The Friends of the Cruickshank Botanic Garden

THE FRIENDS OF THE CRUICKSHANK BOTANIC GARDEN

Newsletter

January 2014

In this issue :-

• The Spring programme

• Dates for the diary

• Garden words and notes

• University of Aberdeen May Festival

• Can you adopt a trough?

• The Herb Series: Fennel

• Reports of two recent talks: Auriculas Plant classification: Syzygium APG stories

• The Seed List is enclosed

• Subscriptions and bequests

Friends of the Cruickshank Botanic Garden Programme Spring 2014

Meetings are held on Thursdays in the Zoology Building Lecture Theatre, University of Aberdeen, Tillydrone Avenue at 7.30pm

February 13 The genetics of the 2nd most important plant species - Rice Professor Adam Price from the School of Biological Sciences, will outline current research in Aberdeen, its application in disease and drought resistance. NOTE THAT THIS IS A CHANGE TO OUR PROGRAMME

THE JOINT RHS MEETING ANTICIPATED ON MARCH 13 WILL NOT NOW TAKE PLACE. RHS HAVE DECIDED TO SPONSOR ONLY ONE IN SCOTLAND THIS YEAR—AND IT IS NOT THE FRIENDS.

March 25 Birds in Gardens - with sound effects Stan da Prato from the Scottish Ornithologist's Club reveals the birds in our gardens and their songs. Joint meeting with the Scottish Rock Garden Club- please note this is a TUESDAY

April 10 Annual General Meeting at 7pm followed by Fungi: friend or foe? Liz Holden from Grampian Fungus Group introduces us to the diversity of the kingdom of fungi, explaining how fungi function all around us and, in the main, to our benefit.

May 10 (Saturday) Plant Sale in the Garden 10.30 - noon.

May 8 The Noel Pritchard Memorial Lecture Genetics, biodiversity and conservation Pete Hollingsworth is Director of Science at the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh and will describe the processes governing the evolution of plant biodiversity, with emphasis on diversification and taxonomic complexity. Refreshments afterwards.

University of Aberdeen Annual Festival, May 9-11, 2014

The Friends of Cruickshank Botanic Garden are organising five events at the May Festival which coincides with our annual Spring Plant Sale in the Gardens, 10:30am to 12 noon on Saturday May 10. http://www.abdn.ac.uk/mayfestival/

The other four events are on the Friday and Saturday and are all about poppies as part of one of the Festival themes: The centenary of the First World War.

Blue poppies: Friday 3-4pm ‘Growing Meconopsis: propagation & maintenance’, Ian Christie of Christies Alpine Nursery in the Linklater Room (access from the path along the north side of Kings College Chapel).

Red poppies: Saturday 12.30-1.30pm ‘Opportunistic lifestyles of plants and the WWI battlefields’, Clare Trinder, Ecologist, Zoology Lecture Theatre.

All-coloured poppies: Saturday 1-2pm ‘Painting and botanical illustration taster workshop’, Fiona Swapp and Janne Richardson, botanical illustrators, Zoology LAB G9.

White poppies: Saturday 4-5pm ‘Poppies in contemporary war: Afghanistan and Aberdeen’, Hilary Homans and colleagues, Dept. of International Development, Zoology Lecture Theatre.

We would like to have hundreds of poppies in flower for that weekend. Please get in touch with the Friends committee if you can grow and bring on poppies to be in flower for the second week of May. We can supply seed of various varieties.

Colette Jones, Programme Secretary E-mail: c.d.jones @abdn.ac.uk Tel: 01224 592390

The Scottish Snowdrop Festival February 1 – March 16

They have a new and much improved website: www.visitscotland.com/snowdrops with full information on this year’s 53 participating gardens. Several National Trust properties including Crathes Castle and House of Dun (near Montrose) take part as well as three others in Montrose and Forfar. There is a new participant in Aberdeenshire: Brucklay Croft, Rothienorman, Inverurie AB51 8YB which has over 90 snowdrop varieties on show. You must phone them ahead to arrange a suitable time to visit between March 1 and 31. Our own Cruickshank Garden is not part of the festival, but a wander round reveals a wide range of snowdrops, including ‘Fred’s Giant’ bred by former Head Gardener (1946 – 1977) Fred Sutherland

