horticultural diary on cambridge university botanic garden

1

The Cambridge University Botanic Garden Undergraduate Certificate of Higher Education

in Practical Horticulture and Plantsmanship

Horticultural Memories

Giulio Veronese Trainee Horticultural Technician

2014 – 2015

3

The Cambridge University Botanic Garden Undergraduate Certificate of Higher Education

in Practical Horticulture and Plantsmanship

Horticultural Memories

Giulio Veronese Trainee Horticultural Technician

2014 – 2015

© Giulio Veronese 2015

Printed: Le Cottage at the Cambridge University Botanic Garden, September 2015.

Photographs by Giulio Veronese

5

Contents

First Rotation

Trees and Shrubs 7 Alpine and Woodland 17 Demonstration and Display 34 Experimental 49 Glasshouse 63 Landscape and Machinery 82 Systematics 85 Second Rotation

Trees and Shrubs 102 Alpine and Woodland 115 Demonstration and Display 138 Experimental 142 Glasshouse 147 Landscape and Machinery 150 Systematics

7

Horticultural Diary - Trees and Shrubs 8th Sept to 10th October

Monday 8th September Undertaking the relandscaping project of the Euonymus Bed. By the time I join the team in the afternoon, all the plants have been already removed and we need to clear from the remaining debris and to strip out some ivy roots, then to dress with top soil (3 ½ trailer loads), rake and level the ground. We’ll give 1 to 2 weeks for the ground to settle before sowing grass mix. Tuesday 9th September Woodchipping in the Compost Yard the material from the Euonymus Bed. Also strimming in the New Pinetum around the tree bases, so that preparing the area for the ride-on mower to cut the grass as well as clearing from the clippings. Wednesday 10th September Clearing the perennial border between the access gate on Bateman Road and the Superintendent’s House. This is only the first stage of a large project of reduction and relandscaping of a much bigger area, whilst waiting for the permission to fall the existing, unwanted trees. I work with loppers, secateurs, pruning saws. No use of the chainsaw. Specimens cleared or reduced are: Spirea x vanhouttei, Elaegnus ebbingei, Rhus typhina, Vitex negundo var. heterophylla, Rosa cv. All the cut material is transferred to the Compost Yard for chipping. Thursday 11th September Strimming by the Fairway between Bateson Walk and South Walk. Also clearing the grass clippings from the ride-on mower, by using pitch forks and tractor and trailer. Friday12th September Finishing the strimming by the Fairway. Applying top soil and compacting and leveling the ground where Prunus species have been previously displayed along the Fairway. Woodchipping the material from Wednesday in the Compost Yard. Also in the Compost Yard tidying up a bay, by moving compost, woodchip and firewood. Monday 15th September Grass cutting between Martyn Walk and East Walk, by operating Etesia ride-on mower, as well as strimmer. Also consistently using the tractor and trailer. Tuesday 16th September Grass cutting between Middle Walk and Henslow Walk. Walk-around for tree inspection in the afternoon. We notice evidence of: - Pholiota squarrosa on Ailanthus altissima - Armillaria mellea (honey fungus) on Genista sinensis and Davidia involucrata - Gonoderma (applanatum or australe) on Amelanchier lamarckii and Prunus x dasycarpa - Laetiporus sulphureus (chicken of the woods) on Pterocarya fraxinifolia

8

- Inonotus triadus on Quercus x warburgii - Waterstress on Ilex aquifolium - Limbdrop on Pinus nigra salzmannii - Muntjac damage on Laburnum spp. Wednesday 17th September Strimming between Henslow Walk and South Walk. Thursday 18th September Strimming by the South Walk. Taking and potting up cuttings of Ligustrum japonicum (15) and Sinojackia rehderiana (16; 2 pots, one with leaf buds on, one without). Also potting up rotted cuttings of Penstemon “Raven” and P. “Rich Ruby”. Undertaking some small tree work and the felling of a wooden fence in the area between the School’s Garden and the Superintendent’s House. Also woodchipping the material straight away. Friday 19th September Servicing all the four chainsaw of the Trees and Shrubs Department (sprocket and outer and inner components cleaning, oil check, chain sharpening). Having a personal induction and test on the correct and safe use of the chainsaw. This consists in a crosscutting demonstration in the Compost Yard. Monday 22nd September Spraying fungicide Systhane Fungus Fighter on Penstemon “Raven” and P. “Rich Ruby” (cuttings). Also damping cuttings from the last week, by watering the heated mats in the frame. Undertaking the major tree work project within the area between the School’s Garden and the Superintendent’s Garden. Permission to fall has been given, so we can use chainsaws and the hired cherry picker. We pollard at height Aesculus hippocastanum, then fall Sorbus aria. Also woodchipping on site. Tuesday 23rd September Carrying on the tree work. Felling Carpinus betulus, Taxus baccata and Prunus lusitanica. Overall leveling of the screening mixed hedge (North side). Noticing evidences of Cameraria ohridella (horse chestnut leaf miner) and Nectria cinnabarina (coral spot) on Aesculus hippocastanum. Wednesday 24th September Operating the hired mobile elevated working platform. Sawing off at height a damaged branch from Carrya ovata. Inspecting Ailanthus altissima for Pholiota squarrosa (shaggy scalycap). I work at height on the work platform, in order to take measure of the fungal cavities in the wood. One hole is infested with a wasp nest and needs spraying before further operation. The other hole is measurable. I take measures of both the girth of the branch and the depth of the hole, by using respectively a tape measure and a steel stick. The comparison of these two data give us an indication of the gravity of the internal damage. Also working at height on specimens of Betula pendula by the South Walk. It’s mainly about cutting the dead twigs and branches as well as overall lifting.

9

Monday 29th September Shoveling out of the way a first pile of woodchip in the Compost Yard. This is done manually, in team of two of us, just by using shovels, wheelbarrows and large boards. Trimming the low yew hedges by the entrance of the Compost Yard. Also tidying up the borders front of the hedges (edging, spot weeding, blowing, cutting off dead leaves and Begonia flowering stems now gone, watershoots of Carpinus fastigiata). Tuesday 30th September Finishing shoveling the woodchip in the Compost Yard. The yard is now cleared but a bucket is needed n order to move the remaining woodchip as well as to turn the compost over. Also completing the trimming of the yew hedges bordering the Compost Yard. In the afternoon undertaking the major project of post work on the lime trees front of the Restaurant. By the end of the working day we evaluate the job and dig the first hole. Wednesday 1st October Carrying on with the post work. We put the first pole down and manage to dig other three holes. Vast use of building tools, such as trenching spade, shovel, iron bar, donger, wheelbarrows. Also measuring tools, such as measure tape, spirit level. We use a cement mixer and wheelbarrow large quantities of sand, gravel, cement. Also health and safety awareness, setting up cones and signs and closing the working areas to the public. Thursday 2nd October Completing the post work. By the end of the working day all the six poles are firmly cemented and leveled, and will now provide the training structure to the 5 Tillia henryana displayed front of the Restaurant. Monday 6th October Trimming the tall yew hedge between the gate on Bateman Road and the Sainsbury’s Laboratories. I do the sides by using a Stihl hedge trimmer. Collecting and sowing Sorbus seeds (4 species: Sorbus minima, S. mougeotii, S. leyana and S. porrigentiformis). Fungi identification walkaround in the afternoon. Pholiota squarrosa (shaggy scalycap) and Armillaria mellea (honey fungus) look very similar when at the fruiting stage, but the former develop creamy spores, the latter brown. Tuesday 7th October Completing the trimming on the yew hedges. I do the top of the hedge and work at height on a movable ladder using a long-reach Stihl hedge trimmer. Stripping off the borders along the Superintendent’s House. Also moving boards on a trailer in the Compost Yard. In the afternoon we start the clearance project of the Curator’s Garden. We blitz the area in team of three. Combined use of loppers, pruning saws, forks, spades, sledgehammer, hedge trimmer, pole hedge trimmer, brushcutter, lawn mower (mulching system). Fungi identification: Armillaria mellea on Araucaria araucana and Rhytisma acerinum (maple tar spot) on Acer pseudoplatanus.

10

Wednesday 8th October Carrying on the clearance by the Curator’s Garden. New interesting plant I notice is Fallopia baldschuanica (Russian vine or mile-a-minute plant). I also save a nice clump of Liriope muscari which will be used in the Alpine Display next week. Thursday 9th October Carrying on with the clearance by the Curator’s Garden. Stooling down an overgrown Viburnum specimen. Propagating Sorbus from seed (collecting, sowing, watering, storing). Servicing a chainsaw (separate components clearing, chain sharpening). Friday 10th October Driving to Langthorns Plantery nursery and buying 50 Verbena hastata. Then pinching out the plants, storing in the polytunnel and watering them through. Mulching with woodchip Rosa cv., Diospyros kaki, Thuja plicata. Filling Accession Form and Label Request by using BG Base.

11

Annual grass cutting throughout the Arboretum and Pineta, with consistent use of strimmers, ride-on mower, tractor and trailer

Woodchipping in the Compost Yard

Induction on the correct and safe use of the chainsaw

12

Hedge trimming both from ground and at height

(here yew hedge on the Sainsbury drive)

Inspecting trees for pests damages,

fungi diseases and general disorders

Clearance of the border between the access gate on Bateman Road and the Superintendent’s House.

13

Clearance of the area within the Superintendent’s Garden and the eastern end of the Schools’ Garden

Clearance of the Curator’s Garden area

14

Coppicing a horse chestnut by working on a cherry picker

Consistent use of machinery and powertools

Lifting birch trees by working at height

15

Assisting for tree work both from ground and at height

Post work for training lime trees front of the Restaurant

Mixing the cements

The completed work

Beautiful leaves of Tillia henryana

16

Propagating Sorbus species from seed

(collecting, sowing, aftercare)

Propagation of hardy trees and shrubs from cutting

(here, Ligustrum japonicum)

Spraying Systhane Fungus Fighter on Penstemon cuttings

Muntjac damage on Laburnum sp.

Armillaria mellea (honey fungus)

on Gleditsia sinensis

17

Waterstress on Ilex aquifolium

Pholiota squarrosa (shaggy scalycap) on Ailanthus altissima

Ganoderma australe (artist’s fungus)

on Amelanchier lamarckii

Laetiporus sulphureus (chicken of the woods)

on Pterocarya fraxinifolia

18

Armillaria mellea (honey fungus)

on Araucaria araucana

Water stress

on Cercidiphyllum japonicum pendulum

Unidentified fungi

(possibly stumpgrinder)

Cameraria ohridella (horse chestnut leaf miner)

on Aesculus hippocastanum

Nectria cinnabarina (coral spot)

on Aesculus hippocastanum

19

Rhytisma acerinums (Tar spot of maple)

on Acer pseudoplatanus

Unidentified damage on Taxus baccata hedge

(possibly root damage or mouse damage)

Horticultural Diary – Alpine and Woodland

13th October – 7th November 2014

Monday 13th October Practical: Having a walk-around to the Mountain House, the Yard and being inducted to the areas under my future responsibility. I will tend a part of the temporary display in the Mountain House during my rotation. This is in the Geophytes Bed, where horticultural alpines are displayed in a plunged bed and changed regularly. In the afternoon I pot up seedlings of Alchemilla saxatilis (1), Aquilegia viridifolia (8), Aster valhii (3), Adlumia fungosa (6). Observations: Geophyte is a part of plant specifically modified for storage of energy or water. It grows underground, where is better protected from attack by herbivores. Storage organs often (but not always) act as perennating organs which enable plants to survive adverse conditions, such as cold, excessive heat, lack of light or drought). The technical nomenclature includes:

- True roots: tuberous root or root tuber (Dahlia), storage taproot (carrot). - Modified stems: corm (crocus), stem tuber (Zantedeschia), rhizome (some Irises), pseudobulb (Pleione),

caudex (Adenium). - Other: storage hypocotyls (the stem of a seedling, as in Cyclamen), bulb (modified lead bases, onion).

Cyclamens are tubers (modified roots) and not corms, as I previously thought. Cyclamen is a genus of 23 accepted species, all native to Europe and the Mediterranean Basin east to Iran, with one species in Somalia. They are pollinated by ants.

20

Alpine Display

Beautiful Cyclamen cilicium

A rather audacious root system in such a small plant

Tuesday 14th October Practical: Mulching with leafmould a bed around the Lake. I spread leafmould around crowns of Gunnera manicata and G. tinctoria. It important do not cover the crowns too much, as that will lead to rotting. The plants will be cropped down at the end of the season and the leaves used for overwintering the plants. Feeding will be also applied. In the afternoon I am inducted to the use an electric siever for producing fine, sieved leafmould for potting up and propagation jobs. Observations: Darmera peltata is still performing well in the Gunnera bed. This is a really good plant, interesting all-year-round. It is in the Saxifragaceae. In terms of leafmould production: it is important to water the leaf pile in autumn. This will speed up the process of composting. Leaves from allelophatic plants (Juglands, Fraxinus, etc.) can also be used.

