librarian2003 (librarian2003) wrote in weagardening, @ 2011-10-02 18:00:00 |
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Current mood: | grumpy |
Entry tags: | lavender, lilies, trees |
Week 2
We're now into week 2, and our topics for this week include a bulb and a shrub of the week, sites of the week, and recognising trees.
Let's start here with sites of the week. There are some very interesting sites here - do check them out. We have the Cardiocrinum National Collection (relating to one of our plants of the week), The Woodland Trust, with lots of information and activites for children, and The Forestry Commission, again with lots of information including the tree name trail that we can use to recognise trees. There is also Cotswold Garden Flowers, with a wonderful encyclopedia of plants they've grown, and mail order shopping. Bob Brown, the proprietor, is currently writing a regular series for Gardening Which? on plants for places. Finally, there's Special Plants, and Roy Lancaster has an article about this nursery, and its owner Derry Watkins, in this month's issue of the RHS journal, The Garden.
GARDENING FOR PLEASURE
Sites of the week : Week 2
1 For information and images
Cardiocrinum National Collection:
http://www.redhaugh.plus.com/GardenOpen
2 For information on all things to do with woodlands, including tree outlines, identifying leaves, and things to do with children.
The Woodland Trust
http://www.naturedetectives.org.uk/
3 For information, including a key to identifying trees
Forestry commission tree name trail
http://www.forestry.gov.uk/forestry/inf
4 For information, a picture gallery, and shopping
Cotswold Garden Flowers
http://www.cgf.net/
5 For shopping, and some very special plants
Special Plants
http://www.specialplants.net/seeds.h
Jo Hanslip
September 2011
Then, for Plant of the Week, On Tuesday, Hugh bravely took on Cardiocrinum, the Giant Himalayan Lily, and Judy equally bravely took on Impatiens tinctoria, a beautiful shrubby Impatiens. On Friday, Shirley stepped up to tackle gorgeous lilies, and Mary stepped up to tell us about lovely lavender.
Images are here, at Photobucket:
Cardiocrinum and Impatiens tinctoria; Lilies and Lavender
Please remember that all the images go into the same album, so you may need to page back In between uploading these images, I've also uploaded images for recognising trees, and you will need to go back through the album.
In case you are a bit uncertain how to do that, I'll just explain the layout. Click the link above, and it will take you to the Photobucket album for this year. Above the panel with the photographs, you will see a white bar.
On the left hand side, that bar shows you the number of photographs in the album (129 at the moment).
Then it gives you the option to 'View All', which means that all the images will load onto a single page. This is slower than looking at a few at a time.
Your next option is to view all the images as a slideshow. They will be shown full size, and you can fast forward or reverse.
On the right hand side of the white bar are numbers. These are the page numbers of the album and you can turn over the page, so to speak, by clicking on each number in turn. The images will all be shown as thumbnails - to see any full sized image as I uploaded it, double click on the thumbnail.
It's as easy as that.
Our main topic is Recognizing Trees. I've put up drawings of the different leaves of native trees at Photobucket 0 use the link above. The Trees are in the middle of thr Plants of the Week images. Here is the handout:
GARDENING FOR PLEASURE
Recognising Trees
Alder, Common (native)
Also found throughout the rest of Europe as far as Siberia, alder is a characteristic tree of wet places, marshes and stream-sides.
Alder timber is very resistant to decay under water and was used for water pipes, pumps, troughs, small boats and piles under bridges and houses. Much of Venice is built on alder piles. Other main uses are for charcoal and for making clogs. Alder was popular for charcoal as it was particularly favoured in gunpowder. Clogs made from alder wood were light, easy to wear and absorbed shocks well.
Tree lore and folklore : Alder wood is a lure for woodworm, (as the beetles lay their eggs in alder in preference to other wood), so branches were cut and put in cupboards to prevent woodworm in other woods.
Crab apple (native)
The crab apple grows singly; sometimes woods will only have one tree. It is found throughout Europe and Asia Minor and can be easily confused with domestic apple trees which have ‘escaped’ from cultivation and become naturalised.
