herefordshire
But if it's huge and ancient trees you crave then there will be plenty of these in my talk on Saturday in Llandovery. Come to the town this weekend and enjoy the fantastic entertainment on offer at the 'Reading the Wild' lit fest. Lots of wonderful writers and illustrators strutting their stuff. @booksatthedragonsgarden #llandovery #wales
It may not be the biggest or most ancient Welsh tree you'll ever see, but Llangollen whitebeam (Sorbus cuneifolia) which is probably coming into flower just now, and which grows specifically along the Creigiau Eglwyseg above the town, is just one of the stars in my Heritage Trees Wales illustrated talk at the 'Reading the Wild' lit fest in Llandovery this weekend. I'm on at 2.30 on Sat 9th in the Castle Hotel. Tickets available at Dragon's Garden Bookshop or online. Be grand to see you there. #readingthewild @booksatthedragonsgarden #heritage #trees #wales #llandovery