More dates for the diary

The Scottish Rock Garden Club, North East Branch Meetings are usually on Tuesdays at 7.30pm at Rubislaw Church Centre, Fountainhall Road. Guests and visitors will be warmly welcomed. www.srgc.net

Sat. February 15 Scottish Rock Garden Club ‘Early Bulb Day’ in the Victoria Hall, Dunblane. Aberdeen SRGC Group are arranging a day trip to this very popular event and Friends are welcome to join them. Talks will be given by Diane Clement and Anne Wright. There will be displays of bulbs and alpines in flower, with many for sale. Soup, sandwiches and teas are available at the hall. The coach will leave at 7.30am from the Airyhall Library, Springfield Road and return around 6.30pm costing £12 per person. To reserve your place please telephone Ian or Margaret Young Tel: 318617 or e-mail: [email protected] with your name and contact details.

February 25 Cliff Booker, SRGC travelling speaker Cream of Alpines March 25 Stan da Prato Birds in gardens with sound effects (Joint meeting with the Friends in the Zoology Lecture theatre) April 29 Jeanie Jones Primulas of the Himalayas

Royal Horticultural Society, Aberdeen Meetings are usually on Tuesdays at 7.30pm in the Girls Brigade Hall, 19a Victoria St.

February 4 Mark Paterson Medical plants in a botanical garden March 5 Mike Hopkins Mike’s tulips March 22/23 Spring Show in the Winter Gardens, Duthie Park Free admission from 10.30am to 4.30pm on Saturday and 10am to 3.30pm on Sunday. Entries for most classes are open to all and full details can be found on their website: Website: http://sites.google.com/sites/rhsofaberdeen/home

Seeds from the Garden Most Botanic Gardens collect and store seeds, both for their own use and to exchange with their counterparts. As Friends we are fortunate to share the opportunity of ordering seeds harvested from the Cruickshank Botanic Garden without charge, and a green order form for a long list of seeds is enclosed. Please circle those you want, post your order soon and retain pages 3 and 4 so that you can identify the seeds on arrival, since each seed packet will be numbered rather than named.

Water on my mind! All the recent flooding down south reminds us of the importance of water management, both making careful use of this resource and avoiding flooding. Sustainable drainage systems (SUDS) involves collection of water coming from roofs and elsewhere, channelling it into storm cells - soakaways on a large scale, and swales (land depressions which hold water) thus allowing the excess water to drain slowly into the ground. Cambridge council insist these in all new developments and are installing them in existing housing areas.

Here in the Cruickshank Botanic Garden we have our own storm cell which collects water falling on the Friends glasshouse. We also collect rainwater, which is free of lime, for our fern collections and other uses by the teaching technicians. Regular maintenance of our drains is necessary to avoid flooding. When funds are available we plan to concrete the large compost area so that the run-off can be collected and used as liquid feed. As an experienced drainage expert put this more succinctly “We do not just want to suck, but to blow as well”. Richard Walker, Head Gardener

Adopt a Trough?

The handsome stone troughs in the paved garden were once planted with suitable low- growing, charming little alpine and rock plants. A succession of cold winters then mild but long and wet winter followed by a cold wet spring and hot dry summer, allied with staff shortages, have left them looking sad and overgrown with hardy perennials from the adjacent herbaceous border, and of course dandelions.

There are Planting Lists, from the better times. What is left? We won’t know till we see what pops up in Spring. We would like to replant with what the Planting Lists tell us. We can obtain most of the seeds we may need. We need some gardeners who know the dandelions from the dodecatheons, who will help to renovate, replant and nurture. The Garden can provide planting mix if the compost is too old, exhausted, compacted or full of dandelion roots.

Come and have a look at the paved garden (come and look at the whole Garden, alpines and winter flowers, stems, leaves are all there waiting for the admiration of the discerning eye!) and assess the troughs – could you be a green-fingered angel to revive a trough? It might need frequent attention at first, to get it going. Could you care?

Once growth starts, we will have a better idea of what needs to be sown, raised, planted out and tended. I am willing to co-ordinate this; let me know your name and address (E-mail, and/or phone number) if you are interested and we will contact you when the action needs to start.

