©rq, all rights reserved
This stately, old tree comes to us from our very own rq and it looks like it’s been guarding that gate for a very long time. Thanks for sharing, rq.
(Just a reminder that our address is in the sidebar and we’d love to see your trees.)
From Lofty,
A series of the small patch of forest that was selectively burned, one year on.
©Lofty, all rights reserved
©Lofty, all rights reserved
©Lofty, all rights reserved
What a difference a year can make. The area doesn’t look fire ravaged at all. Maybe it’s because of the regrowth on the tall trees,. That’s not something I’ve seen before and it’s fascinating. Thanks for sharing. Lofty.
Nightjar has sent us some fabulous photos of the fully fruited-Persimmon trees near where she lives.
These are some photos from local persimmon trees. As you can see, as of December 23 all leaves have fallen but the fruits remain on the trees. Most haven’t fully ripened yet and are showing no signs of falling. This is unusual for this time of the year, persimmon season should be over by now. I have no explanation for it, but the result is many alternative “Christmas trees” around the village, naturally decorated with unconventional orange balls. I think they look amazing right now and I thought you would enjoy them too.
Yes, Nightjar, I am enjoying them and so will everyone else. Thanks.
©Nightjar, all rights reserved
Today, we have something even better than a Christmas tree. Avalus has sent us an absolutely enchanting forest photo for this Christmas Day Tree Tuesday. Thanks so much, Avalus.
Zauberwald means magic forest.
Hiking an a misty morning last fall on a path in the Odenwald suddenly the sun appeared between the trees. I think the slight misfocus adds to the “magic forest” feel I had that moment.
Zauberwald, ©Avalus, all rights reserved
Our tree this week is a bit of a show-off, being laden with both flowers and fruit in December. The photos are from Nightjar and they were taken on December 2 of this year. I double checked that date because I could hardly believe it.
This is a strawberry tree (Arbutus unedo, no relationship to strawberries except for whatever was on the mind of the person who came up with the english common name), bearing flowers and fruits at the same time as is to be expected from a tree that blooms once a year and whose fruits take around 12 months to mature. Native to the Mediterranean region, the flowers feed the bees (the resulting honey has a unique taste) and the fruits feed the birds. I like to eat the fruits fresh, although only a handful at a time because they can become cloying fast. They also bruise very easily, so there is no point in picking more than what one can eat in that moment… unless the goal is to make the traditional fruit brandy or jam, but I like neither of those things. Anyway, I think the tree is very pretty and it seems to be relatively unknown outside of its native range, so I thought I would share it!
©Nightjar, all rights reserved
Sent in by Nightjar, our trees this week tell a cautionary tale about the effects of climate change.
Mushroom Hunting Part 1...We went mushroom hunting last weekend and I decided to share some photos. I split them in two parts. The first doesn’t show mushrooms but rather our journey to find them. I knew that the wildfires last year had affected this area, but wasn’t sure if our favourite spot had burned or not. It did. I say green isn’t always hope because that green in the third photo is mostly acacias (Acacia longifolia) taking over the place. The future of these historical pine forests doesn’t look bright. We turned around and drove a bit south until we found a patch of forest that escaped the fires and didn’t look as dry and sterile. That’s when the mosquitoes attacked me, but there was also a lovely damselfly to make up for it.
Mushroom Hunting Part 2 will be posted tomorrow and it’s chock full of interesting photos of fungi found in the forest. Be sure to check it out. Thanks, Nightjar.
1. The road that no longer leads to mushrooms, ©Nightjar, all rights reserved
This week we have an incredible tree from Down Under that’s full of big, bright, colourful flowers, courtesy of DavidinOz.
The first 3 are of a huge Bottle Brush tree, an Australian native that has been exported to other climes.Look closely in 2 & 3 and you will see bees had at work.
4 & 5 are of a different tree, but all the better to see why they are named …. Bottle Brush.
Cheers, David
©David Brindley, all rights reserved
This week we have a story tree from Nightjar and it’s a wonderful story of hope.
I was driving through an area that was badly affected by wildfires last year and stopped the car to quickly take this shot, because it shows the concept of “fire-adapted species” so well. Everything still looks horribly devastated. In the foreground there is a completely destroyed orchard, in the background a completely destroyed pine plantation. Trees are still standing, but they are dead. Except… there is a survivor! The cork oak tree is resprouting all over and will regenerate soon! That’s what cork is for, to insulate the trunk from high temperatures protecting its core during a fire. It’s one thing to know this in theory, but to see the advantage of this strategy so clearly was quite enlightening.
Cork tree, ©Nightjar, all rights reserved
Thanks so much for sharing, Nightjar. I think it’s amazing that any living thing can survive a forest fire. Nature is so endlessly fascinating.
These stunning photos are from DavidinOz and they were taken along the Murray River in Swan Hill, Victoria. David says he was fortunate to be there at the “golden hour” and I have to agree. The light is golden and tinged with just a smidge of rose. The exposed tree roots alone make for dramatic photos, but combined with that light they become something special. Thanks for sharing, David.
©David Brindly, all rights reserved
©David Brindly, all rights reserved
©David Brindly, all rights reserved
This week we have glorious fall colour from Avalus,
Lets begin with some brightly coloured leaves from the first of October.
Golden walnut trees, red wild grapes and assorted green plants.
And it was quite good timing, just half a week later, the walnuts were all leafless.
Your timing was perfect, Avalus. All that deep, rich autumn colour shot against a clear blue sky. Thanks so much for sharing.
Herbstfarben, ©Avalus, all rights reserved
Herbstfarben, ©Avalus, all rights reserved
Herbstfarben, ©Avalus, all rights reserved
This week’s tree come to us from rq who says that she took the pictures while waiting for a light to change. It’s a wonderful talent to be able to see the beauty in an ordinary, everyday moment and then to use that moment to create art. I think the photos are serene and contemplative and I wonder if that reflects rq’s state of mind. Perhaps the artist will tell us in the comments below. Thanks for sharing, rq.
©rq, all rights reserved
©rq, all rights reserved
Our tree this week is a pear tree in full fall flame from kestrel who says,
We have no idea how old this pear tree is but it’s pretty old. It does still bear fruit, but this is not a great climate for it, as there are often late frosts that kill the blossoms. Even when it does bear fruit the pears frequently drop off before they can ripen. I suppose we ought to cut it down but it’s quite lovely in the fall when the leaves change color; just recently it fired up and looks wonderful for such a very old tree.
Old trees have a stateliness and grace and this old pear tree is putting on quite the show this year. All of the photos are bright and beautiful, but the last one of just the leaves in sunlight is gorgeous. Thanks so much for sharing, kestrel.
©kestrel, all rights reserved
This week we have an autumn oak tree in its fieriest colours from Avalus. I love how bright the colours look against the grayish sky, almost as if the leaves are lit from within. The single oak leaf that follows, though, is seriously trippy. It’s instructions seem to read 1) lose all green colour 2) fall to the ground 3) get a fungal infection and 4) turn green again…in artistic little blobs. Thanks, Avalus, for this very interesting share.
Fall Oak, ©Avalus, all rights reserved
Fall oak leaf, ©Avalus, all rights reserved