Category Archives: trees

Tulip Tree

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The tulip tree, just to the left of the main entrance to Albert Park in Abingdon, is currently in flower. It can be identified by its four-lobed leaves and greenish-yellow flowers, marked with orange at the base.

The flowers are not immediately obvious high among the branches, I found one on the ground. Close up, I could see the tulip-shaped petals and long stamens at the centre.

Native to eastern North America, the Tulip Tree (Liriodendron tulipifera) flowers for a few weeks each year in late spring. Last year I visited Albert Park every month to record how the park changed through the seasons, but missed the tree in bloom. Looking at the number of fallen petals beneath it, it has been flowering for some time already, but more blooms are still appearing.

A tree by Abingdon Library

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It has been raining pine cones near Abingdon Library. The cones are scattered near the base of a neighbouring tree, while others have rolled into the road.

Some have rolled or been kicked down the underpass.

The winged seeds beneath the scales are released when conditions are right. If a cone falls before all its seeds have been released, it can continue opening and shedding seeds on the ground. This evening it began to rain. I remembered from school days that pine cones open when they are dry and close when they are damp. The cones had not closed yet.

There is not much chance, however, for any seeds from the cones that rolled down the underpass. But stranger things have happened. Somebody may pick one up, shake out the seeds and plant them.

Tree Trunk Chair

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A tree trunk in the Abbey Gardens has been cut to form a chair. A horizontal cut forms the seat which, when I sat on it, left my feet dangling above the ground. The backrest has larger oval rings where the cut angled through the trunk. An old scar marks where a low down branch once grew.

Here is the same tree – a low-spreading conifer – about five years ago. The nearby bench has since moved, and a litter bin stands in its place.

On the subject of trees shaped by unusual cuts, this tree near Tower Close Play Area has been left where it swallowed the upper part of the fence.

Thanks to Michael for pointing out the tree chair. I remember another one – near the lower entrance of the Abbey Gardens – cut from a larger tree – possibly a redwood. That must be thirty years ago.

The Marcham Road Leaning Pine

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This mature pine leans a branch above the traffic of the A415.

At first glance it appears precarious — as though the next named storm might bring it down. But a look back at Google Street View from June 2008 shows the tree had this shape nearly two decades ago.

Pines often grow into wind-shaped forms, but in this case the outline may owe more to the gradual loss of other branches over the years. What remains is an ivy-clad trunk and a strong side-leaning branch.

In Albert Park, among other leaning pines, it would not catch the eye. Here, however, it is quite a feature leaning above a busy road.