Gay Murton, 219 Great Northern Rd, Aberdeen AB24 2AB Tel: 01224 483801 E-mail: [email protected] 5

Cruickshank Garden Notes January 2014

So this is past Christmas, and what have we done. Another year over and a new just begun - well nearly, I’m writing this on a dreich New Year’s Eve. Time, perhaps, to take stock and reflect on the 12 months in the garden. Somewhat tardily Spring finally appeared and stuck around with no relapses or late frosts, giving way graciously to a warm, sunny and dry summer. Plants late into growth flourished with no check and in general the floral display has been luxuriant. Vegetables which sulked in last year’s damp cold have thriven and many people had a fine crop of soft fruit. This warm summer has been followed by a mild and prolonged Autumn, helping to ripen wood in trees and shrubs against the rigours of winter, though the very strong winds of late somewhat colour this rosy picture. A lot of mature trees have been blown down, fences, walls and hedges destroyed or damaged, and a reminder given to many of how much we rely on electricity!

So to the Cruickshank on a dark, dreich December day, with a stiff wind and driving rain making the juggling of notebook, pencil and umbrella a bit trying and diminishing the joy of being out in a garden. Still, there are pleasures to be found, and already signs of the new season can be spotted. The tips of spring bulbs are, for example, precociously poking through the grass under the big beech tree by the Chanonry entrance while on the other side of the path, the winter flowering Viburnum x bodnantense ‘Dawn’ is already covered in sweet-smelling pink flowers - a must for any garden. The mass of rhododendrons to the north of this small lawn has been extensively pruned and a circular path through them established, revealing a fine specimen of Magnolia kobus which I have failed to notice until now. This tree, native to forest areas of Japan, is closely related to the better known Magnolia stellata, but unlike this latter is taller growing and does not flower till it has reached an age of 12 to 15 years. The specimen here must be at least that old so keep your eyes peeled this April!

The swelling buds on the various witch hazels, Hamamelis mollis cvs, near the path through to the weeping elm, will have opened by the time you read this as have those on the specimen planted near my front door, though it requires a still mild day for the sweet fragrance of its sulphur-yellow, spidery flowers to really fill the air. The weeping elm, Ulmus glabra ‘Camperdownii’, as yet unaffected by Dutch Elm Disease, is as pleasingly architectural with the tracery of its bare winter branches studded with the already swelling buds of its early wind-pollinated reddish flowers. I note in passing, courtesy of Hillier’s Manual of Trees and Shrubs, an indispensable reference book even in our online world, that the ‘Dutchness’ of Dutch Elm Disease, does not connect it with the Dutch Elm, or imply that it originated in Holland, but refers to the fact that the early work on the disease was carried out there.

So dull and wet was the day of my visit that the glistening white berries of, the snowberry, Symphoricarpos albus (probably) that fringe the southern edge of the sunken garden actually gave me momentary pleasure, my usual interaction with this plant, being attempts to eradicate its fiercely suckering thickets from mildly neglected gardens, its

resurgent abilities admirable in a more desirable species. The first signs of spring bulbs in the bulb lawn at the bottom of the sunken garden are just visible, while a good pink form of the South African, Schizostylis coccinea - now properly Hesperantha coccinea - is bravely flowering away on the south facing slope. This species, whose flowers range from good reds through pink to white, seems much hardier in our conditions than is implied in reference books, and thrives in moist, but well-drained sunny conditions. There is also a fine planting opportunity for choice rock plants, on the west facing slope, created by the untimely demise of the conifer that previously occupied the site.

There have not yet been severe enough frosts to cut down the splendid grey pinnate foliage of an another South African native, Melianthus major on the terrace, still giving off a peanut butter like smell from its bruised leaves. Further along the evergreen Killarney strawberry tree, Arbutus unedo, is covered with small white bell flowers. On the south side of the herbaceous border the newly extended and planted bed of deciduous azaleas promises a fine spring display.

In the rock garden, you can find groups of Galanthus reginae-olgae, a lovely autumn- flowering snowdrop from the Taygetos Mountains of Southern Greece and more clumps of Hesperantha coccinea. Though the flowers have gone, the beautifully marbled foliage of Cyclamen hederifolium is delightful in the dawn redwood bed, soon to joined by the flowers of its early spring flowering relative, Cyclamen coum.