Use of an electric siever for producing fine leafmould

Darmera pelata still performing well at the end of the season Wednesday 15th October Pratical: Speed-weeding in the Limestone Rock Garden. This is about cropping down old flower stems and eradicating major perennial weeds. Tools we use are secateurs, hand forks, buckets, wheelbarrows. Geranium is a problem, as well as Euphorbia cyparissias and Allium tuberosum. It takes about four weeks in the growing season to weed the entire area through, in order to prevent the less vigorous species being swamped by native weeds and more competitive alpines. To preserve this balance is extremely important for the display as well as the preservation of the collection.

21

I start familiarizing with the geographical arrangement of the plantings, with beds displaying plants from different continents or geographic areas. Also plants grown from wild-collected seed are integrated into the planting. In the afternoon, we undertake the mulching the woodland borders. We use well-rotted leafmould, wheel barrowing large quantities from the pail to the borders. Tools we use are forks (which prove to be better than spade for spreading the material) and a rake for finishing and tidying up the edges. Observations: Learning about the clever strategy of Peonia to seed itself. Red berries are totally unfertile, but their colour attracts birds, which then get and spread the black, fertile berries too. I also discover that the peony is named after Paeon, a student of Asclepius, the Greek god of medicine and healing. Asclepius became jealous of this pupil; Zeus saved Paeon from the wrath of Asclepius by turning him into the peony flower.

Paeonia mascula seed head Thursday 16th October Practical: Today first time displaying the geophytes in the Alpine House. Plants in: Scilla madeirensis, S. kurdistanica (2), Narcissus serotinus (2), Lachenalia aloides, Tritonia crocata (2), Cyclamen rohlfsianum. Plants out: Crocus sativus, C. serotinus ssp. serotinus, Cyclamen rohlfsianum (2), C. mirabile, C. graecum, C. libanoticum, Colchicum baytopiorum, Nerine sarniensis. Tools I use are a bucket for gravel, a bucket for sand; hand trowel and fork, watering can, brush, tweezers, snippers and paperwork (moving form). Later in the morning, watering the Cyclamen collection. Plants are reasonably damp, only few of them need watering. Important don’t get the leaves wet, as that will cause scorching if hard, alkaline water is used. In the afternoon we remove the external shading of the Mountain House. We use a screwdriver, stepladder and store the blinds underneath the benches of the poly in the Yard.

22

Geophytes Display in the Mountain House

Removing the external shading of the Mountain House Observations: Tortrix caterpillar on Oxalis spp. Dead flowers on Crocus to remove. Remember to turn the plunged pots if plants shows phototropism. Water acid loving plants with RO water. Important to save RO water and don’t use it when unnecessary. Also protect cans with RO water from rainwater, which can be slightly alkaline. Friday 17th October Practical: Leaf blowing, raking and collecting throughout the West Walk and the Woodland Garden’s paths. Mulching the beds from yesterday.

Mulching the Stream Beds

Scilla maderensis

Freesia elimensis Observations: Tricyrtis stolonifera is a beautiful plant but difficult to match in a design scheme. Bergenia grandis ssp. evansiana is absolutely lovely. Tricyrtis shows evidence of muntjac damage. In fact this is one of the muntjac and roedeer favorites, together with hostas, liriopes, tulips, geraniums.

23

Bergenia grandis ssp. evansiana

Tricyrtis stolonifera Sunday 19th October Today Simon and I are off to Norton Stourbridge in the West Midlands, for to the Saxifrage Society AGM. While driving Simon tells me about the Saxifraga genus. This is in the Saxifragaceae family, which features 5 petals and 10 (or group of 5) stamen, and the presence of the hypantium, which is an inflated receptacle. Saxifrages present very different needs between the single species. There are many groups of horticultural interest. We go through two of them. Porfirian saxifrages are showy, very popular now with over 1000 hybrids. Mosses saxifrages are unpopular now with a height risk of losing cultivars, which were once used and popular in the Victorian times. This kind of cushion plants, such as Saxifraga, Draba, Androsace, etc., displays the bet habit for withstanding mountain, extreme growing conditions. In the matter of fact they are lowdown, maximum exposure to the light, can take fast winds, their roots anchoring solidly into the ground. The today’s agenda includes apologies, matters arising, secretary’s treasurer’s and chairman’s reports, election of officer’s and committee, memberships, subscriptions, etc. I buy Saxifraga “Peach Melba”, which is a good, reliable grower (even perhaps not the connoisseur’s saxifrage). We also have two speeches, the first from a young Romanian gardener, the second from a well-known Dutch nurseryman. Saxifrages in the Southern Carpathians Fagaras Mountains – The Transilvanian Alps Metamorphic mountains, limestone, some acidic soil. S. azoides: near mountain streams, wet meadows. S. pedemontana ssp. cymosa: under rocks. S. paniculata: the most common, with many different forms. S. rotundifolia. S. bryoides: “resembling mosses”. S. mutata ssp. demissa: endemic, monocarpic. S. corymbosa f. luteo-purpurea. S. carpatica. S. exarata spp. moschata. Growing Difficult Alpines in the Netherlands The Romanian guy tell me about Jardin te Lautaret, a botanic garden in the Pyrenees where they run an internship on their own. - Dionysia is in the Primulaceae.

Can be very difficult to grow. They are slow growing, lot of care required. Most from Iran.

24

Some of them are propagable from cutting, some not. It’s always remarkable to display them in order to show this diversity. Sun intensity is a key factor. Dionysia can burn easily on warm, sunny days. They are also moths that penetrate into the cushion and damage the plants; at that point, spraying is needed. Growing mix for Dionysia grit, sharp sand, peat and ceramis. Ceramis has been used (together with cat litter!) for growing alpine plants,

Androsace, again in the family Primulaceae. The ones from China and Himalaya grow on acid soil. Very tricky to cultivate.

- Draba - Physoplexis comosa (present in the Italian Alps and Dolomite region) - Morisia monanthos - Trachelium asperuloides - Clematis marmoraria - Veronica cespitosa - Eritrichium - Daphne [email protected] suggested me Passo Rolle and Selva, as places to botanise in the Dolomites. Passo Rolle present acid footsteps with limestone peaks sticking out. Selva has probably the biggest range of plants, but is all limestone. For both of them, the best time of the year is end of June – begin of July. He also suggests two books: Jim Jermyn “Walks in the Eastern Alps” and “European Alps”, both published by the Alpine Garden Society. Monday 20th October First thing in the morning is the Geophytes Display in the Mountain House. Plants In: Crocus assumaniae, Umbilicus heylandianus. Plants Out: Crocus cancellatus. I also move upon the potting bench a potted specimen of Origanum dictamnus for repotting up tomorrow. After tea break I am given areas of responsibility for watering in the Alpine Yard. - The European Alchemilla Collection. - The Coldframes. Here are stored spare plants for the woodland area. Ferns obviously need moisture and slug

control; they also need covering if too wet. Galanthus in lattice pot, to keep moist. Snowdrops don’t like root disturbance, so these pots permit gentle moving and planting. Lattice pots are usually used for aquatic gardening. Just aside the coldframes are mixed hardy plants to go out into the Woodland Garden. Among those, Meconopsis need extra-care, as they have to be watered with RO water (green plastic label), as well as to be protected against slugs (slug pellets used).

- Stream Nursery. Possible to use the condensed water from the indoor heating system. Keep an eye on Cornus controversa. Make sure the plants don’t dry out, particularly those at the back, which are partly covered from the plumbing and roof.

- Primulas under coldframes. The coldframes here are a typical example of Heath Robinson’s arrangement, Helen says. The structure might be a bit vacillating but I’ sure it does its job. All the primulas here are Asiatic species. Important don’t overwater them. Slug control required.

- Display Stand and Display Table. A job is to move the Hosta specimens from the ground up here, so that protecting the plants from slugs and snails damage.

- Autumn-Flowering Bulbs under the Poly. Clay, small pots dry up quicker. Sternbergias are thirsty plants and need water. Check for aphids and use Savona if needed.

In the afternoon I join Simon and we propagate Saxifraga from offsets. This is done in order to save same of the species and cultivars of the collection which is showing signs of (…), the fungal infection Adrian Young mentioned at the Saxifrage Group meeting. This is a soil-borne, phytophthora-based fungi, present in loam based soils. No chemical solution is available. The propagation mix we use is composed by 1/3 sand, 1/3 perlite and 1/3 grit. We use only nice and healthy material, taking the offsets from the sides instead of from the central rosette, where the fungal disease seems to spread from. This will also leave the best possible parent plants. Saxifraga propagation from offset is best done after the flowering period. It is really possible to propagate Saxifraga offsets all year round, but in winter the rooting process will be slower.

25

Offsets are placed in a tray, nicely firmed in the mix, watered and left in a cold glasshouse (we leave the tray behind a fan, which provides some low but desirable heat).

Taking cutting of Saxifraga spp. and cvv.

Working through and watering the European Alchemilla collection Tuesday 21st October Practical: Mulching woodland and stream beds. We use a pine-needle-based mulching for the woodland beds around Cyclamen hederifolium and Polygonum campanulatum. After the mulching we head back the Alpine Yard and make compost mix suitable for repotting alpines. The composition ratio is 2/3 soil, 1/3 grit and Vitax Q4 (N5.3, P7.5, K10.9. I use a large wheeled truck for mixing. The technique consists in shoveling from end to end of the truck, ideally by spilling the material from height. The other common method for mixing is from ground, especially when big quantities are needed. In the afternoon I finish with the Saxifraga propagation from offset. I leave the tray at the back of a fan in the glasshouse, so that providing some mild heat. I also repot Origanum dictamnus, which was left on the potting bench from yesterday. Observations: On the woodland bed we mulch is the canopy of Halesia diptera (Styracaceae), commonly known as two-winged silverbell. The Styracaceae are a small family of small trees and shrubs, containing about 11 genera, which all occour in warm temperate and subtropical regions of the Northern Hemisphere. Several genera include species popular as ornamental trees valued for their decorative white flowers.

Repotting Saxifraga spp. and cvc. from plastic to clay

Experimental saxifrage weaning mix Wednesday 22nd October Practical: First thing in the morning we go through my weekly log.

26

Then we take advantage of the good weather and work outside. We do the leaf collecting through the Woodland Garden and all the outdoor section’s areas. For the occasion we borrow the tractor and trailer from the Landscape and Machinery section and drive through our areas and collect the leaf piles. Later in the day the weather turns bad, so I carry out the repotting of Saxifrages from plastic to clay. I do the following: S. longifolia (5), S. crustata (2), S. cotyledon “Norvegica” (2), S. “Tysoe Pink Perfection” (2), S. x lutea-purpurea (1), S. “Bizourtouse” (1), S. “Robin Hood” (1), S. “Pseudo Pungens” (1). I also carry out all the necessary recording on BG Base. Interestingly, in the section we distinguish between the different ways of potting-up, being a) under potting, b) same potting, c) upper potting. Observations: While we work in the potting shed, we also monitor for pests and diseases. A specimen of Townsendia hookeri got scale insects and needs spraying. Metalized spirit can be used, or Bug Clear. It is interesting to notice root mealy bugs in a potted root ball. This is my first time seeing mealy bugs underground. The root ball is promptly scraped through and cleaned from the infested soil, before repotting.

Scale insects on Townsendia hookeri

Root mealy bugs in a potted plant Thursday 23th October Practical: First thing in the morning is the display in the Geophytes Bed, Mountain House. Plants In: Freesia elimensis, Oxalis palmifrons, O. perdicaria “Centrino”, Polyxena pauciflora (2), Scilla bifolia ssp. danubialis, Narcissus viridiflorus (2), Ranunculus calandrinioides. Plants Out: Cyclamen graecum, C. rohlfsianum, C. cyprum, Oxalis hirta, Crocus pulchellus, C. speciosus “Conqueror”, C. kotchyanus, Haemanthus albifos, Nerine sarniensis. Later in the morning we move outside, mulching through the Woodland Garden (Asian beds), always by using leafmould. There are some interesting plants here but Hedychium coccineum can be a problem, as is taking over and suppressing Cimicifuga asiatica, C. dahurica and Liriope muscari. The already present Callicarpa japonica can be planted in order to replace the ginger plants. Observations: Tetrapanax papyrifer, commonly known as the rice paper plant. This is an evergreen shrub in the family Araliaceae and is the sole species in the genus. It is endemic to Taiwan. The cultivar “Rex” is perhaps the next big thing to emerge from exotic gardens and into mainstream horticulture. Its massive palmate leaves, rivaling those of Gunnera manicata, are lobed to well over a meter wide. For the creation of a real monster winter protection is necessary.

