High Elms Trees, part 1

Driveway at High Elms Country Park, 5 August 2013.

I recently took some photos that are intended for a forthcoming leaflet for a tree trail at High Elms Country Park.   The trees in question are mostly not native, but there are some excellent specimens around and near to the old driveway to what used to be the Holwood estate.  This top photo was a possible cover shot.

I took most of these early in the morning before the sun hit the trees.  That gave even illumination, but the sky is not very lively.  Sunshine and blue skies would be ideal, but very few of these trees are ever evenly lit by the sunshine and the patchy illumination gives a very poor result.

So, I will show some of the trees over a few posts.  I tried a few sunny shots a few days later and I will use those where possible.

 Turkey Oak, Quercus cerris.   High Elms Country Park, 23 August 2013.

This is a European oak, and is the favoured home of the Oak Processionary Moth, so it needs watching.  A great specimen!  Here are the leaves and an acorn.

 Turkey Oak leaves.   High Elms Country Park, 8 August 2013.

A developing acorn on Turkey Oak.   High Elms Country Park, 8 August 2013.

One problem with this photo set is that I could not get ideal illustrative shots of the specimens because they are at a specific stage of development; so, no young leaf buds, and in this case, no mature acorns.  And this oak has a lot of black fungus on its leaves. 

Cedar of Lebanon, Cedrus libani.  High Elms Country Park, 5 August 2013.

A tree that has many connections for historians and classicists.  This Mediterranean tree was used by the Phoenicians to build the ships in which they traded around the known world.  It was an important resource.  The Egyptians used the resin for mummification; and today it is the centrepiece of the Lebanese flag.

Cedar of Lebanon, Cedrus libani.  Foliage.  High Elms Country Park, 5 August 2013.

I couldn't find any cones to photograph on this tree.

Blue Atlas Cedar, Cedrus atlantica glauca.  High Elms Country Park, 5 August 2013.

This tree is sometimes considered to be a subspecies of the Lebanon Cedar.  It is similar in overall habit.  As you can see, this form has a conspicuous glaucous cast to the foliage.  And I found plenty of cones.

Foliage and a young cone of Blue Atlas Cedar.   High Elms Country Park, 5 August 2013

More next time ...