The weather as I write this is just as unpleasant as the day I visited the Cruickshank, so time for planning and gardening in the mind and hope for another warm summer. David Atkinson

Jamie Taggart of Linn Botanical Gardens at Cove on the Rosneath peninsula, west of Garelochhead, who was due to speak to the Friends in December about plant hunting, is still missing in North Vietnam. Ian Sinclair of Crieff is coordinating efforts to trace Jamie, last seen on 2nd November 2013. http://forargyll.com/2013/12/urgent-help-needed-to-trace-jamie-taggart-of-the- linn-botanical-gardens/ If you would like to donate money to finance searches or have contacts in North Vietnam, then please get in touch with Ian. Tel:07768 00228 E-mail:[email protected]

Garden opening times October to March, open daily from 9.00 to 16.30 April to September, open daily from 9.00 to 19.00 Closed between December 24 and January 6

Words from the Curator

By the time you read this I will have been in post for just over two years. Inevitably the end of one year and the start of another is an opportune moment for reflection, further encouraging me to consider what has been accomplished at CBG over the past twenty- four months and in particular over the past year.

As per my previous words and those of Richard’s, you will be well aware of the progression across the grounds of the Garden including revamping various beds, opening up new sight lines and increasing the plant collection. While the visual appearance of the Garden is the obvious ‘stage’ that provides so much enjoyment and focus for the visitor, it goes without saying (as any gardener will acknowledge) that regular hard work is required to maintain a garden and in the context of CBG, daily work is carried out to standards of a high level by the horticultural team.

In my experience gardens and gardening attract fascinating and delightful people and are the backbone to any garden operation. Indeed, it is the human element of Cruickshank Botanic Garden that is so important. I am exceedingly fortunate to have inherited a keen, capable and engaging garden team, along with equally dedicated and passionate support from across the University. I find it humbling to warmly acknowledge that colleagues have become good friends. Of course support from within makes it all the easier to drive forward new projects, while simultaneously gaining and appreciating assistance from beyond the walls of CBG and the University as a whole.

Such help this past year been invaluable, not least from you, as Friends. Once again you financially supported a three month Summer Gardener; Amy enjoyed her time in the Garden and at the University to such a degree that she applied for a graduate trainee Horticultural Technician post. I was delighted when she was offered the job in September. Simultaneously, it was equally gratifying to assist Victor to a full-time position. Like Amy, he too accepted a post in September as a fellow Horticultural Technician (though above graduate level). The job description for both is new. They are expected work in the teaching laboratories aiding undergraduates in plant science while also spending a period of each year continuing to help maintain the Living Collection of CBG. Amy will garden for approximately four months and Victor seven months, respectively. While their role is in its infancy, I think it is a fascinating duality of skill and opportunity for all – not least clearly allowing and demonstrating the vital link between the laboratory and the Garden as harmonious learning sites.

While new posts bring excitement, it is with great sadness that George McKay – having worked for over sixteen years as a valued CBG gardener – has very recently retired on medical grounds. George’s many years of work across the Living Collection, along with his passion, knowledge and humour will be greatly missed. He will not be easy to replace. This year Rachel Spencer will be a further new face as our horticultural trainee. As Friends you are kindly financially supporting a twelve month traineeship instead of a Summer Gardener. Rachel will start on the 13th January and work with all garden staff

and volunteers, gaining the understanding and skills that are expected when maintaining a University botanic garden and specifically CBG. It is with delight that I welcome Rachel and further see the recreation of the Horticulture Trainee as an opportunity to progress CBG as a recognised site of high class horticultural training. If you have the chance to visit CBG this year, do come and say hello and please introduce yourself to the new garden team members. Mark Paterson, Curator

Cowslip, Primula veris blooming in January in the Azalea bed Hazel Carnegie 9

Auriculas – an illustrated talk by Mark Hutson and Alison Goldie

It all started due to a tempting voucher for six auriculas within a fuschia catalogue in 1999. Two years later these had multiplied to 100, the collecting bug had bitten, and by 2003 they purchased a perspex cover to display their 200 varieties. On discovering that there were no other auricula nurseries in Scotland, they set up a polythene shed to accommodate their fledgling online business. By 2012 the collection had expanded to 850 varieties, their application for National Plant Collection status was approved and Angus Plants became a registered charity.

Auriculas were introduced to England by refugees in the sixteenth century, and mentioned in Gerrard’s Herbal of 1597. Around 1750 auricula mania was at its height when rare plants sold for high prices, much like the demand for unusual tulips in Holland. Mill weavers and coal miners in the Midlands became known for their collections from the 19th century.