The crab apple was the most important ancestor of the cultivated apple. Over 6,000 varieties having been bred over the ages (more than two-thirds now extinct). The timber of the crab apple is uniform in texture and if dried slowly, is excellent for woodworking. At one time it was used for making set-squares and other drawing instruments. The fruit is excellent for crab apple jelly and wine. It has been cultivated since early times- a few crab apples were found in an early Bronze Age coffin. Crab apples can also be roasted and served with meat or added to winter ale or punches. In Ireland a yellow dye was extracted from the bark to colour wool.
Tree lore and folklore - Many beliefs stem from crab apples, mostly to do with love and marriage partners. An example is throwing pips into the fire whilst saying the name of your true love, if the pip explodes the love is true.
Ash (native)
Ash is the fourth commonest tree species in Britain and is sometimes the dominant tree in a wood. It is found across Europe from the Arctic Circle to Turkey.
The wood is both strong and flexible. In the past it was used by the Anglo-Saxons for spears and shield-handles. More recent uses include tool handles, furniture, sports equipment, walking sticks, tent pegs, oars, gates, wheel rims, and even aircraft wings on the De Havilland Mosquito which flew in World War II.
Tree lore and folklore - In Scandinavian myths the ash tree was known as Yggdrasil, the ‘Tree of the World’ and the ’Tree of Rebirth and Healing’ . In Britain, the ash was also regarded as a healing tree. In the past a naked child was passed through the split trunk of an ash in a ritual to cure a broken limb or rickets.
Beech, Common (native)
Common beech is often seen as a feminine tree and particularly elegant examples may earn the name 'Queen beech'. Beech woodlands are characterised by a carpet of crispy fallen leaves and nut casings on the ground.
The timber is used for fuel, furniture, piles, tool handles, kitchen utensils and sports equipment. Beech wood burns also well and is used to smoke herrings. The nuts were also important as a source of food. They are energy rich and were used to fatten pigs up for market. In France the nuts are still sometimes roasted as a coffee substitute and they can also yield an oil used in cooking or for oil lamps.
Tree lore and folklore - Remarkably there are few folklore records relating to beech. It was thought to have medicinal properties. Beech leaves were recommended as a relief for swellings, and boiling the leaves could make a poultice.
Other beeches - Copper or purple beech, often planted in gardens and towns for its distinctive purple leaves. (non-native)
Silver birch (native)
The silver birch is a graceful and attractive tree with its light airy foliage and distinctive white peeling bark. It has been an inspiration to writers, poets and artists in every season throughout the centuries.
Birch has a number of human uses. The timber has traditionally been used in Scotland in houses, furniture, carts, ploughs, gates and fences. In other parts of the UK its traditional use is for broomsticks. Large amounts of birch brushwood are used annually for racecourse jumps. Other parts of the tree are also useful. The bark was used for tanning leather and the sap was thought to have medicinal benefits for kidney stones and other ailments. The sap is a good source of sugar and can be brewed into beer or wine. Silver birch wine is still commercially made in Scotland.
Tree lore and folklore - Birch, the tree of Venus, has a number of properties associated with it. Birch is believed to protect against evil spirits and the evil eye but it also symbolises love and fertility. In medieval times, a bundle of birch twigs was carried by the local magistrate on his way to court as a symbol of his authority and as a means of correction. The use of the birch as a punishment probably originates in the need to drive out evil spirits.
Other birches - Downy, or white birch, is similar to the silver birch with light airy foliage. It is the dominant birch in Scotland and north-west England. (native)
Blackthorn (native)
Blackthorn is a common species of the North European countryside with its dense spiny branches and familiar sloes in autumn.
The wood has been used for walking or riding sticks and was the traditional wood for Irish shillelaghs. The popular sloe gin is produced by covering sloes with sugar and gin, the result being an almond-flavoured liqueur. The pitted gin-soaked sloes can be dipped into melted chocolate which is then allowed to set. Cooked sloes can also be used to make jam or jelly.
