Garden Notes – Spring 2013
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GARDEN NOTES – SPRING 2013 Do you like greens? No, not those you consume but those to be admired, especially at this time of the year. It is virtually impossible to calculate accurately the number of different shades of green displayed by trees and shrubs that one can enjoy at any and particularly at this time of year. Irrespective of whether you are in the countryside looking at mostly native trees within our shores or amongst a collection of exotics from innumerable countries the quantity of greens usually exceeds expectations. Taking a stroll around the arboretum at West Lodge Park, you can be assured that by the time you have completed your stroll you will have seen trees from just about every part of the world. Your notebook will be full, your head will be close to bursting point with plant names and you will hardly be able to wait to tell your friends of your experience and say to them that they must get there too! Let’s assume you commence where you came into the car park in front of the Hotel. Standing alone on the edge is a well developed specimen of a Lime – Tilia Wratislaviensii which has conspicuous limey yellow foliage all over its canopy. A difficult name to pronounce but every tree carries a label which is clearly visible. Walk across the car park with the big mature oak tree on your left down a few steps and a whole panorama of trees awaits your attention. Whilst everything is interesting and has a story of particular note, the collection of Taxodiums – swamp cypresses which are native to Texas, Delaware and up the Mississippi to Missouri are spectacular. Their very delicate miniature fern like foliage is absolutely perfect in every respect. You are looking at the National Collection of this particular tree and each specimen has distinctive qualities, many of which will become apparent as the trees develop in stature. Another tree nearby which is definitely worth pointing the camera lens towards, is a form of Deodar called Cedrus ‘Golden Horizon’. It is quite obvious how this tree was so named for the semi- pendulous young foliage is suffused with yellow. Some fine specimens of Cornus Kousa, one of the many Dogwoods, this one from Japan is literally smothered with green bracts which will turn white and become a very attractive sight indeed. No rewards for working out where Sorbus Cashmiriana comes from in the world! Currently it is carrying more flowers than foliage and hopefully this is an indication it will bear an abundance of large white berries in a few months time, making up for the poor display of last year. It is now worth pausing to take a very close look at the foliage on the Hornbeam trees. Each new leaf is absolutely perfect in every respect. The arrangement of the veins on each leaf is very distinctive and another of natures wonders. Although the weather we all experienced earlier this year was not to our liking, the conditions certainly seemed to suit the Magnolias, all of which have been especially floriferous this year. The Judas Tree – Cercis Siliquastrum – is always a trustworthy performer. Its twigs are laden with rosy pink pea like flowers. Occasionally they emerge from the branches and even the trunk of all places. Adam’s Laburnum – Laburnocytisus Adamii – is a rather curious tree which contains a mixture of tissues of both Laburnum and Cytisus. Whilst just a small tree, it manages to display both yellow and purple racemes of again pea like flowers. See if you can spot foliage of Cytisus too and this will be carrying small purple flowers in short bunches. Whilst there are precious few flowers on the nearby Foxglove tree – Paulownia – it’s leaves are just getting ready to explode in size and become very significant features of this handsome tree. An attractive small slow glowing maple carries a very long name – Acer Pseudoplatanus ‘Brilliantissimum’ and it does look good where it has been positioned with a backdrop provided by a dark green Leyland Cypress. In spring, its young leaves are a glorious shrimp pink but change to green as they develop. You are now close to the point where you commenced your tour and if you retraced your steps you would be able to see a whole range of other trees with equally spectacular features. Why don’t you do so? If you are interested in planting a commemorative tree in the grounds during this summer or autumn, perhaps to celebrate the life of a loved one, or for a special occasion, please contact our Estates Manager Grant Cook on [email protected] or 07973 538254 If you are interested in putting together a group for a guided tour of the Beale Arboretum, please contact Beverley Doidge on [email protected] or 0208 216 3904. Tours are free of charge midweek and £2.50 per person at the weekend. Paul Akers Consultant to the Beale Arboretum .