The reds (with a dash of pink) of Cavendish Road

Every so often I like to pick a road at random and have a slow nature walk down it, looking at street trees, pavement plants and front gardens (yes that's me you spot spending five minutes gazing up, down or into your front hedge - I'm completely harmless).

Yesterday, I had a stroll down Cavendish Road and was at once struck by the bright berries of the Whitebeam in the top left hand corner (NB this is what my plant app says it is but if you know differently, please leave a comment below).

Then, I was bowled over by a stunning holly bush a bit further down, full of berries. I'm eternally grateful to the front gardeners of Harringay who give room to plants, flowers and trees that delight the senses as you walk down their street. This holly bush was truly lovely. I wouldn't be surprised if a passing mistle thrush thought so too.

Sometimes people see a cherry flowering in winter and are alarmed by it, surely global warming in action? Actually, in the case of this tree, of which there are a few across the ladder, there's no need to worry because this is a winter flowering cherry (bottom left), a tree bred to flower in winter around the beginning of the 20th century by Japanese horticulturists ( at least that's what the internet says, some tree experts are not so sure )

Finally, after stopping to admire a clump of Sweet Alison in the planter and take a long sniff of a splendid rosemary bush about half way down (very good for brain health, memory and mood), I came to my old friend rowan (bottom right), clinging to its last few berries which it will soon lose to hungry blackbirds no doubt. 

A rowan growing next to a house was said to afford protection to the house and all its residents from witches and enchantment. Its berries have a tiny five-pointed star or pentagram opposite its stalk, the pentagram is an ancient protective symbol. The colour of its berries, red, is also said to be a powerful protection against enchantment. So lucky Harringay residents who have a rowan outside their house!

What pretty trees and flowers have you noticed on your street? Tell me in the comments, maybe even pop a picture there.