Bird cherry (native)
An attractive tree of northern parts, so named because the birds love the bitter fruits. In some parts of Yorkshire it is called 'wild lilac' because of the spikes of white flowers in spring
Cherry timber is prized for furniture, wood-turning and carving because of the rich reddish-brown colour. The wood is also used as a fuel as it burns with a fragrant smell similar to that of the flowers. Wild cherries are said to be the best type to use in cherry brandy. The sticky resin has been used by children and forestry workers as a bitter-sweet chewing gum. It was thought to promote a good complexion and eyesight and help to cure coughs.
Other cherries - Wild cherry, arguably the most ornamental of our native woodland trees. (native)
Elder (native)
A common tree of hedgerows, woods, chalk downs and waste ground, elder was once regarded as one of the most magically powerful of all plants.
Elder has many uses over history, mostly for food and drink. Elderflower cordial and 'champagne' is made from the flowers which can also be dipped in batter and fried as 'fritters'. The berries are used to make rich wine. Elderflowers are also used to make a skin cleanser and eye lotion. The timber of elder is somewhat contradictory- the heartwood and rootstock is a beautiful wood that looks like ebony whilst branches are light and filled with pith. This hollow characteristic has been used by children to make pea shooters. It is thought that the name elder comes the Anglo-saxon 'aeld' meaning fire because the hollow stems could be used to blow air into the centre of a fire like bellows. The leaves also had a use- it is said that a bunch of leaves will keep flies away from us or livestock due to their pungent smell.
Tree lore and folklore - There are many and contradictory folklore and magical references to elder. It was thought that if you burned elder wood you would see the devil but if you planted one by your house it would keep the devil away.
English elm (native)
Once common across the rich farmed soils of middle England, this elm was ravaged in the late 20th Century by Dutch Elm disease. Despite its name there is still debate over whether this elm is a native species or was brought here by Bronze Age farmers.
Elm wood has great strength, durability, a tight-twisted grain and is resistant to water. Uses include boat building (keels, rudders and trawler boards), furniture, wheel hubs, wooden water pipes, floorboards, coffins and in decorative turning. Before metal was widely available many English towns had elm water mains, including Bristol, Reading, Exeter, Southampton, Hull and Liverpool. Some of these old water mains still survive and are occasionally dug up during building works. The foliage was also used for feeding and bedding domestic livestock.
Tree lore and folklore - Elms used to be associated with melancholy and death, perhaps because they can drop old branches without warning (to the danger of those underneath) or perhaps because elm was the dominant wood for coffins. In Lichfield, it was the custom to carry elm twigs in a procession around the Cathedral Close on Ascension Day, then to throw them in the font.
Other elms – Huntingdon elm (non-native), Smooth-leaved elm (native) and Wych elm (native), all badly affected by Dutch elm disease.
Hawthorn, Common (native)
Hawthorn is one of the most common species of tree found in hedgerows and woodland throughout Britain.
Hawthorn, or quickthorn, was the most common species used for hedging during the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries after the parliamentary enclosures. The timber is hard and tough and was used for veneer and cabinet work, boxes, tool handles, mill-wheel teeth, mallets and the ribs of small boats. It also makes excellent firewood and charcoal. The haws and hawthorn flowers have been used to make a variety of jellies, wines, liqueurs and ketchups.
Tree lore and folklore - Hawthorn has more connections with ancient beliefs and traditions than almost any other tree. It was a powerful supernatural force for good or for evil. The appearance of the May blossom was the herald of the end of winter and the beginning of summer. Often, the May Queen was crowned with May blossom but at the same time it was considered unlucky to bring May flowers into a house.
Other hawthorns – Midland hawthorn (native)
Hazel (native)
A very common woodland tree or shrub that grows under the canopy of other woodland trees. Its history is intertwined with ours through the multitude of uses for the wood.
