...at least, that's what Mrs S calls them - you can see why.
You've seen their like before in my project - they're the result of a particularly brutal pruning method known as 'élégage. Farmers don't like trees that grow along the field borders - especially oaks like these - as they absorb lots of water and nutrients from the soil and their branches cut down the light falling on the crop. Together, these two things result in reduced crop yields.
Farmers are not allowed to cut the trees down so they cut off all the branches except the top-most one. This is known as a 'tire sêve' - literally a 'sap puller' which keeps the tree alive. It can't grow new branches so it puts out lots of spindly secondary growth which creates the 'bottle brush' effect.
i enjoyed your explanation of elegage, and mrs s's name for these trees is spot on. the pruning does sound brutal, and yet they carry on in their spindly way. beautiful image
I like the ominous sky over the row of trees. I like Mrs S's name for the trees too. A fascinating explanation of how the trees come to look as they do!
Aren't those the same trees as in Mrs S. "last day ..." picture. If so it is great to see how different your depiction (is that the word?) of it is.
Great shot as always ...
@runner365 Depiction is the right word - no, these are not the same trees but I guess all 'bottle brush' trees look rather similar... and we have plenty to choose from around us.
Ian
Like moody landscapes, they're not so common here.
Great shot as always ...