Auriculas derive from crosses between Primula auricula, which provides both scent and yellow colouration, and P. hirsuta from which red and blue colours are obtained. The male determines colour and vigour, the female plant, shape and form. A few varieties also have P. pubescens in their ancestry. Each of these is found in areas of limestone in the Alps and Dolomites.

Cultivation: They use a 50/50 mixture of grit and fine grained multipurpose compost (but can recommend John Innes no 2 in place of compost). If using pots larger than 9cm, then a 60/40 mix is advisable. Garlic granules should be added to help deter pests and three times each year they water with a dilute mix of vine weevil killer such as Provado or Bug clear. The pots are kept fairly dry in winter then watered with weak tomato food in March. They water a bit more once the buds appear then allow the plants to rest in August, ease off watering in October and keep well ventilated. Border varieties planted directly in garden soil need grit added for good drainage.

Propagation: They recommended lifting plants and taking offsets after flowering or in early Spring. If these have few roots, pot up in damp sand to encourage root development. Remove half of the hefty roots of the original plant to encourage fine root growth. Auriculas are promiscuous so do not come true from seed, but you can plant fresh seeds (or those kept in the fridge until January), by placing them on top of seed compost, covered with plastic or glass, placed in shade and kept moist.

Alison showed superb slides to illustrate the different types of auriculas: Alpines: Either gold or light coloured with a lighter edge to the petal and no farina (the light dusting consists of tiny oil-producing glands which protect the plants from sunlight and deter their consumption) Borders: or Dusty Millers which often have frilled petals and are garden hardy. Doubles: Some have farina; they fell out of fashion but are now being bred in various colours.

Edges – green: The flower colour is derived from foliage and they have a black/deep maroon circle. Edges – white: As above but with a dusting of farina on their petals. Fancies: They have a yellow central tube, a ring of white paste and various petal colours. They may have farina on the flower or foliage. Selfs: They have a white central paste and self-coloured petals, some with farina. Stripes: As Selfs but with stripes of farina. These two must be protected from rain.

Alison and Mark are now breeding new varieties, but these are not yet available for sale.

Angus Plants, 3 Balfour Cottages, Menmuir, by Brechin DD9 7 RN Tel: 01356 660280 e-mail: [email protected]

Angus Plants are holding an Auricula Open Day, May 10, 1.30 to 4.30pm. Alison and Mark, who gave this presentation to the Friends in October, invite Friends to appreciate their auriculas in bloom To reach there drive down the A90 to just beyond Brechin. Turn right at the Bervie Chipper signed to Careson and Menmuir and after 3.5miles, turn left at the T junction. Angus Plants is 150m on the left. The postal code is DD9 7RN if you use a GPS. www.angusplants.co.uk

Subscriptions 2014

A pink subscription form is enclosed for Friends who pay annual membership (i.e. those who continue to choose not to have a standing order with their bank, or are not life members) The treasurer would appreciate payment as soon as convenient.

HOWEVER

Could you please consider paying by a Standing Order from your bank. It saves you the bother of cheques and postage and greatly eases the Treasurer’s work. Just ask him for a Standing Order form, which can be posted or E-mailed to you. You can cancel this payment at any time simply by advising your bank.

You will find the treasurer’s addresses on the back page.

Plant Classification: Syzygium APG stories

In November we were treated to a fascinating if complex lecture on the above topic where the enthusiasm of the lecturer for his subject and the energy with which he engages in both field work and the academic assimilation of the data collected,was startling. James graduated from the University of Aberdeen with a BSc in Tropical Environmental Science in 2008 and completed the MSc in Biodiversity and Taxonomy of Plants at the Royal Botanic Gardens in Edinburgh the following year. He returned to the University of Aberdeen in 2009 and is engaged in studying for a PhD based at the Royal Botanic Gardens in Kew.

His area of research is the species rich Myrtaceae genus Syzygium. He is currently revising the group for Africa, the Indian Ocean and the Indian sub-continent and has travelled extensively in these regions, and he spoke about these in the context of the refining of the molecular Angiosperm Phylogeny Group (APG) plant family classification system, both to achieve an increasingly accurate account of plant evolution and relationships and to make the system the more useable in the field and the herbarium. To this latter end he is writing a book with keys for the identification of flowering plants using APG classification that is due for publication shortly.