Hazel was crucially important in the past as a source of wood and had many uses, often relying on the flexibility of the wood which could be twisted and even knotted. Uses include thatching spars, net stakes, water divining sticks, hurdles, furniture, firewood. The hazel nuts were also a prized food source, so much so that cultivated forms of hazel were bred for their nuts or 'cobs'. Now grey squirrels strip the trees before the nuts can be harvested.
Tree lore and folklore - Hazel has a reputation as a magical tree. A hazel rod is supposed to protect against evil spirits, as well as being used for water-divining or wands. In some parts of England, hazel nuts were carried as charms and/or held to ward off rheumatism.
Hornbeam, Common (native)
The hornbeam is an abundant tree in southern and eastern England, but is probably the least-known of the common woodland trees.
The wood of the hornbeam is extremely hard, which gives the hornbeam part of its name, as 'horn' meant 'hard'. The hardness of the wood means it was not widely used for timber due to the difficulty in working it. However, it was used for smaller purposes: cogs, ox yokes, musical instruments; pulleys, mallets, skittles and butchers’ chopping blocks. The wood was also valuable for fuel as it burnt hot enough to smelt iron.
Horse chestnut (non-native)
The horse chestnut was introduced to Britain in the late sixteenth century and has become with quintessential tree of village greens and city parks.
The most famous use of horse chestnut is in the game of conkers. The first record of the game of conkers is from the Isle of Wight in 1848. The World Conker Championships are held in Northamptonshire every year. They attract thousands of people and participants from all over the world. Other uses of the conkers include horse medicines (claimed by some to be the origin of the name), as additives in shampoos and as a starch substitute. Research has shown that chemicals from conkers can be used to treat strains and bruises. The tree was introduced for its ornamental nature and was widely planted in parks and gardens. It became so popular that in the early 1900s 'Chestnut Sundays' were born when large numbers of people would gather to see the blossom and to picnic.
Tree lore and folklore - There is little folklore associated with the tree. However the games of conkers have different rules in different parts of the country which have their own jargon and often require the repeating of rhymes or rituals to decide who goes first.
Small-leaved lime (native)
This attractive tree is found in southern England and the midlands. Like all limes the sweet smelling flowers attract large numbers of insects - so much so that the trees are said to hum or buzz in the summer.
Small leaved lime was widely coppiced and used as fuel, hop-poles, bean-sticks, cups, ladles, bowls and morris dancing sticks. This is because it has a tight grain and does not splinter when hit hard. The wood was also a favourite of wood-carvers. This led to large areas of lime woods managed as coppice to give a never ending supply of the wood. The fibrous layer of under-bark called ‘bast’ was twisted into ropes or used to make sandals. The leaves were also useful as fodder for livestock and the very young leaves were a tasty sandwich filling! The blossom can also be used to make tea which was used during the war as a mild sedative. Even the small round fruits are just about edible and have a cocoa-like taste.
Tree lore and folklore - Limes are widely considered a female tree and have links to fertility.
Other Limes - Large-leaved lime (native), the rarest of our native limes. Mature trees are tall but wide with trees 25m across known; Common Lime (native), a frequent tree in towns and parks, so 'commonly' planted in the 17th century that this is how its name came about.
Field maple (native)
An attractive and common small tree that is often overlooked in woods. It is the only maple whose leaves do not turn orange or red in autumn, but are a rich butter yellow.
Traditionally its wood was valued for its fine grain and was used for wood-turning, high quality carving and musical instruments (particularly harps). The wood is also used as a veneer as it takes a polish well. The sap, like all maples, can be used to make maple syrup or wine. More recently field maple has become common in towns and cities as it is an attractive tree that withstands pollution well.
Sycamore (non-native)
Once loved as a shade tree it is often seen as a weed tree.
Possibly first introduced as a shade tree to give respite from the sun in parks and gardens. Its timber is as strong as oak but does not last as long. The wood was commonly used for making toys or kitchen items as it was easily dyed and lacked a sticky resin which some other woods have. Now sycamore is a commonly planted street tree as it copes well with the polluted and harsh environments of our towns and cities.
