Meanwhile, back at The Tree...

I was late again popping over and seeing the tree that I'm following - you can see previous updates and more about "my" Paulownia Tomentosa here - then when I did get there it was probably on one of the greyest, dreariest days we've had for a while. And it had just started to rain...

So while these first few photos may look as if they're black and white, they're not. It really was that grey here yesterday. But thankfully the rain was only light and eased off relatively quickly when I was out.  I was out on my new trusty bike and I wasn't sure about getting that wet at all!

There's very little signs of life yet, but the branches remain tall and upright. Spring has not sprung for my tree yet, although there's blossom starting to appear on other trees in the area.

The one thing about there not being any leaves yet, is that you can clearly see the trunk and its bark.  And it stands out nicely against the brick wall behind.

The rain too brought an interest I wasn't expecting, with raindrops hanging from the more horizontal branches.

And I couldn't finish this post without showing you a glimpse of my new transport, which insisted on posing for a shot in front of the tree...

Linking up with Lucy's monthly Tree Following over at Loose and Leafy.

Tree following, it's been a while...

Although I've not shared the updates here I've still popped along each month to see how "my" tree - the Paulownia Tomentosa - has been doing. In truth, it hasn't been doing much at all since my last update in November, so there's been very little to share. It seems once it lost its leaves it shut down for winter.  However earlier this week on one of those blue-skyed days I decided to have a walk to see how it was getting on.

As I approached I knew this visit would be more promising when I spotted the Camelias already in bloom, there were loads of them.  Ours is traditionally late and this year is no different, so I've a while to wait before I experience these beauties closer to home.

The rhododendrons were also getting read to turn the walkway into a blaze of colour.  Despite the sun the walkway was mostly in shade from the nearby buildings but just where my tree is there's a burst of sunlight. The tree which hasn't changed in the last month and was, I like to think relishing the sun as much as me.  I think seeing its branches against the oh-so-blue sky has to be one of the most uplifting pictures so far this year.

The trees nearby had masses of crocuses growing underneath them, but not mine. It's just plain, well at this time of year anyway and later in the year nothing much will grow beneath its canopy anyway. 

As I was photographing the crocuses I got chatting to a member of the College staff and I asked about the white painted wooden horse I'd spotted from the road, and if it was a memorial to WW1. It is and as well as the horse, there's a limber and a soldier too which I couldn't work out from the road. You can just see them in the shot below, the horse is on the right of the picture, sorry but this is the best my iPhone could do from a distance. 

As I was vying to get a better view, I noticed a stone cat perched on the lodge porch window sill, something I'd not spotted before.  

Turning to head home I was greeted by even more crocuses roaming under the trees all the way up the bank, aren't they beautiful? 

The building in the distance is the lodge with the stone cat above

It definitely looks, and it's beginning to feel like Spring isn't that far away - let's hope it hangs around...

A November update on "my" Paulownia Tomentosa

For this month's update on "my" tree I decided to take it by surprise and approach it from the opposite direction, deciding to visit it on my walk back from the station. As I walked along the path I couldn't see if the tree was still there or not. My footsteps quickened as I hurried along until I could see that it was still there. Phew.  

But how it had changed. The tree that once dominated this corner of the path now looked very different to my  previous updates, and if I hadn't already noticed it, I'm not sure I'd pay it a second glance. Clearly I gave it more than a couple of glances as otherwise it'd be tricky to do this update!

That's it there, just to the left of the lamppost 

The main body and structure of the tree remained, but now all the leaves have gone. Completely gone. The ground staff of the college (in which the tree stands) have been doing a good job tidying around the tree. 

Sadly my visit was on a grey afternoon, which too was another change to my previous visits.  The silhouette shot below shows off the shape of the tree well I think. 

Sadly, there really isn't much to say about my poor tree this month.  Thankfully though there is still some interest - and colour - along the path, so I thought I'd share more of that instead this month. 

A climbing rose

A burst of red over the Yew hedge

Heading back towards home I was struck by the structure and the uniformity of these railings. 

And in a sure sign of how the seasons have changed, I couldn't help but spot the berry-clad holly branches tumbling over the fence.

I'm linking this post with Lucy and other Tree Followers over at Loose and Leafy and with Annie's How Does Your Garden Grow at simplewanderlust.com