27

Mulching with leafmould the woodland beds

Jungle planting: Tetrapanax papyrifera and Hedychium coccineum Monday 27th October Practical: First thing in the morning is to mulch the stream beds. Almost all the available leafmould has been now used. The pile will be completely cleared within the end of the weak. The entire length of the stream bed is covered. Clumps of Rodgersia aesculifolia, Iris sibirica, Lysimachia ephemerum, Epimidium x warleyense, Leucojum aestivum, Astilbe x arendsii “Fire”, Acorus calamus “Variegatus”, Rheus palmatum are mulched around. Still really effective is Ligularia japonica, with its attractive seedheads. The stream looks a bit dirty and clogged in places by some aquatic plants. It will need clearing later this week.

Border maintenance on the stream beds (before and after pictures) In the afternoon we move to the Limestone Rock Garden, weeding throughout the eastern European bed. I dedicate some time weeding out seedlings of an invasive campanula, as well as the usual geranium. Young plants of Rosa persica seem to spread quite happily too, but they are allowed to wander through a little bit. I fork out a specimen of Satureja montana. I work around and look after plants of Aubrieta kotschyi, Alchemilla sericata, Phuopsis stylosa, Echium russicum and Aethionema grandiflora. Over the last hour of the way, we speak about the phytogeographic beds and their horticultural management in the Limestone Rock Garden. I become aware of the three different degrees of weeding which are carried out in the Rock Garden from the section, depending to the nature of the weeds. Garden-weeds, botanic garden weeds (geraniums), and alpine-weeds (or thugs of the alpine world). In terms of horticultural management, there are a few historic problems in the Rock Garden. The first being the nature of the soil, which is too loamy and not as poor as expected for growing mountain plants. The second issue is more political and concerns the possibility to have specific signage

28

Satureja montana

Phuopsis stylosa Tuesday 28th October Practical: First thing Geophytes Display in the Mountain House. The crocuses are on their last legs. A vast European contingent is lost, so the decision to substitute the label Europe with Eurasia on the display. Plants In: Corydalis tomentosa, C. wilsonii, Arum purpureumspathum and Scilla hyachintoides (2). Plants Out: Colchicum cupanii, Narcissus serotinum, Crocus angustifolius, C. longiflorus, C. speciosum, C. assumaniae, C. hadriaticus, C. cancellatus (2), C. goulimyii (2), C. medius, C. kotschyanus spp. cappadocicus. I also feed Geranium maderanense, Scilla maderanense and some Oxalis spp. in flower. I use a liquid tomato fertilizer Tomorite. Ration indicated for supposed fruit crops is 20ml in 4.5 litres of water. When feeding our more susceptible geophytes, we half the dose of fertiliser. The product is low in nitrogen and high in potassium, in order to boost the development and persistency of the flowers. For a half-hour I am busy helping Landscape & Machinery moving the seats and tables from the Main Lawn back to Cory Lodge. In the afternoon we carry on the weeding of the phytogeographic beds in the Limestone Rock Garden. Weeds are invasive thymes and geraniums but also the well-known creeping woodsorrel, Oxalis corniculata. I weed around and give space to specimens of Iris winogradowii, Campanula sibirica spp. sibirica, Gypsophilla tenuifolia, Scutellaria diffusa, Stachys lavandulifolia and Pulsatilla vulgaris. The clumps of pulsatilla are many and shouldn’t be so copious, but the plant can be controlled and is one of the visitors’ old favourite too.

Geophytes Display in the Mountain House

Weeding and border maintenance in the Limestone Rock Garden

29

Observations: Alex comes from the Corridor into the Mountain House with an odd-looking fruit between his fingertips. Malvaviscus arboreus has pollinated and one fruit has just been found. It isn’t dehiscent as one could expect from a Malvaceae plant. In the matter of fact Malvaviscus differ from the closely related Hibiscus in possessing a fruit divided into 5 separate parts. This is called schizocarp, a dry fruit composed of multiple one-seeded carpels that separate. Malva, Malvastrum and Sida species have the same morphologic attribute.

Malvaviscus arboreus flowers and fruit Wednesday 29th October Practical: We start by clearing the last year’s leafmould pile in the Woodland Garden. Then I move to the Rock Garden, for undertaking the planting of Salix repens var. argentea in the Lake. I put my waders on and use forks for supporting my walk over the silky submerged ground to the small isle. We plant the marsh willow by creating a suitable pocket among the rocks and also using a very free-draining mix. We then keep the waders on and move to the stream beds, for clearing the water from the leaves and weeds so giving growing space around the aquatic plants. In the afternoon we clear the narrow stream which flows within trees of Pterocarya fraxinifolia. This is a tough job which needs to be done in order to keep the flow alive within the progressing, vigorous roots of the trees. I use a trenching spade and secateurs. I will be convenient to sharp the tools next time we need to do the job again, around March. For the last working hour we up-pot from plastic to clay some of the newly acquired saxifrages of the collection. I look after Saxifraga valdensis, a species from the Italian Alps. It is always important to remember clearing all around the neck of the plant, taking away all the old gravel as well as possible dead parts and weeds. Then firm solidly the neck of the plants, by packing the new gravel around the neck of the plants.

Accommodating Salix repens var. argentea in the Lake

Proudly showing the new-entry’s label

30

Observations: Pseudosasa japonica is growing around the structure containing the leafmould pile. Its vigorous rhizomes can in the most difficult situation and are difficult to contain. At the end of the working day, entering the yard, I give a look to the Fargesia nitida in pots. This is a good alternative to some of the more invasive bamboos. In the matter of fact, these so-called “invasive” bamboos are leptomorph. This means they have monopodial running rhizomes like many kinds of turf grass. These bamboos spread vigorously and definitely need to be managed. All species of Phyllostachys, Sasa (and Pseudosasa!), Shibataea and Plioblastus are running bamboos. On the other hand, Fargesia are bamboos which are pachymorph. They have sympodial clumping roots like the ornamental grass Panicum. - Monopodial running rhizomes: growing upwards from a single point. - Sympodial clumping roots: having a specialised lateral growth pattern in which the apical stem is terminated. Thursday 30th October Practical: First thing in the morning is a nice propagation job. I need to pot-up 15 young rhizomes of Trillium albidum. The rhizomes go in 10cm pots, 1centimenter deep. I use a well-draining, light mix of 2/3 alpine mix, 1/3 sieved leafmould and Vitax Q4. The roots of the young rhizomes are tangled together, so special care is needed in order to disturb the plants as less as possible. The plants are watered through, moved and stored into small polytunnel together with other potted woodland brothers, such as Eucomis, Eremurus, Commelina, Symphandra and Oberna species. I clear and lay the new mypex on the leafmould area. This is done by using plastic pegs and big branches as well. In the first part of the afternoon we carry out some leaf clearance throughout the West Walk and the Woodland paths and so start to pile up the leaves in the empty, cleared area. Special attention is paid not to blow the little bulbils of Allium paradoxum in the leafmould. Last part of the day we carry on the up-potting from plastic to clay, as well as all the accessions on BG-BASE. We align and plunge in sand many of the new-arrivals on the yard bench. I loom after Saxifraga juniperifolia, S. marginata var. bubakii, S. marginata var. rochriana, paniculata spp. cartaginea, paniculata “Rosularis”, S. x fritschiana and S. caucasica.

Trillium albidum rhizomes to pot-up

Homing new saxifrages in the plunged bench

Clearing and mypexing the old leafmould pile

Leaf clearance in the West Walk

31

Observations: Some interesting news from the supervisors’ meeting. Roy Lancaster and Jim Gardner will come next week on Friday to the botanic gardens and give horticultural advice as “garden’s godfathers”. Also a note on the messroom, which needs more overall attention and hygiene. Friday 31st October Practical: First thing in the morning is the Geophytes Display in the Mountain House. Plants In: Oxalis melanosticta, O. hirta and O. megalorrhiza. Plants Out: Nerine sarniensis and Urginea sp. (2). All the newly-moved oxalis are accommodated in a single big terracotta pot, plunged at the far end of the display, bordering the shady characters’ area. Oxalis hirta is particularly attractive to me now, with crimson stripped, funnel shaped buds like tiny striped barbers’ poles. Potting up cuttings of Ferula communis (5). I save the remaining, unwanted material for the windowsill of the cottage. From the second part of the morning till the end of the working day I am in the Bog Garden. It is my first time working in this area of the garden. First thing I need to dig out herbaceous material planted around the edge of the bog. This combines the use of border fork and spade. I move away and store in black crates chubby rhizomes of Rodgersia pinnata, Astilboides tabularis and thick fibrous roots of Thalictrum rochebrunianum. The trays are layered with mypex, filled with well-draining mix, watered, labeled and moved on the display bench with other woodland plants. In the afternoon I plant three young specimens of Strobilanthes wallichii, always in the Bog Garden. I remove a large mat of ground-covering aquilegia, some seedlings of stinking iris and then prepare and level the ground for the young plants. I water through by using the bog water. I finish off by chopping down flower stems of Anemone x hybrida and tidying up Rodgersia pinnata and Primula vulgaris.

Storing herbaceous material in the Alpine Yard

Planting Strobilanthes wallichii in the Bog Garden Observations: Astilboides tabularis attracts my attention. It will be worth to keep an eye on it in summer, for the flowering season. Astilboides tabularis was once known as Rodgersia tabularis and is obviously in the Saxifragaceae family. It comes from China and differs from its former relatives mainly in its leaf shape. It is not a shy thing at all, reaching 1 meter in height and bearing circular leaves up to 90cm in diameter. The stem are attached to the center of the foliage and large fluffy racemes of white flowers appear in summer. Obviously it bears some resemblance to the genus Astilbe, but to me it is also similar to Darmera peltata, if not just for the overall habit and big size.

Astilboides tabularis (internet database)

32

Monday 3rd November Practical: First thing in the morning is the Geophytes Display in the Mountain House. Plants In: Scilla peruviana, Lachenalia bulbifera (2). Plants Out: Urginea sp. (2), Nerine sarniensis. It was a real big bonus to Lachenalia bulbifera coming in flower now. They will add colour and interest in the next few weeks. Apparently Lachenalia bulbifera (formerly Polyxena pauciflora), sitting close on the bench, is closely related to Lachenalia. I finish in the Mountain House by tidying-up, brushing the floors and leaving the ventilators-on. Finally, I apply the usual diluted tomato fertilizer (Tomorite) to Scilla maderense, Lachenalia bulbifera, Freesia elimensis, as well as to all the oxalis in flowers. In the second part of the morning I am busy watering and checking the plants in pots in the Alpine Yard. Unfortunately, there are evidences of aphids, leaf miner and slugs on the primulas. I remove the dead, damaged and diseased leaves, then water through and spray Ultimate Bug Killer (systemic pesticide) on the plants. Plants that have been sprayed, have to be labeled with a blue label. In the afternoon I re-pot Ranunculus platanifolius. This is a lovely woodland buttercup from the Italian prealps. It will be worth to keep an eye on it next year. Then I pot-up cuttings of Ballota pseudodictamnus (5), Baccharis patagonica, Cistus creticus (4), Gaultheria pumila (6), G. myrsinoides (6), Helichrysum ambiguum (4) and Pelargonium sidoides (3). Then I store the material in the glasshouses (second pit) aside two trays of Primula japonica. Last working hour I undertake the plunging and displaying in the Mountain House of a beautiful specimen of Pleione maculata, which we receive from the glasshouses. This is an autumn flowering pleione, with a beautiful, scented blossom. The display work has to be finished first thing tomorrow morning.

Cuttings are potted-up and moved in the glasshouses

Leaf miner and slug damage on primulas In the evening, I drive with Sam up to Wilstead, south of Bedford for a local AGS lecture. Tonight’s speakers are Bob and Rannveig Wallis, talking about their garden in South Wales. Following an abstract of some interesting plants they grow. - Enkianthus campanulatus. Good for all-year-round interest. - Monarda species tend to get mildew, but the cultivar “Jacob Kline” seems to be immune. - Eryngium species, the seehollies. Famous the story of Miss Willmott’s Ghost. - Filipendula veunsta var. rubra as a good plant for the back of the herbaceous border. - Morea alticola. Usuful South-African lilly. It will give a great performance and doesn’t require stacking or

support. Surprisingly not much used in gardens. - Alstroemeria. Apparently there is a trick. When finishing flowering, pull out the flowering stem, that will

stimulate the root system to produce another flush of flowers. - Dierama. Good herbaceous plants. - Hacquetia epipactis. Perturbing, acid-green colour. - Saroma henryi (Aristolochiaceae). Typical Aristolochia heart-shaped leaves, but unusual flowers for the

family.

