Finally, we get around to doing our Nature Study again... and about time to go and examine our 'adopted' tree... for we are going to look at this throughout the year and see the seasonal changes that is goes through. Our Tree Study... this is the Spring one.We found the tree we wanted to study in the nearby Park not long after moving here... but it had no leaves, and it has been a long while in budding up... but finally, we have leaves... AND we have and identity for it... O, it was wonderful walking up the slope under the canopy of tree leaves from so many different trees... the Limes in abundance and the Horse Chestnut, the Maple and the Sycamore... all so fresh and green and gently rustling in the wind... sadly, I think the moment was lost on the kids, and it was just me gauping in wonder! Nevermind, can't force the issue!
So, to 'our' tree - a Sweet Chestnut... how exciting! I had NO idea it was going to be that... it was really fun to go and see what it had 'turned into'! We didn't have any close by at the old house... lovely to study it... the most wonderful knotted bark on the trunk... almost like the pattern from an Arran jumper. We all felt it, and agreed it was very rough, and quite jaggy really... nice to *look* at, but not touch!
We did some simple observations... measured the tree trunk (and even stretched around it ourselves... Bubbles wanted to see if it was *ancient* - apparantly, so she tells me, if you have to have 4 or more people stretched around a tree trunk to encompass it's girth, then it is ancient... we managed to get us 3 round it very easily and some arm to spare... so it's not ancient!). We brought a leaf home and a catkin to press and we did some bark rubbing. We also stood quietly underneath to see what we could hear... sadly, being near a main road it was mostly cars we heard! But we heard people talking as they passed (probably wondering what we were doing!!) and we could just hear the wind rustling the leaves, despite the drone of cars.
Saw lots of growth out of these 'knots' on the sides of the tree.
Hands off, it's ours!
Our lovely tree... I think it stands so elegantly... like a ballerina, arms stretched out so gracefully...
1 comment:
It is nice to hear from you again and to see your new tree...we don't have chestnuts here so it is always nice to read and see someone else's experiences.
Great job picking a tree and completing your observations.
Thanks so much for sharing your link, hope to see you again soon,
Barb-Harmony Art Mom
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