Tree lore and folklore - The winged seeds known as ‘helicopters’ were used in flying competitions and model-making by children. More locally sycamore was the favoured wood for making 'love spoons' in Wales. These wedding gifts are linked with rings and were traditionally made from a single piece of wood.
Oak, Common (native)
The common, pedunculate, or English, oak is the commonest tree in southern and central British broadleaved woods. Throughout Europe it has been the predominant timber tree since prehistoric times.
Traditionally there have been four main uses of oak. The most prominent is as a timber tree. Oak was a highly prized timber and was particularly used in ship building in the days of wooden ships. Its timber is also used in buildings, and for furniture. The other uses include the bark, which was used for tanning leather; the acorns, which were used for fattening pigs as they are a rich food source; and like many other trees the smaller branches and twigs were used for firewood or charcoal making. Because of our long history with the oak tree, oaks are often used in ceremonial or commemorative plantings. For example every school in Lincolnshire was given an oak tree to plant in its grounds to celebrate the Queen mother's 80th birthday
Tree lore and folklore - The oak tree has a long history of folklore throughout Europe. The oak was sacred to many people, including the ancient Greeks, the Norse and the Celts. It was often associated with the gods of thunder as tall oaks were often split by lightning. Oak was the sacred wood burnt by the druids for their mid-summer sacrifice. The word 'druid' means 'oak man'. Tradition has it that Charles II hid in an oak tree at Boscobel when pursued by the Roundheads. After that, children wore oak leaves on May 29th to commemorate Royal Oak Day (now known as Oak Apple Day).
Other oaks - Holm oak (non-native), introduced to Britain in the late 1500s this tree differs from most oaks in that the leaves are spiny, like holly, and it is evergreen; Red oak (non-native), with very sharply pointed leaves; Sessile oak (native), so-named because its acorns are not carried on stalks (peduncles) but directly on the outer twigs (sessile). It is commonest in the north and west of Britain; and Turkey oak (non-native), introduced in the 18th century and planted for its fast growth. Its negative effects on native oaks were only discovered later- the tree harbours a parasitic wasp which destroys the acorns of other oaks so preventing the growth of new oaks.
London plane (non-native)
This is the tree of London streets, but despite its name it isn't a native tree. It is widely planted in towns and cities because it seems to thrive in highly pressured urban environments which other trees cannot cope with.
The tree is widely planted as an attractive street tree in large cities. Most London streets contain some London planes and they are common in cities across the UK. The wood used to be popular for veeners as it is a very attractive golden brown colour with darker brown flecks.
Tree lore and folklore - The origin of this tree has been much debated and there are various theories. The dominant theory appears to be that it is the offspring, or hybrid, of two other plane trees- the oriental plane and the American plane.
Black poplar (native)
The black poplar is a rare tree and is threatened by its cultivated relations! There are so few wild black poplars left that it is unlikely that they will pollinate each other, instead the large numbers of cultivated trees will pollinate them. This means that there are hardly ever any new truly wild black poplars.
Traditionally poplar timber has many uses because it is light but tough, absorbs shock and resists splintering. Uses include wooden shields, the bottom of carts, floors of oast houses (as it is resistant to fire), matches and baskets. More recently it is being used for artificial limbs, packing cases, (wine bottles) pallets, shelving and toys. In the future it may be used for energy (electricity) production because it is fast growing and will produce large quantities of timber quickly.
Other poplars – Aspen (native), a beautiful and delicate tree which spreads by suckers off the root system, so creating entire groves of aspen; White poplar (non-native), the whitest tree in the landscape and from a distance it can appear covered in snow because of the white wool on the leaves and shoots.
Rowan (native)
The Rowan is an attractive, slender tree with silvery-brown bark, creamy-white spring flowers and clusters of brilliant scarlet autumn berries.
The wood is tough and strong, and was traditionally used for handles of tools, cart-wheels and planks or beams. Rowan berries can be eaten by humans and can be used to make jellies to accompany meat.