33

- Cardiocrinum giganteum. This is a monocarpic from Himalaya. It will produce daughter bulbs, however. As soon as a fairly big colony is established, the show will stay over the years and be effective.

- Corydalis regalis. Beautiful corydalis. - Corydalis malkensis. One of Bob’s favourite. Very useful, broad-leaved plant. - Digitalis pauciflora. - Allium insubricum. This is from the Italian Alps. Big single flowers, good plant for the rock garden. - Convolvulus sabaticus. - Cytisus scoparius ssp. maritimus. Dwarf broom, native of the Pembrokshire. - Tulipa sprengeri. Now sadly extinct in the wild because of the grazing. It is a really good garden plant. - Dracunculus vulgaris. The dragon lily is an interesting one, presenting lovely speckings on the leaves and

stem. It smells like rotten meat. Tuesday 4th November Practical: First thing is to finish the work with Pleione maculata by the shady characters, in the Mountain House. One oxalis and two meconopsis are asked to move further in the middle of the room, in order to accommodate the entrance of the orchid, now sitting around a group of ferns and a nice mat of mind-your-business (Soleirolia soleirolii). I notice the growing mix used for the bench of the shady characters. This was originally one part sand and one part coir, then inevitably mixed with some grit and bark over the last four years.

Pleione maculate Then I move to the Bog Garden for the planting of two specimens of Rosa palustris. Operations are carried out around specimens of Hydrangea quercifolia, Sedum “Herbstfreude”, Acer palmatum “Sango-Kaku”, Cotoneaster horizontalis and Sequoia sempervirens. A beautiful specimen of Taxodium disticum sits close in more open water, patrolling the horticultural operations. Two planting pockets are created for planting the swamp roses. The soil of the small island is incredibly dry, considering its position. Greedy roots of the Sequoia sempervirens and great horsetail take up lots of water. A specimen of Carex pendula is trimmed low down, then forked out from the stone-layered edge of the bank. Equisetum telmatea is – as far as reasonably possible – reduced. In the afternoon we move to the Limestone Rock Garden and carry on slow-weeding. I work on the Eurasian Bed, removing some clumps of Carex appalachia (there are eleven now, three were actually planted and labeled), and removing geranium from clumps of Teucrium chamaedris, Gypsophylla repens and Geum sp. For the geranium, I use a two-prong fork (dandelion fork) which proves to be very good for working a way through and pulling out the taproot of the geraniums. It was wonderful to have Bob and Rannveig Wallis around in the botanic gardens this morning.

34

Mature and young plants of Rosa palustris facing each other in the Bog Garden Observations: Rosa palustris is a multi-branched shrub rose native to much of eastern north America.

Apparently it is extremely fragrant and the pink blooms last for six to eight weeks in midseason, generally June through July. It will be worth to keep an eye on it this summer! It is interesting to notice a vigorous sucker in the young potted swamp rose. This plant certain doesn’t lack in vigour. Many suckers are also at the base of the established specimen by the lake. Hopefully, the young plant will spread by suckers, facing the competition with the horsetails and providing some covering and nesting spots for birds and other creatures.

Suckers growing from the established and potted swap rose

35

Wednesday 05th November Practical: Leaf clearance day. The two departments Systematics and Alpine & Woodland join their efforts for the first time today for the leaf clearance. This proves to be a successful idea, with a lot being done by the end of the day. Many pockets and corners we weren’t able to undertake last time (i.e. underneath the poplar by the lake) can be done this time. I use consistently a leaf blower, during the day, always pay attention don’t blow the bulbils of Allium paradoxum var. paradoxum into the leaf piles. In the meantime, Julie and Bill drive the tractor along West Walk and Lynch Walk and load the trailer. Simon and John stock the leaves into the new piles and soak them with water, in order to trigger and speed up the process of composting.

Leafmould production in the woodland

Thursday 6th November Practical: First thing in the morning is the Geophytes Display in the Mountain House. Plants In: Lachenalia bulbifera and Freesia elimensis. Plants Out: Nerine filifolia and N. undulata. I move the last thing in flower which are available in the glasshouse, such as Lachenalia bulbifera and Freesia elimensis. Only Polixena paucifolia remains in the yard, but is an option for the next week. I don’t water the plants in the Mountain House this morning, as it was frosty last night outdoor (min 4°C in the Alpine House). The watering is left for the afternoon or late morning, when it will warm up a little bit. In the afternoon I pot-up Thalictrum aquilegifolium (5 litres pots) and Astilbe “Willie Buchanani” (1), always by using alpine mix. Then I water the Alpine Yard, as well as check for P&Ds. Observations: One plant of Trollius ledebourii “Golden Queen” is in bloom now in the Alpine Yard, by the primulas coldframes. Formerly Ranunculus “Golden Queen”, this is truly a queen of the buttercup family, having strongly erect stems requiring no staking, rising up to three feet from out of its clump of three-lobed serrated foliage. Each stem is topped by the largest brightest tangerine blossoms. After flowering it’s possible to cut back heavily to encourage a second flush of flowers. These clump-forming perennials are suitable for full sun or part shade and as with all globeflowers, require moist conditions, it is appropriate to the bog garden and can be used as a marginal plant. It will easily adapt to well-drained soil but will not tolerate outright dryness. This hybrid globe flower was created from the relatively late-blooming & tender Chinese Globeflower (T. chinensis) crossed with the taller & hardier Ledebour Globeflower (T. lebourii), getting the best traits from both species. This and other globeflower crosses are also sold under the hybrid name T. cultorum.

Rhizomatous roots of Thalictrum aquilegifolium

Leafmould production in the woodland

36

Friday 7th November Practical: Pot washing and storing in the morning. We work in the potting shed where is the wash tank, in team of three and with John coming and helping us. By the end of the morning we wash and store two truckloads of clay pots. In the afternoon I carry out the re-potting of Hepatica nobilis. The plants are kept in the shady characters bench under the poly and need repotting in a new mix, as the old mix has been compacted after approximately three years of continuous management and watering. This is especially evident in the tom longs, where the mix at the bottom of the pots is particularly compressed and the roots black and dead. I replace the old mix with a better-draining one (i.e. 4 normal garden compost, 2 grit, 3 sieved leafmould, 1 pomice, vitax Q4), use 1.5 litre pots, water, label, BG-Base accession and plunge the three specimens into the bench under the poly.

Pot wash tank in the potting shed

Soil compaction in plastic pots

37

Horticultural Diary – Demonstration and Display 10th November– 5th December 2014

Monday 10th November Practical: First thing in the morning we collected samples of foliage plants for a weaving class which will take place on Wednesday in Brookside classroom. We choose good, fibrous material from plants of Anamanathele lessoniana, Kniphofia caulescens, Phormium cookianum, Trachycarpus fortunei, Cordyline australis, Carex testacea, Musa basjoo, Polygonum scoparium, Lomandra longifolia, Dianella revoluta, Cyperus papyrus and Iris sibirica. Then we moved to the glasshouse courtyard and covered some tender, half-hardy plants with Dutch lights. These structures will help the plants to overcome the winter months. We covered Puya chilensis and Agave americana. Graptopetalum paraguayense is left uncovered. This plant has proved to be incredibly hardy. We also removed a big specimen of Cyperus papyrus which had been plunged in a border. The plant is stored in a frost free polytunnel for overwintering. Equally, a small specimen of Fascicularia bicolor was dug out, repotted in D&D mix and stored beside Cyperus papyrus. D&D mix is composed of loam, grit, sand, coir and slow release osmocote. In the afternoon we moved to Brookside to undertake the maintenance of a long border.

Delivering material for a weaving class

Protecting tender and half-hardy plants with Dutch lights

Border maintenance by Brookside

Fascicularia bicolor

38

In the evening Alex, Simon and I attended a lecture on bee orchids at Queens’ College. Speaker was Professor Richard Bateman, formerly both Director of Science at the Edinburgh Botanic Garden and Keeper of Botany at the Natural History Museum, now currently based at Royal Botanic Gardens Kew. Ophrys apifera known in Europe as the bee orchid, is a perennial herbaceous plant belonging to the family Orchidaceae. The Bee Orchid gets its name from its main pollinator - the bee - which is thought to have driven the evolution of the flowers. To attract the pollinating bees, the plant has evolved bee-like flowers; drawing them in with the promise of love, the bees are naturally attracted to the flowers and fly in to attempt a mating. As they land on the velvet-textured lip of the flower, the pollen is transferred and the poor bee is left frustrated. Sadly, the right species of bee doesn't occur in the UK, so how are Bee Orchids pollinated? Scientific response to this question is still to be found. Tuesday 11th November Practical: Carried on the maintenance of the border by the old entrance to Bateman Street. Interesting plants in the border are Feijoa sellowiana, Euphorbia mellifera, Acacia pravissima, Hoheria glabrata, Geranium ‘Anne Folkard’, Sibaraea laevigata, Acacia pravissima and Indigofera heterantha. It is good to see Azara micorphylla which I haven’t see for long time, but have admired it in the past in some warm gardens in UK as well as in Italy. I’ll keep an eye on this specimen, waiting for the beautifully vanilla-scented blossom in early spring. In the afternoon we move a Paeonia sp. from Brookside to a border along Lynch Walk. Peonies are fussy plants and dislike root disturbance, so extra-care was needed. They have also to be planted at the right height, not too deep or too shallow. In the last half an hour we prepared some Digitalis purpurea ‘Excelsior Hybrid Mixed’ to be planted later this week. Unfortunately some of them had got vine weevil and had to be thrown away. Observations: I learnt that the genus Akebia is in Lardizabalaceae, and is not represented in the New world’s flora. The family consists of 8-9 genera of woody plants. All are lianas, except Decaisnea, which are pachycaul shrubs (i.e. plants with a disproportionately thick trunk for their height, and only few branches). The leaves are alternate and compound (usually palmate), with pulvinate leaflets. The flowers are drooping racemes. They are found in eastern Asia, from the Himalayas to Japan, with the exception of the genera Lardizabala and Boquila, both native to southern South America. Decaisnea is dioecious and is commonly known as dead man’s fingers, because it bears very attractive, long blue pods and is grown in the UK. The genus comprises one or two species, depending on taxonomic opinion. Decaisnea insignis was described from Nepal, and is sometimes restricted to the plants occurring in the Himalaya, or China. The only cited distinction between the plants from the two regions is the fruit colour, yellow-green in D. insignis and bluish in D. fargesii. This is of little significance and the two are now combined under the older name D. insignis by some authors.

Akebia x pentaphylla

Acacia pravissima

Maytenus boaria

39

Wednesday 12th November Practical: Today we undertook the maintenance of the big border by the entrance at Brookside. This border is in a very important area of the garden, being one of the first things the visitors can see when entering the access gate. Therefore, it is essential to have a long season of interest of flowers, autumn colours, etc. It is also important to clear this border before January-February, when the snowdrops will start to come up. We started digging out roots of Physostegia virginiana, the commonly known obedient plant, which was spreading too much throughout the border. Also Aster and Epimidium cvv. had to be cut down. Aster can be cut down with the hedge trimmer, so saving a lot of time. Low cutting is also a good horticultural practice. Epimidium will benefit from a good trim at the end of the winter and then will show flowers the following year. If trimming is not carried out, Epimidium flowers tend to remain covered by the evergreen foliage. Old foliage can also look very tatty. We spent some time raking away the fallen leaves from the border, as well as clearing the metal edges from the gravel which had accumulated because of the continuous flow of visitors. Observations: Geranium ‘Patricia’ is still in flower in the border. This is a relatively new cultivar and is a very good performer, flowering constantly until the first frosts. Unfortunately there is evidence of honey fungus (Armillaria mellea) on geranium tubers. I knew the area was infested with honey fungus, but it was quite a surprise to see the fungus on a geranium tuber!

