Looking at the new golden quills on our beech hedge about to burst forth in all their green and plum coloured glory, I was struck by how beautiful last years remaining leaves are. All winter they have graced the branches their autumnal copper colour catching the sun and fluttering in the breeze. Very soon they will be replaced by a new bright gown, a patchwork of chartreuse green and persian plum.
Resembling long forgotten parchments, leathery,crispy around the edges. Brown age spots showing up their veins like sun kissed old men.
All of that colour tightly packed away like a furled silk umbrella just waiting to fling itself wide open.
Beautiful photos, of a beautiful autumn tree Rosemary. I was 'introduced' to the beech tree only recently, on my last trip to Canada in the autumn. Looking forward to more pics of russet tones in the near future!
ReplyDeleteIf I was laying out a garden from scratch, I think that a beech hedge would definitely be my first choice.
DeleteNature sure is a wonderful thing.
ReplyDeleteThe more we look the more we see especially where nature is concerned.
DeleteA beautiful post Rosemary,
ReplyDeleteVery appropriate )- like sun kissed old men- a name often given to Mr. H after he has been sailing.
I am not very conversant on the names of trees or flowers as you know.. Is the Beech, a family of the Oak!
Amazing , how those leaves haven't fallen off.. will be looking forward to seeing the trees in full green regalia.
happy Thursday..
val
Dear Val - no, the Beech trees and hedging have their own genus (family). They belong to the genus Fagus of which there are 10 species. It makes very attractive hedging especially as it keeps its lovely copper leaves throughout the winter. There are two colours normally used for the hedging, one a lovely fresh bright green and the other a plum purple colour. We have both colour ways, so must photograph their new leaves for a post when they open up then you can see.
DeleteBeautifully photographed and described. Look forward to seeing it in all it's plum and green glory ...
ReplyDeleteI will take some photos of the new leaves when they appear - you have a lovely new avatar Marina - cute little face he has!!!
DeleteDear Rosemary, What we sometimes overlook only shows up in all its glory when examined in detail. Your beautiful photographs prove this point. ox, Gina
ReplyDeleteDear Gina - sometimes we just miss the obvious right beneath our eyes - I love our beech hedge, we have hedging of various types, but the beech is my favourite.
DeleteSuch a poetic post...lovely. There is an American Beech tree on one of the Mahone Bay Islands near here and that is very uncommon for our area..quite a beauty in spring and all year. One can't help but notice and comment on it, when sailing by.
ReplyDeleteRosemary, your photos are just fantastic.
Thank you - I am pleased that you enjoyed the post. Beech trees and hedging have to be amongst some of my favourites. It is surprising that more people do not plant a beech hedge when starting a garden, once it gets established and is trimmed it forms a really good box shape.
DeleteLa nature morte , it's in French that I am thinking when I look at these photos. I don't know why.. I have paintings in my mind, yes, you had zoomed in on the details, I like that.
ReplyDeleteI like your comment Olympia - La nature morte would be a good title and description - thank you.
DeletePretty colour! I look forward to seeing them in their Spring glory!
ReplyDeleteIt is definitely feeling a little warmer and the sun is showing her face so hopefully not too much longer.
DeleteI saw beech forests while at the Veluwe last autumn. It was enchanting. Those gorgeous colours! Looking out the window I see a hedge of beech but it's not at all looking as glamourous as in your pictures.... I think it's the sun that's missing here. We're having very grey days. Can't wait for the sun to show and a blue sky to accompany her.
ReplyDeleteBye,
Marian
The sun definitely helps Marian - I took these yesterday and the blue sky against the copper looked lovely. Hope the sun shows her face your way soon.
DeleteBeech is a wonderful tree. I love to wander through the woods in the Chilterns and also love to see beech planted as part of a managed woodland, with other trees. It's particularly lovely in autumn.
ReplyDeleteI have been photographing a beech wood near to our home throughout the year and I am looking forward to the first greening of it this spring, but I have to agree that in the autumn it looks magical.
DeleteI don't understand eather why people don't plant more of this beautiful hedges in there gardens. You know I have only a small garden winter and summer the beech is showing her beauty. Also a great thing is she protect the birds in winter and invite birds to visit your garden. A lot people see the pruning twice a year is not welcome work to do. But I like it.
ReplyDeleteHave a wonderful evening Rosemary.
I too think that a beech hedge is the perfect compliment to a garden. We actually only cut ours once a year, in September, but we really have too much hedging to do it more often. We have hawthorn hedge, yew hedge and laurel hedge, but my favourite is definitely the beech.
DeleteBeautiful photos, these leaves have real character don't they? I love beech trees and hedges, I'm lucky enough to see a copper beech tree out of my bedroom window. Thanks for visiting and commenting on my blog too - and becoming my 200th follower! I feel you should get a medal for that!
ReplyDeleteThanks for your visit Jenny - I can see a copper beech too, they really are the most elegant of trees. I am now looking forward to seeing tufts of green showing at the ends of the buds. The last two days of sunshine I really made me feel that spring is coming.
DeleteHi Rosemary, these are stunning photos! I guess most people would miss the beauty that you are able to see in those old beech leaves, but your photos bring it out for everyone to recognize. Just wonderful!
ReplyDeleteChristina
Hello Christina and thank you. There is always something to admire throughout all of the seasons if we just take the time to really look.
DeleteFabulous photos Rosemary...beech trees and hedges are so beautiful. I am interested to see many of our oak trees in Caunes have retained their autumn colour leaves, and look similarly gorgeous. Jx
ReplyDeleteThis is the thing that I like about having a beech hedge the way it retains its leaves through the winter. I am going to watch the hedge more closely to see at what stage the leaves drop off - may be when all of the spring green has arrived!!!
DeleteYour beech leaves are stunning and it is lovely seeing the new signs of spring. I love beech especially when the new leaves appear.
ReplyDeleteSarah x
I am going to catch the new green and plum coloured leaves as they open - other years I have just accepted that they arrive, this year I shall watch.
DeleteIt's surprising what a few leaves can do for us. They resemble so many things and your photos are lovely.
ReplyDeletePatricia x
It was when I was checking out the buds in the sunshine yesterday that I realised how many leaves remain on the beech hedge - I knew that they did but I just hadn't thought about it.
DeleteSharp and close encounters of fall. In our country the spring will start.
ReplyDeleteGreetings,
Filip
These are spring pictures that I took yesterday Filip, and those are the new buds about to open.
DeleteSpring is further away in Yorkshire - just a few small buds and a sprinkling of snowdrops is still all we have.
ReplyDeleteIs this what they call 'the north south divide' Nilly?
DeleteI have buds popping out here too. My Japanese Magnolia is about to bloom but has a virus. Your images are lovely Rosemary.
ReplyDeleteMagnolia is one of my favourites, hope you can sort out the virus problem.
DeleteGorgeous photos and what promise to come. I used to live next to a copper beech I wasn't too keen on the neighbours but absolutely loved the tree! x
ReplyDeleteWe do benefit if our neighbours grow things that we can all enjoy.
DeleteImages to lift the heart, Rosemary.
ReplyDeleteGlad that you enjoyed them Perpetua, Wednesday was a lovely day when I took them.
DeleteBeautiful! The remaining leaves look like crafted metal.
ReplyDeleteYoko
Really like your comment Yoko - crafted metal is a wonderful description.
Delete