Night leaves

Copper beech flowers - the leaves are just beginning to change colour

The path leading to the front door of my block of flats is lit at night on one side by low level lamps, and immediately behind these are two trees, a copper beech (fagus sylvaticus purpurea) and a whitebeam (sorbus aria). Both are about 20 feet high now, and provide protection and privacy, and in the case of the whitebeam, a supply of red-gold autumn berries which attract the local pigeons, jays and magpies. The latter are a source of endless irritation to the cat but they are too big for him to make any serious attempt at hunting.



At the moment both trees are in flower, and the copper beech's leaves are still green - though they are now just starting to turn to the beautiful burnished coppery brown that will see us through to next winter.


Whitebeam

The ridged grey underside of the whitebeam's leaves are resistant to pollution so they are ideal for growing in cities; there are several lining nearby streets.



Thanks to the lighting and the new camera, this year I have been able to take some shots of the trees and their branches at night. Their beauty, which I can so often take for granted during the day, is impossible to ignore against the night sky.