Frans Fontaine Hornbeam Trees - Pre-Dormancy - Green Foliage - Early November 2026

The last time that I checked in on the row of Frans Fontaine European (Columnar) Hornbeam trees that serve as a screen in our sideyard was just back in August.  Before that, I pruned them a little bit this Summer, to make a little room to navigate the boardwalk.  

The full archive of posts on my Frans Fontaine European Hornbeam trees can be found here.  

This year, I added another one, but in a different spot:  back by the firepit.  

For background, you can check out this post from 2023, when I documented the progress over the years.  

More recently, I've posted about how these trees turn into dormancy and demonstrate marcescence - or holding onto their leaves late into the Winter.  Here is a post from November 2024 when the leaves were turning yellow.  

We're now in early November (2026) and what to they look like?  Green leaves.  And, mostly full.  

Here, below, are a couple of photos showing the Frans Fontaine columnar European Hornbeam trees that are planted as a hedge along our property line:

Hedge of 8 year old Frans Fontaine European Hornbeam Trees in Late Fall

Just last week, I posted a photo of our backyard that showed the trees all over the place putting on a "Fall Show".  Oranges.  Reds.  Yellows.  Browns.  And some greens. 

So, that tells you that most of the other trees in our garden are turning color. 

But not these.  Not these Frans Fontaine Hornbeams.  

In December 2023, they were still (mostly) green.  And that's what we might see this year.  

I'll try to grab a few photos of them as they head into dormancy.