Tree lore and folklore - The rowan has many associations with magic and witches. Its old celtic name is 'fid na ndruad' which means wizards tree. The wood was seen as the most protective part and was used for stirring milk (to prevent it curdling), as a pocket charm against rheumatism and made into divining rods. The protective power is thought to come from the bright red berries, as red was thought to be the best colour for fighting evil.
Wild service tree (native)
Despite the show of white flowers in spring and gorgeous red leaves in autumn this tree has slipped somewhat into obscurity. In the past it was famous for its autumn fruits, often made into sweets for children or alcoholic drinks for the adults.
The wood does not seem to have a particularly widespread use despite its lovely fine grain and silvery sheen. However there are some records of it being used by joiners and engravers. The wood is apparently similar in characteristics to sycamore. The fruits are edible in autumn after they have softened and there are records of them being sold in bunches at markets because they were so sweet that children loved them.
Tree lore and folklore - The fruits can be made into an alcoholic drink and it is still debated whether the fruits were called Chequers and gave their names to the pubs- Chequers Inns- which served the drink or whether the Inns came first and gave their name to the fruit! The fruits can also be used to give flavour to other alcoholic drinks such as whisky in the same way that sloe gin is made with blackthorn berries.
Sweet chestnut (non-native)
Introduced to Britain over 2000 years ago, sweet chestnuts are often considered an 'honorary' native trees. Mature trees are usually magnificent in size, with many having huge hollow trunks that several people can fit into at once.
The sweet chestnut had two main uses, firstly as a food source and secondly for timber. It is thought the tree was brought here by the Romans as the nuts were a good source of energy and could be ground into flour. Other recipes have been found which include the nuts as ingredients in soup, a vanilla flavoured spread, and stuffing. The timber is also highly valued. It is more durable that oak when used outdoors and was cheaper. In some areas of Kent and Sussex whole woods were planted to supply timber and the smaller coppiced wood.
Whitebeam, Common (native)
An often planted ornamental garden, park and street tree that is actually quite rare in the wild.
In the past the wood was widely used for wood-turning and fine joinery, including chairs, beams, cogs and wheels in machinery. The wood is fine-grained, very hard and white. The berries were known as chess-apples in north-west England and are edible when just about rotted
Goat willow or sallow (native)
The familiar ‘pussy willow’ of the countryside, goat willow is the commonest of our willows, growing almost anywhere.
All willows were seen as trees of celebration in biblical times but this had changed over time and now the willows are associated with sadness and mourning. It is suggested that the bitter taste of willow gave it this association. Sprays of sallow have frequently been used as ‘palm’ to decorate churches and homes at Easter as little else was in leaf or flower.
In the past the thin twigs of willow were used to weave baskets or 'cribs' for animal food. Larger stems could be used to make small sailing boats because of the lightness of the wood. The wood was not widely used but is attractive as it is a salmon pink colour. Other uses include a red-purple dye that can also be extracted from the roots. More widely the tree was often planted next to rivers as the roots would stabilise the banks. It also attracts insects in the spring and was favoured by beekeepers. Planting a willow is easy as a cut twig planted in the ground will quickly take root and grow.
Other willows - Bay willow (native), a willow with a northern distribution in the UK: Crack willow (native), aptly named because old trees often develop a large crack in their trunk and are prone to collapse: Grey willow (native), a very common willow that looks much like goat willow and grows in similar places so it is quite hard to tell them apart; Osier (native), a fast-growing tree that has been cultivated for centuries for the flexible shoots which can be woven into baskets and other products. More than 60 different kinds of osier hybrids and cultivated varieties are grown in Britain for the basket-making industry; and White willow (native), large trees found in wetter areas.
A variety of the white willow is the cricket bat willow. As its names suggests its wood is used for making cricket bats.
Source:
The Woodland Trust
http://www.british-trees.com/treegu
Jo Hanslip
September 2011
A huge thank you to those people who hauled in half a forest, so that we could have fun recognizing trees!
Don't forget your homework for next week.
Jo