Cropping down Aster herveyi using a hedge trimmer

Maintenance of the border by Brookside entrance

Vigorous root system of Physostegia virginiana

Honey fungus (Armillaria mellea) on Geranium tuber

40

Thursday 13th November Practical: Carried on the border maintenance at Brookside. Today we undertook the border fronting the one we had done yesterday. We needed to remove a self-seeded Prunus and also a variegated specimen of Aucuba japonica. This was rather a physical task, involving the use of saws, loppers, spades and mattock. In the afternoon we visited the Brookside classroom, to see how they were using the material we supplied for the weaving course. It was nice to see how the material had been turned into beautiful, ornamental objects. Observations: a beautiful specimen of Platycarya strobilacea is planted in a bed in the facing lawn. Platycarya is a monotypic, monecious tree in the family Juglandaceae, comprising a single species P. strobilacea, native to eastern Asia in China, Korea and Japan. The flowers are catkins, the fruit is hard and woody, superficially resembling a conifer cone with spirally arranged scales.


Platycarya strobilacea Friday 14th November Practical: Today the weather is rather wet and inclement, so we worked in the potting shed. I potted up cuttings of Euryops pectinatus, Salvia mexicana, Lavandula angustifolia spp. pyrenaica and Geranium cvv. I also potted up sporophytes of Dryopteris cycadina. This was done very carefully by using a thin stick. The individual pots were then covered with a glass sheet and then left for a period, before gradually uncovering and moving to cooler conditions. In the afternoon we had an engineer come to discuss the design and estimate the cost for installing wires in the pergola by the West Courtyard.

Potting up cuttings of Euryops pectinatus

Potting up Dryopteris cycadina

41

Potting up procedes in the potting shed.

Evaluating the design for the wires of the West Courtyard pergola Monday 17th November Practical: First thing in the morning is potting-up work in the potting shed. I potted on specimens of Laurus nobilis ‘Angustifolia’, Plantago cynops and Lavandula dentata var. dentata. Then Paul and I moved outside for planting bulbs throughout the areas of the section. We planted Tulipa ‘Westpoint’ and T. ‘Clearwater’ by the Main Gate; Tulipa ‘Ile de France’ and T. ‘Queen of the Night’ in the Fountain pots; Tulipa ‘Queen of the Night’ and T. ‘Ballerina’ in the West Courtyard pots; Tulipa ‘Ballerina’ in the Dry Garden pots. We spend most of the time in the borders by the Main Gate. These needed raking and blowing because of the leaves from the nearby lime tree. In the afternoon, we carried on the maintenance of the long border by Brookside Gate. Observations: I learnt that we spray only the very pernicious weeds, leaving the other for hand-weeding. The most problematic in the D&D beds and borders are Circaea lutetiana (enchantress nightshade), Calystegia sepium (bindweed) and Aegopodium podagraria (ground elder). Pentaglottis sempervirens (alkanet) is another pernicious perennial weed, new to me. It doesn’t’ have the characteristic white fleshy roots of the other mentioned perennial weeds, but can resist hand weeding quite well, thanks to its deep taproot. It is in the Boraginaceae and has the characteristic brittle leaves and blue flowers.

Planting bulbs by the Main Gate borders


42

Tuesday 18th November Practical: First thing we had a good look at the border by Brookside entrance. It will eventually need spraying and soiling, as the roots of the big Pterocarya fraxinifolia trees are taking nutrients from the ground. Also Galanthus nivalis ‘Scharlockii’ needed to come out. We filled a truck load with bulbs. Considering that each bulb is worth one pound, this load was worth a lot of money! We then started the practical work, by digging out Mahonia wagneri (hybrid between M. aquifoloum and M. pinnata) and a Prunus stump from last week. In the last part of the morning we forked out the snowdrops, clearing them from the ivy roots and bringing them up to the yard. They will be given to Trees and Shrubs and planted in their areas. In the afternoon the section had a meeting with Sally, discussing the plans and improvements for the areas of responsibly. A new design was proposed for Cory Lodge border and the Dry Garden, and the relandscaping of the Mediterranean Garden discussed. Also the idea to turn the Bee Garden into a South African Garden was mentioned for the first time. After the meeting we undertook the maintenance of the Malus border, by Brookside. We dug out young Cyclamen hederifolium seedlings and then pot them up in a large tray. We also planted Digitalis purpurea ‘Excelsior Hyrbids’ from last week, as well as Polystichum ferns.

Digging out Galanthus nivals ‘Scharlockii’

Propagating Cyclamen hederifolium


Pterocarya fraxinifolia seedling (Tillia does the same!) Observations: I observed Polystichum fern kept outside in the nursery area. A way to recognise the genus is to check the foliage. If little “thumb-ups” are present, then it is a Polystichum. Stylophorum diphyllum, the commonly known celandine-poppy, was a new interesting weed to me. This is in the Papaveraceae family and can be identified from the red sap in the stems.

43

Wednesday 19th November Practical: First thing in the morning was to blow off the dew in the border by Brookside, in order to spray more efficiently on the broad-leaved weeds. This was done quickly by using a leaf blower. Then we carried on planting the border by the entrance. We did both herbaceous and bulbs. I planted Digitalis ferruginea, Hakonechloa macra ‘Aureola’, Dryopteris cambrensis, Phlox ‘Fuji White’, Peonia mlokosewitschii ‘Moly the Witch’. I also do Tulipa ‘White Parrot’ and Camassia leitchtlinii ‘Sacajawea’. An interesting job was to divide Phlomis russeliana (the Turkish sage) and plant in the bed closeby, so linking the planting between the different beds. I then moved to the long, narrow border by the Shop, cropping down to the ground Calamagrostis acutiflora ‘Karl Foester’ and Pennisetum villosum. We planted Ajuga reptans in groups of three in the borders by Hills Rd entrance. Here we collected seeds of Verbena bonariensis. We autumn-sowed these seeds in two large trays to stratify. Last job of the day was to test some self-binding gravel for the relandscaping of the Mediterranean Garden. Observations: Peter discussed the genus Ostrya with me. This is in the Betulaceae family and is found in Europe, North America and southwest and eastern Asia. The European species Ostrya carpinifolia is probably the most ornamental one. This was planted in the Botanic Garden in a border on the Middle Walk. The other two species O. virginiana and O. japonica are in the Picnic Area. Walking on the Main Lawn, I noticed large bare patches on the surface. I checked closer and my suspect were confirmed when I saw a small flat curved grub on the ground. This was a chafer grub, a pest that gnaws the roots during spring and summer. Nevertheless, additional damage is caused by the crows that pull the grass away in order to eat the grubs.

Planting herbaceous in a border by Brookside entrance

Propagating Verbena bonariensis from seed


Chafer grub n the Main Lawn

44

Thursday 20th November Practical: First thing in the morning was to make safe the path we started yesterday. We laid the binding gravel, compressed it and left it for a period of testing. We made sure no trip hazards were present. Then I planted Tulipa ‘Ad Rem’ in the roof garden of the Sainsbury’s Laboratories. Walkaround in the Glasshouse Range for Plant Adaptations. I did Platycerium spp. Relevant facts are: - Common Name: stagshorn or elkhorn fern - Origin: South America, Africa, Southwest Asia, Australia. - Habitat: Tropical and Temperate areas. - Adaptations to Habitats: Epiphytic genus, i.e. growing non-parasitically upon a plant, such as trees and

obtaining nutrients from air, rainwater and sometimes debris. - Other Facts: two types of fronds: a basal, infertile one and an upper, fertile. Platycerium biforcatum and P.

superbum are the common species in cultivation. In the afternoon we dug out some herbaceous material from the Mediterranean Garden for potting up and storing in the polytunnel. We did Euphorbia seguieriana ssp. niciciana, Cistus x cyprius, Iris lutescens. I also repotted Ruscus x microglossus, which was struggling a bit in the old and compacted mix. I used a well-draining D&D mix and divided the two specimens in five. It was good to work with Ruscus (the subject of my first essay) and to observe for the first time its rhizomatous root system.

Planting bulbs by the Sainsbury Laboratories

Potting up herbaceous material from the Mediterranean Garden

Potting up Ruscus x microglossus in a new growing mix

45

Friday 21st November Practical: A bit of a hectic day today, with several different activities involved in a short time. In the morning we carried on the digging out and potting up material from the Mediterranean beds. We did Polygonum scoparium, Geranium cinereum var. subcaulescens. After tea break it was the plant test on conifers. In the afternoon I walked around with Alan, choosing the Plants of Interest for the week. This time we went for: Jasminum nudiflorum, Cornus alba ‘Sibirica’, Colletia paradoxa, Danae racemosa, Allamanda cathartica var. schrottii, Cymbidium mastersii, Lachenalia bulbifera, Pleione maculata, Hakea suaveolens and Cupressus glabra ‘Conica’.

Sean posing by the conifer samples in the Team Room

Choosing the Plants of Interest of the week

Monday 24th November Practical: First touch of frost of the year this morning. We decided to undertake some physical tasks in order to warm up a little bit. So we headed to the Winter Garden, as three big stumps of Arbutus unedo ‘Rubra’ needed to be dug out. First we got rid of the ivy, which was covering the entire surface of the bed. Then we started with the strawberry trees, working our way through with spades and the mattock. Thankfully the wood proved to be not very hard and quite brittle. The “four-wheel-truck-in-the-hole” system was used to move the stumps away from their holes. This consisted in preparing the room for the truck to go into the hole, rolling the stump out of the way and finally pushing the stump onto the truck. By the end of the morning we managed to dig two out of three stumps out. In the afternoon we undertook the maintenance of the Fern Garden. First we needed to disconnect the watering sprinklers, as they are not used in winter months. This was done quite quickly, since the system was quite well designed. Then we blew the leaves on the main path, using both leaf blowers and rakes. Finally we revamped the paths by using fresh woodchip.

Three stumps of Arbutus unedo ‘Rubra’

The Fern Courtyard

46

Observations: I had a walkaround with Peter in the morning after the digging work. He showed me plants of winter interest, such as Chimonanthus praecox and Poncirus trifoliata. Eucommia ulmoides was totally new to me. This is a species of small tree native to China. It belongs to the monotypic family Eucommiaceae. It is near threatened in the wild, but is widely cultivated in China for its bark and is highly valued in herbology such as traditional Chinese medicine. It is known as Chinese rubber tree. If a leaf is torn across, strands of latex exuded from the leaf veins solidify into rubber and hold the two parts of the leaf together.

Eucommia ulmoides, The Chinese rubber tree

Proudly posing by the strawberry tree’s stump

Irrigation system in the Fern Garden

Tuesday 25th November Practice: Another frosty morning today in the garden. Like yesterday, we decided to warm up with some physical task first thing. So we did the third and last strawberry tree’s stump in the Winter Garden. After moving the stump to the Compost Yard, we had time for top-dressing the border with good topsoil from one of the Systematics beds. After first tea break all the trainees blitzed the School Garden, Alistair leading the operations. It was mostly about digging three large beds, so preparing them for the future planting. We single-dug all the beds, got rid of all the perennial weeds, and level the surface. In the afternoon Peter, Paul and I moved to the Mediterranean Garden, in order to mark out for the forthcoming relandscaping of the area. We used hosepipes and canes showing the proposed design. The concept will be presented to Sally and Adrian tomorrow and work will start at the end of this week.

47

Dug beds in the School Garden

Re-landscaping the Mediterranean Garden

Wednesday 26th November Practical: Today was dull and wet, so we decided to take shelter in the potting shed and potted up material from the borders of the Mediterranean Garden that will be re-landscaped over the next few weeks. We dug out and potted on specimens of Salvia judaica, Ferula communis, Convolvulus cneorum and Acanthus hirsutus. Observations: Apparently Paul doesn’t like thistles very much! Onopordum acanthium is a vigorous biennial thistle with coarse, spiny leaves and conspicuous spiny-winged stems. It produces a large rosette of spiny leaves the first year, forming a fleshy taproot that may extend down to 30 cm or more for a food reserve. In the second year, the plant grows up to 2.5 m tall, with few hairs on the leaves that gives the plant a greyish appearance. It is a fice, architectural plant that can be used effectively at the back of the border or in natural planting schemes. The other Paul’s much disliked thistle is Galactites tormentosa. Commonly known as purple milk thistle, this is a biennial or annual thistle in the Asteraceae. It is shorter than Onopordum, but the margins of the leaves bear strong thorns, making the plants particularly difficult to work with. It also self-seeds prolifically, making the border more difficulult to manage (…but also usefully filling patches and gaps!). Thursday 27th November Practical: First thing in the morning was to get organized for the propagation class in the potting shed after tea break. Paul and I took a walk within the D&D as well as Systematic areas and loaded the truck with several samples to work with. Things I didn’t know about propagating plants are: - Viburnum leaves smell like rancid butter when rotten, similarly to Gingko female berries. - Hardwood cuttings are longer as good food store need to be ensured. Best timing is leaf fall. Pencil thickness is also a good description. Material that is branching is not ideal - Propagation from root cutting is done best with Apiaceae such as Eryngium, but also Acanthus (Acanthaceae), Verbascum (Scrophulariaceae), Phlox (Polemoniaceae). - Finally, it was good to see Ruscus berries and inspect the seeds inside. In the afternoon we carried on with lifting and potting up of the herbaceous material from the Mediterranean Garden. Specimens of Lavandula ‘Grosso’, Lavandula lanata, Phlomis fruticosa and Lithodora zahnii had to be thrown away. Observations: It was interesting to propagate rhizomes of Iris lutescens. When working with Iris rhizomes, it is important to pot/plant them near the soil surface, as they can rot if placed too deeply. Another good trick to remember when potting them up, is to place the rhizomes back-to-back, so allowing future growth in the pot.

