There was a break in transmission last month as there was a few hundred miles between willow and myself. Now into August the willow is probably at its fullest in terms of leafiness. I say probably as I've never really monitored its progress so closely throughout the course of the year. June's fluffy missiles have well and truly disappeared into a distant memory so the tree is all leaves again. I've still have to make that death defying leap to try to grab one of the leaves marked with orange blisters. This phenomenon has only appeared on a few leaves, a few more look as if they have been scorched at some point (wind maybe?) but the majority look happy and healthy.
I'm coming to the conclusion that if the willow was in another spot it would be much easier to observe. As it is I only have access from one side and then with a wall and stream in the way getting close and personal is becoming more problematic as the year goes on. I am sure that there are loads of insect visitors but I have never seem them. Time to fish out the binoculars methinks. There is a substantial thicket of growth at the base of the tree now which is partially overhanging the stream. What I can see consists of mainly ferns, brambles and nettles. Excitement though last night when I noticed that a shrub or small tree under the willow's canopy is sporting clusters of small red berries. I had barely registered this growth before now but have now a case of an unidentified mystery on my hands. Please can you help me to solve it.
Thanks to Lucy over at Loose and Leafy who has kindly invited bloggers from all over the globe to follow our chosen trees over the course of the year.
Your willow is looking beautifully healthy Anna. I wonder if your little mystery shrub is Cotoneaster lacteus?
ReplyDeleteFabulous tree to follow Anna.
ReplyDeleteSuch a beautiful tree. It's looking glorious.
ReplyDeleteHow exciting to have the mystery! It seems berries are popping up all over at the moment ...
ReplyDeleteLovely post!
ReplyDeleteI do love willows, and should look at ours more closely again too. Can't help with the mystery plant, although it does look familiar!
ReplyDeleteYour mystery plant is a cotoneaster - I have one in my front garden that is huge, more like a tree now, in winter it is full of berries the blackbirds and field fares love it.
ReplyDeleteI thought it looked cotoneaster-ish too. Your willow reminds of the William Morris design now it is in full leaf. Nice that it hasn't been lopped - the farmhouse opposite had one but it lopped to within an inch, nay half an inch, of its life and of course it has never been the same since!
ReplyDeleteMy, your willow is getting tall! It looks very healthy. so must like where it is living!
ReplyDeleteWow -- your willow looks so lush! beautiful
ReplyDeleteI love willows in full leaf, they stay attractive even when other trees are looking rather tired in their dark green high summer foliage.
ReplyDeleteI bet the blister is a type of blight. You could treat it with Bordeaux mix, they use it in the vineyards, it contains copper, but hey why bother? the tree looks splendid.
ReplyDeleteI love willows, and yours does look like a beauty… still fresh. Sigh...
ReplyDeleteThanks for all your comments fellow tree lovers and for solving the id of the mystery plant. I just hope that it has more berries on it in the future.
ReplyDeleteThe tree is incredibly dense with leaves now. From the picture it looks almost solid. The branches are much smoother than I realised.
ReplyDeleteI've only just really noticed that the top branches are much smoother Lucy and think that it's a result of tree surgery a couple of years ago.
DeleteIt's really cool when something comes into view! Right now the ground nut is flowering and I never noticed all the vines until their tropical flowers appeared.
ReplyDeleteLucy's Tree project is great - I hope to join you all soon!