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HEALTH & WELLBEING

TREES FOR THE PLATINUM JUBILEE

By Mike Burks, managing director of The Gardens Group

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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. 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

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THE BENEFITS OF A WINTERGARDEN

By Liv Sabat

Solarlux is one of the leading manufacturers of bi-fold doors, glass extensions and wintergardens, and we can now proudly announce our partnership with them.

Now let’s get to the benefits of a Solarlux wintergarden. A highly efficient, thermally insulated glass extension acts as the perfect link between the inside of your house and the natural world around it. The ventilation and shading options available will give you the perfect climate inside your glass extension, unlike conservatories which tend to overheat.

The number one reason why I recommend a glass extension is how it gives you a front row seat to watch the changing seasons. There’s nothing like discovering the first blossoms of spring, feeling the warm sun on your back, and watching the leaves and snow fall on the roof above your head.

A wintergarden glazed extension is the perfect solution to provide more living space with a stunning aesthetic. You can watch the changing seasons in the comfort of your own home, and in the warmer months open up your living space to embrace the outside.

When you choose a Solarlux aluminium system, you opt for individuality. Solarlux standard colour options, which include around 30 RAL colours, offer all the colours of the rainbow in matt and gloss finishes, at no extra cost. This allows every system to be matched with the building’s interior and exterior design. What I personally like about a wintergarden is that you can add it to your home to give you more living space. It can be integrated into the existing architecture, as a built-on extension to your existing living area. No matter your style, Solarlux wintergardens offer the right shape of canopy for everyone; taking into consideration shape and size. Each client can decide for themselves whether they want a harmoniously integrated extension to their living space or to add a striking touch to their home with a built-on wintergarden. You can choose to add glass elements which will allow you to enjoy wide openings to the outdoors and a large cross section that facilitates a fast interchange of air for perfect ventilation. I would say the main benefits of bi-folding doors are that you can enjoy fresh air to the fullest in the summer but even in the winter, when the doors are closed, the elements never obscure your view of the outdoors.

That’s it for today.

See you next time!

FABULOUS FOXGLOVES

By Julie Haylock, Sandhurst Garden Design

Digitalis or foxgloves are another of my favourite plants. I love to see them growing wild in the countryside amongst hedgerows or in the dappled shade of a wood and I cannot get enough of them in my own garden. These low-maintenance stately plants bring vertical interest to borders, equally happy in full sun or shade, and it goes without saying, no cottage garden is complete without this romantic plant. Easily grown from seeds, these biannual plants are perfect for pollinators. Their bell-shaped flowers, open from the base of the flower spike right to the top, are rich in nectar making them bee magnets. It is great fun to watch a fat bumblebee squash itself inside a tubular flower to emerge again covered in a dusting of yellow pollen.

The common variety, Digitalis purpurea, has spires of pink or white tubular flowers, sometimes heavily spotted with dark-red or soft-grey spots on the inside, it can grow to 6 feet tall flowering from June to July. This short-lived plant self-seeds readily if you allow the seed to disperse, so to avoid unwanted seedlings deadhead after flowering. Foxgloves like moist well-drained soil that is rich in humus. They are biannual which means the plant forms its root and rosette of green foliage in the first year before producing a flower spike, setting seed and dying in the second year. However, there are varieties of foxglove that are perennial. Foxgloves are beautiful but deadly; they contain a chemical called digitalis used to treat heart failure and high blood pressure. It is often said that foxgloves can both ‘raise the dead and kill the living’, as all parts of the plant are poisonous if ingested, so always wear gloves when handling them. It is also worth noting if you have pets that are partial to nibbling your plants, it is probably best to avoid growing them. New varieties of foxgloves have been developed by crossing the native purpurea to give us gardeners the choice of more colour and perennial varieties, such as Digitalis purpurea ‘Suttons Apricot’ that has pink/apricot flowers that grow to 1.5m tall, or the pale-yellow perennial Digitalis Lutea growing to 60cm tall. If you fancy something a little bit different, try Digitalis parviflora; this perennial variety has a flower spike tightly packed with small brown flowers from May to July grows to 60cm and looks great planted with bronze fennel to bring out those lovely chocolate tones. Or maybe try the new semi-evergreen variety Digitalis x valinii ‘Firebird’ that has rich apricot/ pink and gold flowers with glossy dark-green foliage. Also a quick update on our latest projects. We have completed the landscaping on two of my recent garden designs for very happy clients with their planting to follow, so they now have the summer to look forward to in their new outdoor space. If you are thinking about a new garden design or want advice on refreshing your borders, then visit www. sandhurstgardendesign.co.uk.

Until next time, Julie

Sandhurst Garden Design

Julie Haylock

Garden Designer

20 Sandhurst Road, Yeovil, Somerset BA20 2LG

Tel: 07899 710168 Email: juliesandhurst1@gmail.com www.sandhurstgardendesign.co.uk

Contact Julie for garden and border design, planting plans, plant selection advice and garden styling

POEM CORNER

By Andrew Haylock

My inspiration for the poem this month is 'the joy of finding a bench that has the perfect view on a glorious sunny day to take a rest and watch the world go by'

THE OLD GARDEN BENCH

A resting place for many years now, The bench once an oak’s bough. Felled in a late autumn storm, The carpenter shaped its present form. Placed near a border of shrubs and trees, Time, weather and lichen has turned its wood green.

Within the grounds of the stately home, Longer than anyone present has known. A focal point invites ‘please take a seat’, Upon it all generations meet. Some stop to contemplate and rest, Whilst others ponder and confidences confess.

Children run past in excited glee, Families take cake and afternoon tea. Lovers embrace and hold hands, Excitedly discussing their wedding plans. Many a red robin has come and gone, The benches arm used to perch upon.

After dark when all are sound asleep, Nocturnal life emerges from its retreat. Badgers appear and from up on high, Owls hoot and bats in night-time sorties fly. A statue looks as if about to talk, From its plinth in the woodland walk.

Morning arrives and the gates open once more, The summer sunshine brings visitors galore. Swallows dive over the sparkling lake, Watched by a couple taking a timely break. The old bench taking centre stage again, A welcome to all like a long-lost friend.

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