Trees 3

Absolutely stunning!

Weeping willows are my favourites because they remind me of life by the river and Ratty and Mole in that little blue boat!

The avenue of acers has a lovely impact.

Hi Wildrose, I love the willows too, my uncle had one when I was little and I remember running through the hanging twigs, lovely. The acers are kept in their good shape thanks to OH.

sooooo envious. it is a wonderful selection.

Lovely Dawn. When our boys were little, we lived in a cottage in rural Gloucestershire with a huge weeping willow in the garde: they used to play inside the “cave” made by the branches.

Thanks Seaburn :-)
Awww happy memories Sheila, there's something about them.

You have a wonderful collection Dawn, love the drive flanked by the Acer's, are there any more you want to buy? your Father would be so proud of you, my Father loved trees especially their autumnal colours.....

These acers are lovely, I like to think my dad's smiling down on me. Sounds like your inspiration came from you Father too Dotty.
I think (lol) that I have all the acers I desire now. Acer Brilliantissima was on the wishlist but have that now and Acer griseum of course. I fancy a few more Cornus ....

That Willow is absolutely spectacular in spring Dawn! Youhave so much to look forward to with all your young trees. The avenue of Acers is very grand. You have an actual ‘Arboretum’!

Thanks Karen, yes the willow is lovely (has to be kept in check) I've added another photo of when it's covered in ice! Were getting there slowly, alot of the trees were small at purchase due to the expense so I'm being patient, well trying.

Wonderful ,Dawn..I wish I had room for just one..any of them,in my tiny garden . That Golden Willow is mind blowing,especially the winter photo.. always been a favourite of mine..thank you for sharing..I'm off to look at your next blog now :o) x

More beautiful trees. I remember an aunt of mine lived next door to a monkey puzzle tree. It was taller than the house.

You're so kind Bloomer, the willow is a beauty but it is big and grows very fast.
Hywel, do you think the monkey puzzles were a Victorian time tree, I've seen tall old ones too with growth just at the top. Ours had cones on last year - it's a boy!

Yeah...the Victorians went mad for them. That's why you see them outside 19th Century Farm Houses. I have a young Populus Dawn. Mine is the dark red/purple form. Its very slow and a bit tender I think. Yours is lovely...much nicer.

The house next door to my aunt, where the monkey puzzle tree was, must have been built in the early 1900s, so it could have been from the late Victorian times.

It's in a place called Morriston, which is near Swansea.
People born in Morriston are locally called 'Morriston Monkeys' ! and the first inhabitants of the house may have planted the tree there as a joke :D

It isn't there now.

I think a lot of them are dying off now. There was one at the farm behind us when we moved here, but a couple of years ago they removed it after a cold snap finished it off. I always think they look really incongruous here, but the fruits are incredible....fascinating.

Loving the pics of your Willow, it all looks so lovely, hard to believe how much they have grown in the years since you started showing us, my son has a monkey puzzle tree, its lethal if you catch it when passing close , luckily he has it in a pot as he only has a small garden, think I better tell him to rethink, its already been transferred to the front garden, he admits its classed as a should have known better idea, lol.....

All the trees are lovely and thanks for sharing and reminding us of warmer, sunnier days.
I too have a Monkey Puzzle which was here when we came and was probably planted in the 1970's.
I remember going on one of the garden visits and they had a massive Monkey Puzzle, old Vicarage and it took up most of the lawn in spread and much taller than the house. I asked if they knew how old it was, expecting it to be Victorian, but was told she planted it in 1976! Now 1976 to me is merely yesterday, but of course it's 40 years ago.
Do you trim yours at all Dawn? Ours droops a lot and has some brown bits.

My OH bought me a Monkey Puzzle tree when we lived in the Midlands, but we let it behind when we moved South...then our daughter bought us one a few years ago unfortunately we had to return it, didn't do any good at all....have always loved them, when I used to walk home from school there were many victorian houses along the way, and the majority had one in their front gardens, quite often taller than the actual house!!

Bloomer, I agree, the golden weeping willow is a lovely tree.
Hywel, Morriston Monkeys made me laugh.
Karen - I agree, they're rather incongruous, we just about get away with it as it's quite near to the house, if it was near the woodland it would look awful.
Sue, that willow was planted 17 years ago, tiny, it grew so fast. And wow yes, the monkey puzzle spikes are lethal.
Honeysuckle, yes OH has removed the lower branches due to looking a bit scruffy but mainly as he mows underneath and those spikes, ouch.
Dotty, probably they like the cold Midlands weather ;)