The Angiosperm Phylogeny Group, or APG, refers to an informal international group of systematic botanists who came together to try to establish a consensus on the taxonomy of flowering plants (angiosperms) that would reflect new knowledge about plant relationships discovered through phylogenetic studies. Over the years since 1998, various increasingly refined versions of the system have been published and the latest one can be seen at http://www.mobot.org/MOBOT/research/APweb/ which site contains a wealth of technical information about the group, its aim and modus operandi. The initial 1998 paper by the APG made angiosperms the first large group of organisms to be systematically re-classified primarily on the basis of genetic characteristics. The paper explains the authors' view that there is a need for a classification system for angiosperms at the level of families, orders and above, but that existing classifications are "outdated".

The main reason why existing systems are rejected is because they are not phylogenetic i.e. are not based on strictly monophyletic groups (i.e. groups which consist of all descendants of a common ancestor). This task involves the comparison of genetic material from different plants to see how much they have in common and with the degree of relationship means they should be regarded as in the same order or family, though this scarcely captures the complex technical and statistical activities necessary for progress.

The work has resulted in the delineating of 380 plant families, and has resulted in the resolution of a number of long-standing uncertainties from traditional taxonomy. James’s book ‘The flowering plants’ is due to be published as an e-book shortly and a paperback version can be pre-ordered on Amazon. David Atkinson

Snippets

The Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) has started a three year scheme making £100,000 available for Scottish projects. Twelve have been successful in the first year, and include building new glasshouses, creating community spaces and restoring a fruit and vegetable garden. Over 100 groups applied for funding and each was assessed by the RHS and Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh (RBGE). Four ‘flagship’ projects received between £1,800 and £6,300 with eight securing up to £500 each. All will be given support and training by the RHS Scotland team. In partnership with BBC Two television’s Beechgrove Garden, the RHS will also fund a further four projects with up to £10,000. Applications forms for the next tranche will appear on the RHS website www.rhs.org.uk in April, and the Scotland Development Team can be contacted by E-mail: [email protected]

The RHS Advisory Service The Friends are an affiliate organisation of the RHS, who have pointed out that they can now only provide advice from their Science and Liaison contact (SALC) to us as a group, not to individuals. Since this newsletter editor is their current contact point, please contact me if you have a query and I will forward it to the RHS.

The National Trust for Scotland (NTS) and RBGE have signed a Memorandum of Understanding to collaborate in protecting wild and cultivated plants in Scotland. The two bodies will share plants to safeguard specimens that might be at risk, and work in partnership to conserve endangered wild plants through replanting projects, and by working together on pest and disease management.

You may have noticed that Shell UK Limited is acknowledged as ‘proud sponsor’ on the back of the new Cruickshank Botanic Garden leaflet. Joan McKenzie, who took the lead in its production, liaised with the Shell Graphics Design Team which put a great deal of effort and expertise into its production. Joan’s application for a Shell Employee Action Grant also bore fruit, with an award to £350 towards printing costs.

Stately Sorbus

You gave us great pleasure to Autumn’s flaming fantasy stately sorbus and burnished berries. from Spring’s first Your feathered foliage pricks of green a diurnal delight and creamy blossom, in that drowsy dreamy summer. Don Robinson

Fennel: constant comforter over centuries

Fennel is a breeze in the ornamental border; a puff, a vapour with a considerable history of soothing. The plant is in the characterful carrot family Apiaceae, the only species of the genus Foeniculum: wild in Mediterranean Europe and Asia and naturalised around coasts in England and Wales. Fennel is a hardy perennial with sturdy, smooth and shiny, dark-green, branching stems that can grow to two metres, with fine, pinnate, infinitely dividing, hair-like leaves. Tiny, yellow flowers appear on uneven spokes from July to October, hundreds in a flowering head. The whole plant has an aroma of aniseed, hence the name ‘fragrant hay’ or Foeniculum.

First century ‘De Materia Medica’ by Greek physician Dioscorides states fennel is good for: ‘ye serpent-bitten; ye burning heat and nauseousness of ye stomach; dog-bitings; and eye medicine’ (John Goodyer, 1655 translation). Nicholas Culpeper, an English apothecary, lists similar virtues in ‘The Complete Herbal’ in 1653 and distinguishes the wild fennel, writing that it ‘is stronger and hotter than the tame [sweet Fennel] and therefore most powerful’. Thomas Bartram in 1995 describes uses of fennel ‘to disperse windy colic, griping, increase milk in nursing mothers, obesity, wrinkle smoother, cholera remedy, an eyewash for red-eye and blepharitis’. Contemporary Bone and Mills in ‘Principles and Practice of Phytotherapy’ 2013, inevitably reference clinical trials that show fennel effectively treats infantile colic, dyspepsia (pain, nausea, belching and heartburn), chronic constipation and irritable bowel syndrome.

