Ghost of winter, gift of spring

March 16, 2024, 6:53 am , by Richard Lutz

Richard Lutz warns of an identity crisis

Before I start, there’s a confession. It’s cards on the table time.

I’m about to write about bud, catkin and early blossom. And I’m simply out of my arboreal depth. Each photograph, each app, each expert, each guidebook that I refer to can give me different idents.

So, if you know your stuff and you’re sure I’ve come a cropper, be patient.

Now, back to that doozie of a plant as above. It’s a catkin from an arroyo willow and its stalk curls like a hyperactive shepard’s crook. There’s a bunch of these curved monstrosities in a Scottish arboretum- some of them 10 feet tall.

This being mid March, the shreds of winter still contain sharp breath and keening wind. So, the early emergence of catkins is welcome. Here’s one from a Kilmarnock willow:

And another from a black alder tree, eye catching and natty:

We move through this lost arboretum. It was planted 40 years ago on the old Auchincruive Estate east of Ayr. It contains 600 species. The monthly Tree Club I tag along with, which includes some pretty knowledgable folks, says the grounds are grouped according to type, such as moisture-loving, seaside, streetside and upright. They’re also arranged according to colour, shape and whether they attract birds. Sadly, time, tide and finances have taken a toll. The twenty acre collection is mostly forgotten now, untended, neglected, a ghostly remnant of A Great Idea. Many of the trees need a radical trim. Some need to be taken down. Tricky underbrush crowds the area and there’s a bit of a mess with identity markers lost or even misplaced- which, of course, adds to any inevitable mistakes.

But the quiet of the trees (though bordered with a busy road) is powerful. A gigantic birch stands alone, proud, bulky, dignified in a small clearing. The winter air brings with it the gentle fragrance of almond, yes almond, from (you guessed it…) an awakening almond tree.

The untended arboretum contains messy surprises too. Here’s three trees, beech, birch and willow, entangled and growing from the same earth. A triple combo:

And along the vague traces of paths, welcome early colour….cherry blossoms:

purple plum (or maybe that almond tree):

and this potentially priapic horse chestnut bud:

There’s a sour cherry:

and this blossom growing from old wood in the cold air:

It’s the flower of a Judas Tree. It’s also called The Love Tree because of its heart shaped leaves. Not many will see its colour and warmth. Not people come here. Not many know the trees of Auchincruive.