48

Propagation Class in the potting shed

Potting up Iris lutescens Friday 28th November Practical: Today we undertook the “Friday Blow”, making sure that the gardens look nice and neat over the week-end. We work in team of two (Peter and I), one blowing the leaves and the other following with the truck load and collecting up. We do more or less all the D&D areas, comprising West Courtyard, drive from Bateman Rd to the Superintendent House, Brookside Entrance, Bike Park on Bateman Street, Class Room Area, Main Gate, Fountain, paths of the Scented Garden. In the afternoon we carry on some watering in the polytunnel and I also have a walkaround with Alex and Julie on watering duties for the week-end. In the meantime L&M section is lifting the turf in the Mediterranean Garden, so preparing the ground for the next week’s job.

Lifting the turves in the Mediterranean Garden

Monday 1st December Practical: Today we started the re-turfing of a section of a border in the Mediterranean Garden, nearby Prunus x yedoenisis. A branch of the ornamental cherry has to be sawed away, opening the way for the future path from the Mediterranean Garden to the Main Lawn. We used the turves lifted from Adrian and Alister last Friday. First we needed to clear the ground, get rid of all the roots and debris, level and compact it carefully. Attention was paid not to tread too much on the existing lawn, so large boards are placed around. This preparation stage was essential for the neat finish. Then we placed and adjusted the turves using turf floater, halfmoons, spades and rakes. We tapped them down firmly with the rake. Topdressing was also carried out, using some nice fine soil from the dug border. This soil was dispersed with a flat rubber rake. By the end of the working day we managed to turf the entire area and also clear where the turves were originally from. A petrol-powered turf lifter was used for this last task. We piled all the old sods there, waiting to find a good use for them. They will give very good material, the only drawback being the presence of chafer grubs.

49

Re-turfing the border of the Mediterranean Garden Tuesday 2nd December Practical: We had quite grim weather today: damp, windy and wet the all day long. So we decided to stay dry and carry on propagation and paper work in the potting shed and Cory Lodge. We started by potting up cuttings of Penstemon ‘Garnet’. I also divided a plant of Dierama pulcherrima, using a more free-draining mix (D&D mix + grit). We then could concentrate on ferns. I propagated several sporophytes in 9cm pots. It was essential to use the right growing medium (well-draining, acidic, woodlandy). I mixed D&D mix with leafmould and bark. In the afternoon Paul and I concentrated on the survey and design of the Dry Garden. We came up with a few ideas. The present concept of a “domestic” garden could be lost and the Dry Garden extended in scale, sacrificing the old collection of Juniper; raised beds could be used by the pergola, accommodating aromatic Mediterranean plants. Observations: Cheilanthes is a charismatic group of ferns that adapted to survive in dry conditions, so distinguishing from many other, moist-loving related. Species in the genus are rock-dwelling ferns with a cosmopolitan distribution in warm, dry, rocky regions, often growing in small crevices high up on cliffs. Most are small, sturdy and evergreen. The leaves, often densely covered in trichomes, spring directly from the rootstocks. Many of them are desert ferns, curling up during dry times and reviving with the coming of moisture. Thus their maintenance in a glasshouse regime is quite different from the other ferns. Cheilanthes need to be kept dry and misted only once a week in summer and fortnightly in winter.

Propagating Dierama by division

Cheilanthes lendigera

50

Wednesday 3rd December Practical: First thing in the morning we moved to Station Rd gate, cropping down the borders. Priority was to clear them before the snowdrops come up. We used hedge trimmer, rakes and leaf blower. All the plants were cropped down to the ground; we left Penstemon “Raven” and Perovskia atriplicifolia “Blue Spire” 1 foot high. We also didn’t touch the recently planted Digitalis purpurea. After watering the indoor collection, we moved to the potting shed and carried out some propagation work. I potted up cuttings of Rosmarinus and Lavandula spp., both coming from the borders of the Mediterranean Garden. It was interesting to notice how the cuttings had calloused. The successful ones were hard and white/yellow, while the failures turned black and rotten. I then potted up cuttings of Daphne bholua ‘Gurkha’. Daphne is an incredibly fussy plant to propagate and plant, but we had four successful cuttings, which is great. We re-potted the calloused ones, hoping some more will root. Before lunch Paul and I got a wheelbarrow as well as a bag barrow, and cleared the borders in the Mediterranean Garden from some stones scattered among the plants. we move them underneath Prunus x yedonensis and temporarily left them there. After lunch a fire fighting training took place in Brookside. For the last hour of the day I dug out plants from the Mediterranean Garden. He saved a nice specimen of Ononis fruticosa (the shrubby restharrow). It is a Mediterranean plant but new to me. Ononis is a large genus of perennial herbs and shrubs in Fabaceae. The common name is related to the fact that some species are arable weeds whose tough stems would stop the harrow.

Ononis fruticosa

Daphne bholua ‘Gurkha’ rooted Thursday 4th December Practical: This morning Paul and I moved to Cory Lodge front border. We first removed a specimen of Smilax ‘Cantab’ which was growing too vigorously against the wall. Italian common name for Smilax is stracciabraghe, meaning “trousers-shredder”. Peter, Paul and I spent some time having fun discussing the supposed “qualities” of this well-armed rambling plant. We then dug out Rosa ‘Cantab’ from the other border too. The rest of the time before tea break was spent weeding and forking the borders through. After tea break all the trainees went to Classroom attending the first session of Botanical Latin. In the afternoon I went to the Caucasian Garden and dug up roots of Smilax aspera. This was collected in the wild by Peter Kerley. Plants rambled on trees and proved to be difficult to maintain, recently strimmed back to the ground. We wanted to save Smilax aspera anyway, as it could be used in the forthcoming re-landscaping of the Mediterranean Garden. Observations: Smilax is a large cosmopolitan genus of about 300-350 species, found in temperate zones, tropics and subtropics. Common names include catbriers, greenbriers, prickly-ivys and smilaxes. Occasionally, the non-woody species such as S. herbacea are separated as genus Nemexia. On their own, Smilax plants will grow as shrubs, forming dense impenetrable thickets. They will also grow over trees and other plants up to 10m high, their hooked thorns allowing them to hang onto and scramble over branches. There are both deciduous and evergreen species.

51

Smilax ‘Cantab’

Tubers of Smilax aspera Friday 5th December Practical: Paul and I undertook the clearance of the remaining borders on Station Road Gate. Only two small borders remained and they ideally needed to be done before opening time. We worked with rakes and hedgetrimmer, cropping everything down to the ground except for Penstemon “Raven” and Perovskia atriplicifolia “Blue Spire” that were kept about 1 foot tall. We finished the job with the blower, giving a good finish. In the afternoon Paul and I concentrated on ferns, propagating several sporophytes in 9cm pots. It was essential to use the right growing medium, i.e. well-draining, acidic and woodlandy. I mixed D&D mix with leafmould and bark.

52

Horticultural Diary – Experimental 8th December 2014 – 9th January 2015

Monday 8th December Practical: First thing in the morning I have a walk-around with Pete within the areas of the Section. The Experimental Glasshouses are the priority of the Section. Several research projects are currently conducted on plants. They are studying the epigenetic markers on tomatoes. Basically, they are looking to an easy way to look at the genus, shortening the plant selection in breeding. There is also an experiment on bees’ pollination. Theory is that virus-infected plants are more attractive to pollinators. A “bee-arena” has been installed for studying such a theory. In the other glasshouse, a research is conducted on the link between marigolds and mycorrhizal fungi. Nearby, seedlings of wheat (Triticum ssp.) are grown for competition experiment (different combination of plants). The classic two-plants-in-a-pot system is used here to compare the results. Wheat is grown with two weeds that are major competitors of the cereal crop. These are Brachypodium and Alopecurus. Marigolds and seedling have to be water by using de-ionized water. In the same glasshouse, an on-going project on rice is carried out. This is OGM material on both paddy and upland rice. After the tour to the Experimental Glasshouses, we walk outside and visit the collection of British wild plants. Basically, two types of things are grown here. Plants having historic interest, and plants we really don’t need but they are getting rare in the wild and need to be preserved. Here we start some horticultural maintenance. I crop down potted specimens of Artemisia campestris, a classic European heathland plant, which is only in the East Anglia in the UK. Scleranthus perennis subsp. prostratus is species we have a conservation interest in. This is from the Breckland and grows in poor soils. It suffers from competition and eutrophication. I take some plants to the potting shed for re-potting. I do Scorzonera humilis, Silene italica, Veronica spicata and Phleum phleoides.

British wild plant frame (Breckland, heathland, wetland, etc.)

Seedlings of wheat (Triticum ssp.) Observations: The tomato plants in the Glasshouses are not grown under the best horticultural regime and present some problems. Evidences of oedema and blossom end rot are noticeable on several specimens. Oedema is a physiological disorder caused by an imbalance of the plant’s water uptake and water loss. The enlarged lead cells divide, and then rupture. This rupturing of the lead epidermis and inner cells causes the raised blisters and distortion of the foliage. Problem can be avoided by using better draining growing media; avoiding over-watering during extended periods of low light and cool temperature; reducing humidity by improving the ventilation in the greenhouse.

Blossom end rot is a different physiological problem, caused by adverse growing conditions rather than a pest or disease. Certain vegetables that form large fruits, such as aubergines, peppers and tomatoes are particularly susceptible. It is caused by lack of calcium in the fruits. This reduces cell membrane permeability and leads to swelling of the cells followed by leakage and destruction of the membrane structure. By making minor adjustments in watering you will usually be able to protect subsequent fruits from blossom end rot.

53

Oedema (left) and blossom end rot (right) on tomato plants Tuesday 9th December Practical: First thing is to finish with the re-potting work left from yesterday. After that I do the watering of the glasshouses. During my time on section I will be in charge for the tomato plants, as well as the seedlings of wheat and marigold (i.e. their watering, feeding, checking for p&d and general maintenance). After tea break it’s a trainee’s blitz, Alistar leading. We do the leaf clearance in the lawns along West Walk. Use of tractor and trailer, blowers, rakes. In the afternoon I’m back on section. We crop down the grasses in the borders by Cory Lodge, by using a hedge trimmer. I crop down to the ground Molinia caerulea ‘Windspiel’ and Carex cv.; trim more lightly Stipa gigantea; leave Luzula nivalis (which, technically, isn’t a grass). We finish the job by blowing throughout the borders, clearing from the leaves and debris.

Leaf clearance blitz in West Walk

Cropping down ornamental grasses in Cory Lodge borders Observations: Mosses are grown on a tree’s stump for possible future display in the Fern Garden. The stump is kept in the shady polytunnel. Pete keys several ferns out and labels them. We have Hypnum cupressiforme, Orthotrichum affine and O. diaphanum. In the Pit no.1 I notice plants of Corrigiola litoralis. The genus is familiar to me, as they are common garden weeds in Italy. It is in the Molluginaceae family. Strapwort is a small, branched, annual plant, usually found along muddy lake shores. The stems of the plant are reddish in colour and the leaves are long and oval in shape, widest near the tip. The flowers are tiny, only 2mm across, and whitish-green.

54

Native mosses on a tree’s stump

Corrigiola litoralis Wednesday 10th December Practical: First thing in the morning it’s going through a list of jobs to do over the next winter months. After this briefing, I move to the Experimental Glasshouses, watering the tomatoes and the seedlings. Some of the seedling s got mildew and will need spraying. After tea break we all move outside, pricking out the ground throughout the National Collection of Geranium. This collection is the legacy of Dr. Peter F. Yeo, the taxonomist who also established the collection of Ruscus. It would appear Dr. P.F. Yeo is still haunting me! Geranium pratense is the very broadly distributed species, almost like Ruscus aculeatus. Other present taxa are Geranium renardi, G. macrorhizzum ‘Album’, G. pyrenaicum, G. x cantabrigiense, G. dalmaticum, G. monacense var. monacense, G. aristatum and G. reflexum. It is important now to keep an eye on the unwanted major self-seeders and get rid of them, otherwise the collection will look like an horrible mess within a few months. Vigorous self-seeders are G. pratense, G. pratense var. sturtianum, G. asphodeloides x oxonianum, G. sanguinem, G. pyrenaicum and G. albanum. Obserations: Sugar beet washing came here instead of real top-soil (2 years ago). This is the medium which results from the washing of the commercially harvested sugar beets. It is extremely silty (but not organic matter at all) and gives a rather implantable growing medium. Council compost was then mixed in order to improve the soil structure, by rotavating the ground down to about 2 meters. The soil structure is gradually improving, but still a few years will be necessary in order to get a good loamy soil. Birch tree planting has been suggested. These trees are renowned to be extremely good in terms of soil structure improvement, as they will stabilize the ground with their extensive root system.

