20.10.12
CHOOSING A SUITABLE TREE
Last week I was tasked with choosing a smallish tree as a tribute to a local councillor to commemorate his wonderful work in our local parish. This lovely man is very fond of wildlife and wild flowers, and the local wildlife garden will be named after him, so we wanted a tree that would live in accordance with bird and insect life, beauty, colour and grace. I looked around local garden centres and nurseries after checking in my books as to the eventual size that trees grow to. I was also looking for something quite hardy that would not outgrow its space. Crab apples came to mind, but these did not seem quite graceful and special enough to commemorate the work of someone special, so I began looking at Sorbus trees, not the common or garden ones, but the prettier ones. I saw a beautiful one called "Chinese Lace" which would have pink berries, but then I wandered into a local arboretum and nursery and spotted a lovely tree. It is a Sorbus called "Joseph's Rock". This lovely tree has gorgeous pinnate leaves that turn bright red in Autumn and hosts bright yellow berries. What a combination! It is absolutely stunning, and the birds appreciate the berries in winter, so it was a winner. I saw one on one of my walks in a garden, quite by chance, and took the above picture.
I like all the sorbus trees, and have some Sorbus Hupehensis growing in pots from seed; they are about six inches high at present, and some are turning red. they already look like proper trees. See picture below. If you have never grown a tree from seed, give it a go, it is so satisfying! It is one of my favourite things and I have grown two russet trees for my allotment, one of which I am training into a nice shape. I have grown acers from seed, which I have purchased on the internet and have also grown the lovely Robinia Pseudoacacia, Cercis Siliquastrum, and others.
SORBUS HUPEHENSIS FROM SEED / TREES FROM SEED
141012
This is a slightly delayed entry due to feeling a bit ill. I have been down to my allotment twice today. The first time too socialize, the second time, later this afternoon, I decided to do some weeding and clearing. I pulled out all the red orach that had gone to seed. But first I collected lots and lots of seeds from them. They are ready to collect when they are "brown, dried and crispy"
I brought the orach seeds from Gardener's world live last year, and they have grown beautiful, red-leafed plants. These have provided lovely leaves for stir-frying and steaming this summer.The plant's themselves are beautiful in seed, which are bright red. The stems, I will pile up somewhere on the allotment for insects to hide in.
Another type of plant that I brought at gardener's world is tree spinach. This is an attractive plant that grows to about 5ft high, with pink foliage at the tips. I use this like spinach and I shall be harvesting the remainder of the leaves in the coming weeks, to freeze for future use.
I have been given some leeks, today, by another "allotmenteer", as I didn't grow any myself. I am trading parsnips for leeks. This is the beauty of allotments.
This week I am researching small trees as I have been tasked with finding a tree for a small(ish) space.
feel free to send in comments.
CHOOSING A SUITABLE TREE
Last week I was tasked with choosing a smallish tree as a tribute to a local councillor to commemorate his wonderful work in our local parish. This lovely man is very fond of wildlife and wild flowers, and the local wildlife garden will be named after him, so we wanted a tree that would live in accordance with bird and insect life, beauty, colour and grace. I looked around local garden centres and nurseries after checking in my books as to the eventual size that trees grow to. I was also looking for something quite hardy that would not outgrow its space. Crab apples came to mind, but these did not seem quite graceful and special enough to commemorate the work of someone special, so I began looking at Sorbus trees, not the common or garden ones, but the prettier ones. I saw a beautiful one called "Chinese Lace" which would have pink berries, but then I wandered into a local arboretum and nursery and spotted a lovely tree. It is a Sorbus called "Joseph's Rock". This lovely tree has gorgeous pinnate leaves that turn bright red in Autumn and hosts bright yellow berries. What a combination! It is absolutely stunning, and the birds appreciate the berries in winter, so it was a winner. I saw one on one of my walks in a garden, quite by chance, and took the above picture.
I like all the sorbus trees, and have some Sorbus Hupehensis growing in pots from seed; they are about six inches high at present, and some are turning red. they already look like proper trees. See picture below. If you have never grown a tree from seed, give it a go, it is so satisfying! It is one of my favourite things and I have grown two russet trees for my allotment, one of which I am training into a nice shape. I have grown acers from seed, which I have purchased on the internet and have also grown the lovely Robinia Pseudoacacia, Cercis Siliquastrum, and others.
SORBUS HUPEHENSIS FROM SEED / TREES FROM SEED
141012
This is a slightly delayed entry due to feeling a bit ill. I have been down to my allotment twice today. The first time too socialize, the second time, later this afternoon, I decided to do some weeding and clearing. I pulled out all the red orach that had gone to seed. But first I collected lots and lots of seeds from them. They are ready to collect when they are "brown, dried and crispy"
I brought the orach seeds from Gardener's world live last year, and they have grown beautiful, red-leafed plants. These have provided lovely leaves for stir-frying and steaming this summer.The plant's themselves are beautiful in seed, which are bright red. The stems, I will pile up somewhere on the allotment for insects to hide in.
Another type of plant that I brought at gardener's world is tree spinach. This is an attractive plant that grows to about 5ft high, with pink foliage at the tips. I use this like spinach and I shall be harvesting the remainder of the leaves in the coming weeks, to freeze for future use.
I have been given some leeks, today, by another "allotmenteer", as I didn't grow any myself. I am trading parsnips for leeks. This is the beauty of allotments.
This week I am researching small trees as I have been tasked with finding a tree for a small(ish) space.
feel free to send in comments.
081012
I spent yesterday afternoon clearing weeds from the strawberry bed on my allotment. knotgrass (Polygonum Aviciulare to be precise) had formed quite a messy structure around the plants.
The worst things (I find) to dig out, are docks:their roots go deep, and snaap off as you try to pull them out.
Dandelions, I dig out mostly, but leave a few for the guinea pigs' dinners; along with a few other weeds.
I don't weed fanatically, as i think it is great to see wild flowers and insects on the plot. I leave a patch of nettles and Rose-bay willow herb, behind the shed to give home to a variety of insect; like the caterpillars of peacock butterflies, red admirals and small tortoiseshell butterflies. Cinnabar moth grubs like Groundsel, I find.
You can use nettles for tea or soup; or add cut down nettles to the compost heap to help compost there: maybe make a nettle "soup" for your plant which can be poured on as a fertiliser.
Spiders like to weave their webs on them too, despite you'd think it would sting them. :-)
I spent yesterday afternoon clearing weeds from the strawberry bed on my allotment. knotgrass (Polygonum Aviciulare to be precise) had formed quite a messy structure around the plants.
The worst things (I find) to dig out, are docks:their roots go deep, and snaap off as you try to pull them out.
Dandelions, I dig out mostly, but leave a few for the guinea pigs' dinners; along with a few other weeds.
I don't weed fanatically, as i think it is great to see wild flowers and insects on the plot. I leave a patch of nettles and Rose-bay willow herb, behind the shed to give home to a variety of insect; like the caterpillars of peacock butterflies, red admirals and small tortoiseshell butterflies. Cinnabar moth grubs like Groundsel, I find.
You can use nettles for tea or soup; or add cut down nettles to the compost heap to help compost there: maybe make a nettle "soup" for your plant which can be poured on as a fertiliser.
Spiders like to weave their webs on them too, despite you'd think it would sting them. :-)