Tree Following With Lucy: October


This month we're playing the waiting game. September's warmth means my ash tree is still clinging determinedly onto its leaves, though plenty of other trees started to shed theirs ages ago.

Autumn's come early. It's not the mellow season of poetry, but instead there's a darker crispness of leaves frazzled by the heat of summer and the record dryness of September. My ash tree's roots must run deep as it's looking relatively untroubled so far.

With the advent of October the weather's turned. The jet stream swung back over Britain from its summer station to the north, bringing lashings of rain over the weekend. It's left behind the autumnal coolness we expect at this time of the year.

I hope it's enough to let the drooping, dusty trees on our estate present a proper display of autumn colour and for my ash tree to join them in a last hurrah before it stands naked for the winter.

In previous years I've noted it's hard to pinpoint exactly when ash leaves start to turn. I look forward to this year's extra vigilance helping me find the proper signs to look out for. Tune in again in November to see how I got on.

Find out how all the other Tree Followers are faring this month over at Lucy's blog, Loose and Leafy.

Comments

  1. Amanda Peters7 October 2014 at 09:55

    From the photo, you would not think we have moved into Autumn, but with this lashing of rain and cooler weather, all the leaves are starting to fall.
    Amanda xx

    ReplyDelete
  2. VP7 October 2014 at 10:30

    Yes Amanda, I spotted that happening yesterday with every tree except my ash. I'm hoping to capture my ash tree's leaves falling for November's post. It was like a quiet rain last year and quite remarkable.

    And welcome to Veg Plotting :)

    ReplyDelete
  3. Caroline Gill7 October 2014 at 12:16

    Your ash is a bit like my silver birch here though a different birch in my vicinity has nearly lost all its leaves. Strange! So I shall watch your November post with interest.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. VP7 October 2014 at 14:32

      Thanks Caroline and welcome! I have a birch close by to my ash tree. I looked out the window this morning and I see its yellow leaves are decorating the lawn.

      Delete
  4. Hollis7 October 2014 at 15:33

    hardly looks like fall from that photo -- I would be happy to have summer last as long as possible!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. VP7 October 2014 at 16:15

      Hi Hollis - I think we'll be getting a proper Fall very soon. There was a widespread frost last night which should be telling those trees to stop photosythesising right now

      Delete
  5. Donna7 October 2014 at 16:49

    amazing how different our ashes are...they yellowed or browned and dropped all their leaves in a week.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. VP8 October 2014 at 12:35

      That's very quick Donna! My ash tree will also be relatively quick when it finally gets around to dropping its leaves.

      Delete
  6. Lucy Corrander Now in Halifax!7 October 2014 at 18:13

    Last night there was thunder and lightening. Today there have been spells of lashing rain. I've not had a chance to go out but I reckon this sudden burst of weather activity will have torn many leaves from trees without bothering first with autumn. Wouldn't be surprised if it hasn't torn branches down too. Our nearest ash trees are in a very sheltered place so they may well be parallel with yours in your photo. I'll have to go and see!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. VP8 October 2014 at 12:36

      We're beginning to get a collection of piles of autumn leaves forming Lucy. I'll need to get collecting them soon.

      Delete
  7. Anonymous7 October 2014 at 18:51

    Your tree still looks nice and green, mine is turing with brown spots and little holes.Our weather changed to much cooler, damper and duller days over the weekend. I'm visiting from Lucy's tree following.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. VP8 October 2014 at 12:37

      Hi Linda - nice to see you again. Our weather has most definitely turned this week, so I'm expecting to see brown very soon. I'm not sure about holes though...

      Delete
  8. Hoehoegrow10 October 2014 at 23:55

    Still looks perky to me ! It has been such an odd season - autumn in August, followed by a September of warm mild weather ... very confusing for any tree !!

    ReplyDelete
  9. VP11 October 2014 at 08:57

    Hi Jane, It looks like the change has just started - I've spotted the odd suspicion of yellow starting to show on a few of the leaves

    ReplyDelete
  10. Janet/Plantaliscious11 October 2014 at 09:38

    Its a strange sort of autumn, isn't it, my kojo-no-mai has suddenly decide to turn crimson, and the Acer is showing promising signs, but the new plums, and the huge sycamores, are just dropping crispy burnt leaves and settling in for a good long winter sulk! I hope you get a show on the estate, the sycamores look rather dismal, I must go and check out the river walk...

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. VP11 October 2014 at 09:58

      It certainly is Janet! I believe quite a few of the frazzled trees on our estate are sycamores or Prunus. The birch at the bottom of the garden is doing its usual thing, so we have a light dusting of seeds absolutely everywhere.

      Delete

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