GARDENING
TREES FOR THE PLATINUM JUBILEE By Mike Burks, managing director of The Gardens Group An occasion such as the platinum jubilee of Queen Elizabeth II deserves to be commemorated, and what better way than planting a tree that can be appreciated for years to come. I suppose the natural instinct is to think of a seriously long-living tree, such as the English oak (Quercus robur), hornbeam (Carpinus betulus) or beech (Fagus sylvatica). Not everyone has the space for such an ultimate specimen, maybe it’s time to consider some other options. Definitely a tree for generations to come is the black mulberry, Morus nigra. These take many years to grow but when mature are fascinating and productive. The leaves are large and heart shaped, and the fruit is very dark red, virtually black. It is the gnarled and architectural shape of the mature specimen that is impressive. The tree spreads to a large size with not much height and makes for a great hiding place for children. One of the nicest varieties is King James, which comes from a specimen grown on the instruction of King James I in the Chelsea Physic Garden. He wanted it planted because he mistakenly thought it was the food source of silkworms. However, it is the white mulberry, Morus alba, that he really needed for that purpose. The specimen was lost in World War II, but cuttings were taken from it just in time and the clone has been sustained ever since. The paperbark maple, Acer griseum, is a fascinating tree with exquisite peeling mahogany bark and good autumn colours too. It’s a small tree growing eventually up to about 25 feet and not particularly quickly. It would prefer acidic conditions but actually still does well in the alkaline gardens of this area. There is a particularly fine example outside the police station in Sherborne where it was planted in 1992 to commemorate the golden jubilee of Sherborne Gardeners Association. Many birch trees have been planted in recent years, 14
mostly for their white peeling bark. In particular, Betula jacquemonttii and B. Utilis have been popular. I love trees that look good in the winter as well as other times of the year and these certainly fit the bill. One that will also impress throughout the year but with different bark colours is B. albosinensis septentrionalis. The striking grey-pink bark which turns coppery on the larger branches is a real wow! At Christmas should the Glastonbury thorn on the Tor be in flower, tradition has it that a bough of it needs to be given to the Queen. Crataegus monogyna ‘Biflora’ is an unusual hawthorn which can flower twice a year, with one of these flowerings occasionally happening in the winter. The flowers are white, and red berries or haws follow later in the year. According to legend, the original Glastonbury thorn was the staff of Joseph of Arimathea who stopped just outside Glastonbury in the first century. He pushed his staff into the ground where it rooted and from then on flowered twice each year: the first being at Christmas marking the birth of Jesus and the second at Easter to mark the resurrection. Another thorn that makes a great specimen is Crataegus prunifolia. As the name suggests, it has leaves like the plum tree, although they are glossy and colour up superbly in the autumn with dramatic orange, red and yellow tints. In the spring the typical May blossom is a feature and when the leaves fall in the winter, red berries remain before being
eventually polished off by the birds. A big favourite of mine is the Liquidambar or sweet gum. It is often confused with a maple as the leaves are large and maple-like, and whilst green in the summer colour up superbly in the autumn again. The colours are dark plum through red, orange and yellow and most spectacular. Once the foliage has fallen, the bark is then exposed which when mature is deeply fissured and fascinating. I also like the shape of the tree particularly in its early years as it is upright in habit like a candle flame though spreading as it matures. There are a number of varieties including a variegated form but Liquidambar styraciflua ‘Worplesdon’ is probably the best with a more upright habit, even in later years. Again, a multi-featured and beautiful small tree is the fruiting quince, Cydonia oblonga. Wonderful, pinktinged white flowers appear in the spring followed by large fragrant fruit in the summer
and autumn. The fruit of course is edible as well as being ornamental. The autumn colours are butter yellow leaving the bare trunk through the winter which can become twisted and gnarled with age. So, a platinum-jubilee tree need not be just for large open spaces but for any garden. May or June isn’t the ideal time for planting but as long as the tree is kept well watered throughout the summer and into autumn then it will establish well.
CASTLE GARDENS New Road, Sherborne DT9 5NR Tel: 01935 814633 BRIMSMORE GARDENS Tintinhull Road, Yeovil BA21 3NU Tel: 01935 411000
POUNDBURY GARDENS Peverell Avenue, Poundbury DT1 3RT Tel: 01305 257250 www.thegardensgroup.co.uk
THE FENCING & GATE COMPANY Domestic Fencing Specialist All types of fencing and gates supplied and erected Over 30 years experience Free Survey and Quotation 10 year guarantee • No VAT
01935 330 095 01460 353 046
To advertise – 01935 424724 • email: info@theconduitmagazine.co.uk • www.theconduitmagazine.co.uk
