We live on a windswept ridge. On the plus side, there are views in all directions- rolling fields of corn, oats, and barley. On the minus side, in the winter we are battered by 70 mph winds. Every winter we lose one or two mature trees. Last winter, we lost a majestic willow with five stately branches. Now reduced to a stump.The  mature oak trees always suffer some damage. We anxiously check them after a storm. 

Step over our garden fence, and take 20 paces and you will come to my chosen tree following oak. 

It’s the tree in the centre of the picture.

The oak is about 200 years old and marks the start of a small wood where buzzards nest each summer. 

One of the branches, snapped in a storm, has been left dangling. We wonder what lives in the holes and crevices. 

Something must live in there. We see footprints in the winter. 

It’s a favourite spot for a picnic in summer. The wide-spreading canopy gives much welcome shade. 

Here’s Arnie enjoying the cool shade during the  recent heatwave. 

And it’s not just us enjoying the shade. We watched these beauties being born and have enjoyed seeing  them grow. It’s a rare thing to see calves reared by their mothers these days. We get a lot of pleasure from seeing them caper around the fields. They seem to be as interested in us as we are in them. They line up along the hedge to watch me working on my vegetable plot.

Lammas Day is August 1st and our oak trees have put on the second flush of growth. Lammas leaves look so fresh  and green. It’s a reminder that the season is moving on.

We sometimes see a woodpecker on the trunk. The bark must contain a good supply of insects and grubs.

A beautifully scented dog rose wreaths around the sunny side of the tree. There will be plenty of rose hips this year. 


 Thank you  to https://squirrelbasket.wordpress.com/tree-following for hosting this meme. I was inspired to join in by Alison at The Blackberry Garden http://blackberrygarden.co.uk and Mike at Flighty’s Plot https:// flightplot.wordpress.com . Thanks for reading.