Prunus, in autumn

After a long period of dull anonymity, cherry-trees become briefly lovely again in autumn. As with many another lovely thing, the impression doesn't necessarily translate into photos, though in flesh and wood it exclaims irresistibly. And this aside from the camera's vulnerability to autumn wind, autumn rain, and a tough choice between backdrops that consist either of other autumn foliage that buries all the detail, or of lead-white skies that drain out all the colour. Anyway, these were the ones that came out best.




(Above and below) Prunus 'Shirotae'. Prunus shares with the oaks the feature of clustered terminal buds - well seen here, where they are reddish, though the leaves of 'Shirotae', like many other white-flowered varieties, turn yellow rather than red. ('Shirotae' in spring). The elegantly toothed shiny leaves are characteristic. Below, close-up of the loop-the-loop track of some insect larva.






(Above and below) Prunus 'Kanzan', belatedly recalling the fiery colours with which it announced itself.






(Above and below) Wild cherry, Prunus avium.






(Above and below) A couple of other ornamental cherries, not sure what kind, but I was pleased with the photos...






(Above and below) Winter cherry, Prunus subhirtella 'Autumnalis', the first flush of flowers appearing while the leaves are still falling. It carries on flowering through the winter until the new leaves appear.