As I bend to pick the pale-green, soft, young shoots of fennel in my garden I am struck by the constancy of the plant across the centuries when ideas on illness have changed so greatly. Anglo-Saxons explained diseases with Elves; Flying Venom; the Worm; and yet fennel was present in the charm of nine sacred herbs as power against venoms in the same way that fennel is present now in medicines providing anethole and fenchone. I have five Foeniculum vulgare bought as plants from Poyntzfield Herb Nursery in May 2013. Three are in my north facing, shady vegetable plot and two in my windy south- facing, yellow Jubilee border. They have done well on both sites in the acid, free- draining loam, producing a good harvest of seed, ripened on the stem and leafy shoots picked continuously, even in winter, for salads, soups, sauces, and fish dishes. Real Seeds (http://www.realseeds.co.uk) sell the root vegetable and purple varieties of fennel that are less effective as remedies.

I made a simple fennel tincture following Henriette Kress ‘Practical Herbs’, 2011. A one-in-five tincture is made easily using fennel seed: crush the seed and place in a glass jar; cover with five parts vodka (needs to be greater than 25% alcohol); seal and leave in a dark place, remembering to shake the jar every day. After three weeks, filter the mix to obtain a clear tincture; bottle and store. Half a teaspoonful of tincture in a glass of cold water soon brings comfort as fennel has done for two thousand years. Colette Jones

Helping the Friends to support the Botanic Garden

The Friends have a 30 year history of supporting the Garden as a resource for members and for the wider public. The programme of meetings and other events has proved very popular, but does require organisation, mainly by members of the Committee.

Can you help us to maintain our thriving group? There are several ways of doing so: • Assistance at events such as helping with refreshments or selling plants and cards. • Shadowing the secretary or programme secretary for a while, with a view to taking over their responsibilities. • Becoming a committee member . • Editing the newsletter - this is a co-opted position. • Writing up reports of talks for the newsletter.

These roles are not arduous, but together add up to the continuing success of the Friends. The committee meets four or five times each year and keep in touch by E-mail.

If you think you might consider one of these roles please contact the current post-holder for an informal chat about the work: Hazel Witte, secretary and editor, see back page Colette Jones, programme secretary E-mail:[email protected] Tel: 01224 592390

Note that much of next year’s programme has already been arranged and that Colette and Hazel can provide prolonged and supportive handovers.

How to make a bequest

The Friends are a registered Scottish Charity, No: SC004350 so gifts are tax- exempt. All gifts to the Garden made through the University of Aberdeen Development Trust are ring-fenced to support the Garden, and will be used to ensure that the Gardens are properly cared for, through maintaining staffing levels, to purchase garden equipment, or for specific development projects.

There are many ways to give. You can donate online, and your gift can be made as a single donation or spread monthly or annually over a period of years. There are many options for giving, and because the University has charitable status, using Gift Aid and other tax advantages means that you can increase the value of your gift at no extra cost to yourself. The University Development Team can be contacted with any queries, and for expert and confidential advice.

See the Garden website for further information: www.abdn.ac.uk/botanic-garden

Office Bearers of the Friends, 2013-14

President: David Atkinson Tel: 01975 581278 Secretaries: Hazel Witte (General) Tel: 01224 732738 Colette Jones (Programmes) Tel: 01224 592390 Treasurer and Dick Morris Tel: 01651 806467 Membership Secretary: Veslehaug, Polesburn, Methlick, Ellon, AB41 7DU E-mail: [email protected]

Subscription rates Non-earning £10.00 Ordinary £20.00 Life £200.00

Website: www.abdn.ac.uk/botanic-garden

The next issue will be published in April 2014. Please contact the editor with ideas and any information which you wish to be shared with other Friends. Articles should be sent in by March 23 to the editor: Hazel Witte, Monearn, Maryculter, Aberdeen AB12 5GT Tel: 01224 732738 E-mail: [email protected]

Scottish Charity Number SC004350