Fruits & seeds.

Is it just me or are trees & other perennial plants, flowering.friuting & seeding in a much bigger way this year. :confused: Is it because we have had a dry winter & summers, they are panicking so to speak & want to make sure something will be there for next year if they are not. :confused: :rolleyes: :( Any ideas anyone??

 

That is what I was wondering, I thought it would probably be because of what the plants had been trough rather than what was to come, & we certainly have had a dry winter & spring in this area. It's just that the old sayings that we have listened to for generations really don't seem to apply, but usually there is some basis of truth in them, so was puzzling over it & was wondering what everyone else thought. I have been suprised by the number of trees that have died off this year, allot seem to be Ash trees too, which is such a shame. :( Of course there has been the usual death rate of the elm trees that appear for a few years then die off, but we all know about them. :(

 

:( Certainly agree about the trees suffering from lack of water, the oaks as you say are struggling, we have lost a couple of ash trees nearby, one of which was healthy to the untrained eye last year, but it is as dead as a dodo this year. It was quite old but not ancient, very sad to see. We also have allot of dead young elm trees this year. I know that they only live for a short time before you can see the bark dropping off & death is on the way, they nearly always put out seeds the year before they die, I have noticed that, have tried once to germinate some, but to no avail, still they wouldn't have survived long. :( I must say though that my Tuliptree is certainly looking wonderful this year.

 

There are just the odd ones here & there in field hedges round here. They don't live long about 10yrs then throw out seeds & die off. Then a few years later you see fresh growth in same area. It seems to be a little cycle of roughly 15yrs. :( Such a shame as they were wonderful trees. I remember them well as a child. They used to make the most wonderful creeking noise, a bit like poplars can.
No I'm afraid Tulip tree hasn't flowered yet, was hopeful for this year as is 25yrs old but it was very badly damaged by the winds last year. I had it trimmed & reshaped in the spring. I have been feeding it in the spring & early summer but have stopped now. It has put on fantastic growth & a very nice shape coming now next year it will be lovely as long as the wind leaves it alone. The leaves are huge, bigger than the bean tree round the corner. Anyway after that rant, no hasn't flowered yet hoping for next year now as they are wonderful to see.

 

No didn't know we used the timber from the Tulip trees, it is a lovely pale wood. They are beautiful trees, but it seems that if the timber is used for a paticular reason they will cut any tree down. You only have to look at the devastation of our rainforests, & the americans didn't think twice about cutting down the Redwoods. I know they have a cutting policy now, but it's too late for some areas. All these trees are fabulous in their own way, mainly their sheer size, but our greed outstrips the supply,so what will happen in years to come I don't know, but I'm sure we will pay the price for our devastsation. :( :eek: So on a happier note I enjoy my tulip tree and all trees in fact, while I can.