June 2018: Large leaved lime [Tilia platyphyllos] (Sommerlinde): This is the lime tree in our schoolyard (the one I observe in the European Phenology campaign) and I remember that "usually" (20 years ago) the smell of lime was in the air when our summer holidays begun (always about 7th of July). This year the tree was in full bloom on June 4th! The lime trees belong to the Malvaceae family. They can be found in Central, South and Southeast Europe, but they are nowhere abundant. The bees love the blooming trees and produce delicious lime honey. We use the dried flowers as tea against fever and cough (with some honey!). The wood is ideal for carving. In Central Europe lime trees are of high cultural significance: they were village lime trees, dance linden trees and court linden trees. They stand for persistence and can get up to 1000 years old!