National Collection of Geranium

Beetroot washing and garden soil

55

Thursday 11th December Practical: First thing this morning is the pruning the tomatoes in the Glasshouses. This is a long job and takes almost all the working day. Nevertheless, it is a very important job to do, representing a big improvement in terms of maintenance and general hygiene over the Christmas holidays. I also feed the tomatoes by using general tomato feed, high in potash. In the afternoon I am back to the geraniums for some more pricking over. I look after clumps of G. clarkei ‘Kashir Purple’, G. himalayense and G. pratense var. stewartianum. I move the plants within the border, trying to give them space and weed them through. After the geraniums, we move to the lavenders, basically doing the same task. We use rakes, hoes and the cultivator. In the last half a hour we get rid of some plants in the polytunnel that is no longer needed. We pay attention in dividing the herbaceous or woody material from the compost, discarding them in two separate buckets. Observations: After tea break trainees have the second class in Botanical Latin. Following some notes of interest. - There are two main points to bear in mind in the use of Botanical Latin: A) there are gendera; 2) the Latin

pronunciation is remarkably different compared to the English, especially in the case of the vowels. - ph- and th- sounds are from Greek; also –on and –os. - w, k, j are modern continental consonant. - plants names are always composed by two words (A. novi-belgii, A. novae-zelandiae, C. bursa-pasturis). - sativus (cultivated), caninus (of a dog, i.e. inferior), vernus (of spring), hyemalis (of winter), graveolens

(strong smelling), borealis / australis. - declension (English for declinazione). - neutral, l is almost silent. - trees and shrubs are always feminine. Exceptions are Rubus, Euonymus, Ulex and Cotoneaster (masculine);

Acer and Ribes (neutral).

Pruning of the tomato plants in the Laboratories Glasshouses

Maintenance of the Geranium and Lavandula collections

56

Friday 12th December Practical: This morning we undertake some jobs by the Ecological Mound. I cage a specimen of Scilla peruviana which has been partly chewed by a muntjac. I use prickly twigs of hawthorn; hopefully this will discourage the pests. Second job is to plant Succisa pratensis and Sanguisorba officinalis in a border at the bottom of the Ecological Mound. These plants come from the British wild plants collection and it will be interesting to display them to the public. I also fork out five small Geranium pratense from the nearby chalk grassland bed and plant them around Succisa and Sanguisorba. Succisa pratensis is similar to Knautia arvensis and Scabiosa columbaria; they all are in the Dipsacaceae.

Caging Scilla peruviana

Planting in the Ecological Mound

Chalk grassland

Succisa pratensis

Sanguisorba officinalis

Geranium pratense

57

Monday 15th December Practical: First thing in the morning is watering the Experimental Glasshouses; also regular checking for pests and diseases. The wheat seedlings got mildew and need spraying. After caring for the glasshouses, we move outside and clear the floor from the leaves around Sainsbury’s Laboratories. The main concern is health and safety, as rotting leaves can become slippery and cause risk. The other point obviously concerns aesthetic and presentation. I use a leaf blower within the gingkoes’ and olives’ yards. Pete then clears with a Billy Goat and rake, giving a good finish. The yards should remain nice and presentable till next year, giving that we won’t have strong, easterly winds over the next two weeks. In the afternoon we start the digging of the large bed where the Jerusalem artichokes (Helianthus tuberosus) used to be cultivated. The tubers were forked out and the soil left uneven and still weedy. So we start cultivating the soil, leveling it and taking out the remaining tubers as well as the perennial weeds.

Leaf clearance of the gingkoes (left) and olives (right) yards around Sainsbury’s Laboratories

Observations: Helianthus tuberosus is widely cultivated across the temperate zone and used as a root vegetable. It is native to eastern North America. It can be used as a substitute for potato, but, because the presence of the carbohydrate inulin, its starch is difficult to process and assimilate for the human body. However, it has been promoted as a healthy choice for diabetics, because fructose is better tolerated then sugar contents. Tuesday 16th December Practical: In the morning I am busy tidying up the Experimental Glasshouses, which will be sprayed tomorrow. It is therefore important to prepare and clear the environment before using the chemicals. I first squeeze all the trays of the rice plants on a single bench, in the way that the illumination on the other bench can be turned off with a considerable save of energy. Then I sweep throughout the glasshouses. From first tea break till the end of the day I am back to the Jerusalem artichokes’ bed, carrying on the digging.

Preparing the Glasshouses for the winter spraying session

Digging the Jerusalem artichokes’ bed

58

Observations: Digging can be a tedious job sometimes, but we try to make it interesting by discussing about the different things we come across during the job. - I learn that Bromus is a vast genus (160-170 species) in the Poaceae. I thought it was Poa, but now I know that

Bromus typically has opposite ranks of leaves and generally not prow-shaped leaves as characteristic in many Poa species.

- There are three main groups of plants having latex stems among the British natives: Papaveraceae, Euphorbiaeae and a group of Compositae (plus Acer campestre) Pete also mentions about the different systems and criteria alternatively suggested for grouping such a vast family as Compositae.

- Fumaria officinalis is well-spread in the bed. It is in the Papaveraceae, commonly known as common fumitory or earth smoke. It is native to the British Isles.

- Apomixis is a replacement of the normal sexual reproduction by asexual reproduction, without fertilization. Apomictically reproduced offspring are genetically identical to the parent plant. Apomictic British plants are Sorbus, Taraxacum, Crataegus, Rubus, Poa. Genera with apomixes are quite common in certain families, e.g. in Asteraceae, Poaceae and Rosaceae. Although the evolutionary advantages of sexual reproduction are lost, apomixes can pass along traits fortuitous for evolutionary fitness.

- An observation comes on rhizomes of Convolvulus arvensis and Sonchus arvensis. They look very similar, but Sonchus smells a bit peppery. On the other hand, Equisetum rhizomes are remarkably peculiar; stringy, black and showing a characteristic train’s wheels pattern if cross-cutted.

- The epithet horridus is a “false friend”. In fact, it actually means bristly and not horrid as the name suggests. - Easter Ledgers is the omelet with early spring greeneries. We suggest the spears of Ruscus aculeatus as a

possible ingredient. - Mabberley’s The Plant Book is a good reference for researching on plant families; the other one being

Flowering Plants of the World by Heywood.

Bromus sp.

Pernicious rhizomatous or tap roots can be used feed making Wednesday 17th December Practical: First thing in the morning is to continue to prepare the Experimental Glasshouses for the spraying session this afternoon. I sweep and vacuum-clean, as well as secure the GM material in auto-clave bags for disposal. I also water the plants and spray with fungicide (copper ammonium) on the wheat seedlings which have shown evidences of mildew. After first tea break is the visit to the Garden Herbarium in Sainsbury’s Laboratories. We are shown around and thought about the importance of herbaria for science and research; interesting definition of scalesias as the “Darwin finches” of the plant world; also learning that Abrus precatorius is the most poisonous plant on the planet, one seed being sufficient to kill a person. In the afternoon I clear the verge along the native hedgerow from the last autumn leaves. I use a lawnmower and rake, doing the fringe around the Genetic Garden as well. Observations: Trentepohlia is showing itself on a trunk of Fraxinus excelsior. This is a genus of filamentous green algae, living free on terrestrial supports such as tree trunks and wet rocks or symbiotically in lichens. It is therefore involved in the process of lichenasation. Its presence is clear here and it would be nice to make an interpretation for the public.

59

Mildew on wheat seedlings

Spraying damage on Jatropha leaves

Clearing the laid hedgerow

Trentepohlia on Fraxinus excelsior Thursday 18th December Practical: First thing in the morning is the caring for the Experimental Glasshouses. The glasshouses were sprayed yesterday with Pyrethrum. Unfortunately there is some damage on the leaves of Jatropha curcas. On the other hand, the red spider mites on the rice plants look now dead. I feed the tomatoes and spraying the wheat seedling with insecticide. Then I move to the laid hedgerow and scrape with a metal rake the surface which has been smeared yesterday by using the lawn mower. While doing this job, I also collect the remaining leaves from yesterday. After tea break I move to the artichoke bed and carry on with the digging. I also do the British native plant frame, which involves weeding, sweeping and general tidying up. We bring some plants in the potting shed for re-potting. I look after a specimen of Cladium mariscus; this is a sedge native to Europe and Asia and makes a good Fen plant, where grows in base-rich boggy areas and lakesides, especially around moving water. It is cultivated here in the Fen Garden but is not performing very well, probably because the water is too stagnant. Meanwhile Pete is repotting a specimen of Juncus balticus x J. inflexus, a British endemic. I look after a specimen of Ligustrum vulgare (dwarf form); finally I pick five specimens of Dianthus gratinopolitanus and repot them. I save some of the remaining specimens for the cottage. Observations: This afternoon I learn something about the genetics of double-flower mutations. Double-flower forms often arise when some or all of the stamens in a flower are replaced by petals. These types of mutations, where one organ in a developing organism is replaced with another, are known as homeotic mutations. They are usually recessive, although there are exceptions, such as in carnations.

60

Ligustrum vulgare Dwarf Form

Dianthus gratinopolitanus outside Le Cottage Friday 19th December Practical: First thing in the morning is the regular caring of the Experimental Glasshouses. Then we go through the nettles in the glasshouse pit. This is an experiment on Urtica species. We have here specimens of U. dioica and U. galeopsifolia, showing genetic and plastic variations. We press some of the most interesting samples and store them in the Cory Lodge Herbarium. It is my first time assisting to a herbarium pressing and find it quite interesting. In the afternoon we prepare some material for the science students and tidy up the glasshouses’ potting shed, also washing some of the 10cm plastic pots which will be needed next week.

Storing nettles

The frame of the British native plants Monday 22nd December Practical: First thing in the morning is the caring for the Experimental Glasshouses. Being Monday, I water and feed the tomatoes as well as all the seedlings; also checking for p&d. Before tea break I clear the leaves around Parthenocissus henryana by Plant Growth Facility building. Observations: Parthenocissus henryana is a new entry form me. I only know P. tricuspidata (Boston ivy) and P. quinquefolia (Virginia creeper). P. henryana is commonly known as the Chinese creeper or silver vein creeper. It has apparently a more restrained growth than the other Virginia creeper, with leaves attractive in autumn as always in the genus. This is a plant worth to keep an eye on over the next year.

61

Parthenocissus henryana by Plant Growth Facility building

Partenocissus henryana [internet database] Tuesday 23rd December Practical: First thing in the morning is the caring of the Experimental Glasshouses. For the remaining part of the working day I dig the artichoke bed. A nice, healthy specimen of Scrophularia nodosa is growing wild here as a weed, so we decide to plant it in the Ecological Mound. Last job of the year 2014 is to overwinter the two specimens of Liparis loeselii (fen orchid) of the British wild plants collection in the shady polytunnel. Due to the lost of habitats, this is now extremely rare in the wild and is an important plant for the Botanic Garden to cultivate in terms of conservation and future scientific research. Observations: Scrophularia nodosa is a perennial herbaceous plant found in temperate regions of the Northern hemisphere except North America. Therefore, it’s not restrictively a British native, having a more cosmopolitan distribution. It grows typically in moist and cultivated waste ground. It grows upright, with thick, sharply square succulent stems from a distinctive horizontal rootstock (see picture). Its leaves are opposite, ovate at the base and lanceolate at the tip, all having toothed margins. The flowers are in loose cymes in oblong or pyramidal panicles. The individual flowers are globular, with five green sepals encircling green or purple petals. This colouration will hopefully match well with the close specimens of Succisa pratensis and Sanguisorba officinalis, which I planted in the border two weeks ago. Pete also tells me that the plant was thought, by the doctrine of signatures, to be able to cure the throat disease scrofula, because of the throat-like shape of its flowers.

