I don't know all the names of the trees, my knowledge is sorely lacking, but I love them all.
We're lucky here that we still have some wonderful Elms nearby, most were devastated by Dutch Elm Disease, but our local churchyard contains a small pocket of survivors. The one above is superb with its low hanging branches and beautiful form. It sits beside the narrow brick path that leads to the church entrance. There is also a convenient bench underneath that you can just see bottom left. Perfect for resting a while with heavy shopping bags.
We are also lucky that the 'Great Storm' of October 1987 didn't destroy all our churchyard trees. Several were knocked over and taken away, but quite a few of the bigger ones survived.
They have been planting more trees since we've been back from France. I think about 14 new trees have been planted, making both the Rest Garden and the Churchyard feel quite wooded.
I also love the trees back in France. Our woods consist mostly of Chestnut, Oak, and Pine, with a sprinkling of wild Cherry, Walnuts, and Apples. The combination of these trees makes the area perfect for producing some of the world's very best wild mushrooms.
I am a tree lover too and spent a good deal of time in trees as a youngster, hiding away from the world up there.
ReplyDeleteMy mother was a great tree climber. It was probably her who encouraged my love of them.
DeleteWe have a huge elm tree, similar to yours, down our drive. Its thick trunk has grown out at an angle leaning over towards the boundary fence with one of its massive, and heavy, lower branches overhanging the tramlines. We always hold our breath when those gale force winds blow through.
ReplyDeleteI always fear strong wind. We have lost roof tiles, trees, and other garden stuff. Wind causes more damage than anything.
DeleteI too love tree's but prefer to see native ones, our council has been planting loads of good sized tree's this autumn.
ReplyDeleteNative trees are always preferable, and always thrive better than 'exotics'. Personally I tend to plant fruit trees.
DeleteMost of the trees around about are self-set Pines - surprising how quickly they multiply into a wood and then, if there's room, into a forest. The beautiful Palms have all disappeared due to infestation by the Red Weevil, in spite of intensive treatment.
ReplyDeleteThe Pines we have in France have very shallow root systems, and are prone to being blown over. The woods are littered with fallen trees.
DeleteTotally with you on trees. We are lucky to share this planet with them.
ReplyDeleteI agree totally. We are very lucky to live side by side. Where would we be without them? I couldn't live in a treeless landscape.
DeleteWe are surrounded by olive trees, lemon and orange trees and across the valley is forest land, pine forest. I love hearing the sound of the wind in the pines, and watching the olive leaves turn silver as they are blown about. Of course it's wonderful to see all our citrus trees with fruit. The lemon tree was full of lemons all summer and now the yellow ones have gone and it's full of large green lemons.
ReplyDeleteI wish our fruit trees would do as well as yours. Our pear, apricot and plum trees have barely any fruit.
The best shade trees are the carob trees. Vaso has a huge one just opposite us. Our daughter has walnut trees, also one of the best for shade.
Walnut trees are also supposed to give-off a natural insecticide, so perfect to position a bench or table. We have three.
DeleteThe elm in your shot doesn't look all that old a tree Cro - good that it could survive. We had three elms in our large garden in Finchfield, Wolverhampton where we lived for 17 years. Sadly all three had to be felled for Dutch Elm. On the farm all the elms died. Elm saplings would appear in the hedges but would die after a couple of years. So sad they are such majestic trees.
ReplyDeleteI have no idea how old it is, but it's a big tree. As you can probably see, it's just beginning to drop its leaves.
DeleteI remember when nearly all of the elm trees died on the farm.
ReplyDeleteI don't know how the one's here managed to survive. But they did.
DeleteI really enjoyed the ancient trees there, when I visited. I live in forest country here, but most of our trees are less than a hundred years old due to heavy timbering at the turn of the 20th. century. We do have a stand of 'virgin timber' in a preserve. It was just the most awe-inspiring thng to me to be walking beneath the very same trees that kings and queens had walked beneath before me.
ReplyDeleteIt does have a wonderful atmosphere. Old churches and churchyards are one of the UK's treasures,
DeleteI also love trees. The spreading elm is a very beautiful tree. Sadly, all our elms were lost to disease.
ReplyDeleteI really don't understand how ours survived. There are very few about.
DeleteThe elm and chestnut both are gone, here. We nursed an elm in our back ravine for twenty years before finally losing it to elm disease.
ReplyDeleteMy part of France is a big Chestnut growing area. A few years back the trees were attacked by a tiny 'wasp' that threatened to kill them. A massive campaign was launched to save the trees, and they are now fine. Such pests or diseases can destroy so much. We need to be very cautious.
DeleteI'm a tree lover too. At the moment our lovely purple Jacaranda trees are all flowering here in Brisbane despite the drought affected grass surrounding them and after them will come the gorgeous red flowering Ponciana trees. both of them give us wonderful shade from the coming heat of Summer.
ReplyDeleteTrees are lucky as they have very deep roots, grass is less lucky as it needs surface water. I love those Jacaranda trees.
DeleteWe are very lucky that elms are rebounding back here in e. Ontario. Our ash are going downhill fast though.
ReplyDeleteI believe that the Elms are making a come-back in parts of the UK. It remains to be seen if they make it in the long term.
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