Lombardy poplar

Like the poplars of the countryside that served as a landmark in the landscape, these 9 poplars of the Woluwe Park seem to wave to the walker. Especially in autumn, when their rocket-shaped silhouette is adorned with bright yellow foliage. These trees grow to a height of 30 metres. They stand out clearly on the path along the pond. They have found the light, moisture and rich soil they love so much.

If you stand in the centre of this group*, your gaze is caught by the branches that rise up to the sky. They give a vertiginous look to these individuals. They could well lead you to plunge into the azure and to pause for a moment: an invitation to let yourself be lulled by the ample movement of the foliage and the whispering of the leaves that dance in the slightest breeze ... This is an invitation to forget the background noise of the Boulevard de Tervuren and to refresh your mind, especially during the heatwave.

In fact, these trees are large columns of water that humidify the air. They are capable of pumping more than 1000 litres a day. They are so frugal that they almost completely return the water they pump to the atmosphere. They are champions at tempering our increasingly hot and dry summers. The air around them becomes more breathable.

Italian poplars are a fairly common species in the Brussels Region. In the city, they often form large alignments along certain major boulevards and paths in parks. On the outskirts, they still sometimes separate fields. They then form large hedges: wind-breaking curtains. They can be found along streams and rivers in the company of willows, as here. They fix the banks and purify the soil and water. However, italian poplars are planted less and less often.

Beyond the banal services they can render to the city, this small atypical group seems to remind us that they also have an aesthetic and soothing role to play.

-*- If you exceptionally leave the path, walk carefully, on tiptoes, so as not to damage the roots growing a few centimetres below your soles. 😉