Liparis loeselii

Rootstock of Scrophularia nodosa

62

Monday 5th January Practical: First job of the year 2014 is the caring for the Experimental Glasshouses. I water and feed the tomatoes, as well as the marigolds and wheat seedlings; check for evidences of pests on tomatoes, in particular for red spider mite, thrips and white fly. We then move to Pit 1 and water the plants there, with great attention given to the Lavandula collection. It is my first time caring for this collection since I’m on section and is rather disorientating to see these same plants now in pots, that were growing wild outside in Italy just the week before. In the last part of the morning we take the meteorological records and register them on the on-line database. In the afternoon we move outside and start the clearing and leveling of two beds nearby the Genetic Garden. These are the “Healthy Herbie” and a square bed just aside. The concept behind Healthy Herbie was to represent the origins of some important plants based pharmaceutical drugs at various times throughout the year. The project was meant to be temporary, but then lasted 14 years (until this afternoon). I start from the square bed, by digging out Spinacia oleracea, Allium sativum, Vicia faba ‘Major’, Daucus carota ssp. sativus. Then I compact the level and compact the soil by trampling over it. Leveling is done with a landscape rake. All the stones and debris are removed.

Recording the meteorological data

Clearing Helthy Herbie and the square bed nearby

Tuesday 6th January Practical: First thing in the morning is to water the plants in the Pit1. We also check the Lavandula collection for p&d and prune some plant. The pruning is done for better branching out of the plants as well as for easier and more effective pests and diseases control. We then move to the Experimental Glasshouses and carry out the general tasks. We also sweep the floors through and dispose the GM material in the autoclaveable bags. In the last part of the morning we enter the meteorological data in the National Website.

In the afternoon we start a different project, consisting in dismounting of the Breckland Bed by the Ecological Mound. This is basically a raised bed contained by wooden slippers and filled with very sandy soil. Plants from the breckland habitat have been grown here over the last few years. Among them, we save endemic Thymus and Echium species. I also find labels indicating the original planting, such as Artemisia campestris, Veronica triphyllos and Vulpia bromoides. All the old plant material is divided from the sandy soil and rubble, which will be skipped tomorrow.

63

Observations: It was a new and very interesting activity to access the metereological data in the National Met Wesite. Following Sally’s description of the general month’s and year’s tendency. December has been a drier than average month with mixed weather and the wind coming predominantly from the West. Our rainfall was 39.7mm in total and we had 14 days of measurable rain, yet most of this fell in one go on the 27th where 15.3mm was measured. This fell as sleet and rain while most of the more northernly parts of the UK had snow. The average rainfall for December is around 47mm. The start of the month was dominated by dull overcast days while the last week gave us a taste of proper winter with a succession of hard frosts. Overall we had 8 air frosts (the coldest being on the 30th at -3.4 degrees) and 20 ground frosts (the coldest being -8.8 degrees). Even with the multiple frosts it has been a mild month with this years December average minimum being 2.4 degrees and average maximum 8.8 degrees (in comparison the average is 1.7 and 7.7 degrees respectively). 2014 has been a wetter than average year with 620.8mm of measurable rain. Our notable wet months were January, February, August and November. We had a very dry spring through March and April as well as a dry September. In March there was a sustained dry period where no rain fell for 2 full weeks and September was dry for 11 solid days. The heaviest rainfall day was measured on the 8th of August in association with a thunder storm which measured at 33.7mm. Despite the lack of a white Christmas this year, we hope to get some good wintery weather through January and February 2015!

Dismounting the Breckland Bed

Meteorological Station at CUBG

Wednesday 7th January Practical: First thing in the morning is to water the Experimental Glasshouses and Pit 1. After that, we finish the clearing of the Breckland Bed. All the material is skipped apart from the wooden slippers, which go to the Systematics for future bonfire making. The ex-Breckland area is then leveled, waiting for grass sowing in springtime. A nice native Hypericum specimen is saved. This might be planted and labeled in the Ecological Mound. In the afternoon we join D&D and help with the mulching of the borders by Cory Lodge Lawn. We use the compost that has been produced on-site.

Clearing of the Breckland Bed

Mulching the borders by Cory Lodge

64

Thursday 8th January Practical: First thing in the morning is the watering in the Experimental Glasshouses and Pit 1. We then re-pot some of the lavender and cuttings in the collection. While carrying out the task, Sally takes time in telling me about the Lavandula genus and collection at CUBG. The about 47 Lavandula species come from a variety of habitats and conditions. There are stone-desertic, arid, mountainous species; herbaceous, semi-woody, woody; subtropical, Mediterranean. Their distribution ranges from the Canaries to India. Most are half-hardy. Lavandula can be divided in 4 groups; in the collection at CUBG we have subgenus fabrica (one flower per bract) and subgenus lavandula (more than one flower per bract). They are fragile plants that can get several different pests, such as leaf hoppers, trips, red spider mite, white flies and occasionally aphids. The most common species in the Mediterranean are dentata and angustifolia. L. x intermedia ‘Grosso’ is economically important, being used for oil production. In the afternoon Pete Michna gives to the trainees an identification walk on winter twigs. This is a sometime more to study over the next seven days!

Re-potting the Lavandula collection

Aphids on a lavender plant Friday 9th January Practical: First thing in the morning is the caring for the Experimental Glasshouses. I feed the tomatoes and check the seedlings for pests and diseases; also move the tomatoes which look bad at the far end of the bench. They will be checked over the next week and autoclaved if dead. After that Sally and I join D&D and help with the mulching of the borders by Cory Lodge Lawn. By the end of the morning we manage to finish all of them and tidy up the area (sweeping the grass and the paths, stacking the borders, storing the tools). In the afternoon I’m on Plant of Interest duty with Alen.

Mulching the borders of Cory Lodge

Aphids on a lavender plant

65

Observations: Following the list of the Plants of Interest… 1. Clerodendron ugandense 2. Phaius tankervillae 3. Ludisia discolor 4. Ranunculus calandrinoides 5. Hibiscus insularis 6. Daphne bholua ‘Jacqueline Postill’ 7. Lonicera x purpesii 8. Phyllostachys nigra 9. Chimonanthus praecox 10. Ruscus aculeatus … and Areas of Interest Betula Collection Old Pinetum Winter Garden Graminae Beds Mountain House Glasshouse Corridors

66

Horticultural Diary – Glasshouse 12th January – 6th February

Monday 12th January Practical: Very exciting start on Section, as Alex is back from a trip to Bonn and Leiden with diverse, mostly wild collected plant material. Today we’ll go straight to prop work, my inductions with the section work and the watering of the Wetland Tropics being postponed to tomorrow. In addition to that, the garden is closed because the strong wind anyway, which justify our work behind the scenes. Billy joins us for the propagation work. We have a fantastic stock of tropical and subtropical plants to work with; among the other things, there is a healthy specimen of Erythroxylum coca (the cocaine plant, Erythroxylaceae) and a box containing sticky insects. I start by potting-up Aspidistra larutense (Asparagaceae) and this is very kind of Alex as he knows my fascination for these monocots. Then I propagate species of Huperzia and Lycopodium (both Lycopodiaceae) from cutting. These are two very closely related genera of clubmosses once included in the same genus but know recognised as being distinct. They are flowerless, vascular, terrestrial or epiphytic. I accommodate them in trays filled with a mix of sphagnum moss and perlite. Then we start with wild-collected species of Aeschynanthus (Gesneriaceae). The lipstick plants are evergreen subtropical plants, mostly trailing epiphytes with brightly coloured flowers that are pollinated by sunbirds. I prepare the cuttings and lay them horizontally in trays; tropical prop mix is used (1 pumice : 1 medium bark : 1 general mix). Metal pegs are used for firming the cuttings nicely on the surface. Bottom watering is carried out with all the plants in trays, and hot to lukewarm water from the kettle tank is preferably used. The cuttings are then moved to Pit 1 and placed in a heated propagation frame for better rooting.

The material acquired from Bonn and Leiden Botanics

Propagating Huperzia and Lycopodium from cutting

Propagating Aeschynanthus from cutting

Storing the lipstick plants in the heated propagation unit

67

The maintenance of the Glasshouse Range is reduced to the minimum necessary today, both because the urgent propagation work and the wind impediment. However, we sweep the Glasshouse Corridors before lunch; the job only takes 5 minutes, as it’s four of us with Billy from D&D. Tuesday 13th January Practical: This morning I start my day-to-day regime of watering in the Wetland Tropics and Main Tropics. Alex first gives me an induction of the areas, explaining the different duties and tasks to carry out. These are summarized in the following lines: - Big watering is preferable to be done on Monday; just splashing on the other days of the week. - Also weeding as the week goes on; Parietaria judaica (Urticaceae) is growing and needs doing. - Pinching Hemigraphis alternata (Acanthaceae) and the other shrubs and subshrubs that are overgrowing; trees

and shrubs should be considered and kept as “macro bonsai” in a glasshouse range. - Max taping the climbers is a job that needs doing periodically; the collection of Passiflora (Passifloraceae) is

considerable and needs to be kept at its best; however, it is important to leave hanging branches with Passiflora species, as these will change their hormone setting and eventually flower.

- Also Strongylodon macrobotrys (Fabaceae) needs specific care; remove dead parts and try to doom the branches over the support; remember that the plant flowers only on the third/second year growth: wrong pruning will compromise the stunning bloom of jade wine.

- Long hand pruning on Papaya carica (Caricaceae) when it will stop flowering (or even before, if I have time to spend sweeping around after…).

- Passiflora garckei in pot near the papaya plant tends to dry out or be missed; check it regularly for water. - Feeding the fishes twice a week (peanuts, banana). - Bear an eye on the level of the pond. - Orchid on Rhizophora mangle (Rhizophoraceae; red mangrove tree): don’t miss it. - Mist the orchid tree once a week; Bulbophyllum (Orchideaceae) dry quicker than the other orchid. - Don’t miss the two pots behind the Amorphophallus (Araceae). - Good water to the big fern behind the vanilla plant, Vanilla planifolia (Orchideaceae). - Balcony: leaf picking and misting once a week. After the induction I start with the damping down and watering. Before to get all the surfaces (and myself) completely drenched, it is good to plan and carry out some extra maintenance jobs each day. This morning I chop down to the ground the dead parts of Heliconia rostrata (Heliconiaceae) and also give some breathing space to Dioon edule (Zamiaceae) by removing some creeping branches of Peperomia incana (Piperaceae) which are spreading too much within the border. After tea break I carry out some more prop work. I do Rhaphidophora cryptantha (Araceae) from cutting. I accommodate the cuttings on a large tray and use tropical prop mix; bottom watering; storing in Pit 1, prop unit. Then I move to Hydnophytum sp. (Rubiaceae; seeds out of the yellow fruits; in a tray with sphagnum moss; storing in the prop unit, Pit 1) and Coccocypselum guianense (Rubiaceae; seeds out of the blue fruits; in a pan with seed mix; bottom watering).

Fruits and seeds of Hydnophytum sp. and Coccocypselum guianense

Propagating Rhaphidophora cryptantha from cutting

68

In the afternoon I am with Alen in the Wetland Tropics; we paint the wooden board of the tropical pond. We first sandpaper the surface (which has already been coated the last week), then we apply a second coat for better finish. By tomorrow morning the boards should be dry and nicely shining (so allowing me watering!). For the last part of the working day we lay down the material to be planted here tomorrow. Available plants we can play with are: - Hemigraphis alternata; the red ivy; Acanthaceae. - Cathranthus roseus and C. roseus “white form”; Madagascar periwinkle; Apocynaceae. - Fittonia gigantea and F. verschaffeltii var. argyroneura; silver net plant; Acanthaceae. - Piper ornatum; Celebes pepper; Piperaceae. - Ruellia portellae; wild petunia; Acanthaceae.

Painting the wooden boards of the tropical pond (Wetland Tropics)

Rooted Cathranthus roseus cuttings are ready to be planted

Wednesday 14th January Practical: First thing in the morning is the watering and damping down for the Wetland and Main Tropics. Odds jobs are weeding Parietaria judaica and pinching Hemigraphis alternata. I also remove the dead foliage of Papaya carica (with subsequent deluge of flowers…). After tea break I move on to some prop work. I do Synsepalum dulcificum (Sapotaceae) from seed. I use mix of coir and sand (50:50), sieved at the top; also pan instead of normal pots and bottom watering. Synsepalum dulcificum is an interesting plant that is worth remembering; the common name is miracle fruit and its leaves can apparently turn the sharp taste of a lemon into the sweetest orange. Alex and Alen give me a demonstration on how to tie plants on a small stumpery support; this is often done with orchid and will be helpful over the next weeks. We work on Phil’s bend and do Schlumbergera opuntioides (Cactaceae) and Dischidia imbricata (Asclepidaceae). Ladies stockings are used for the teeing the plants of their support! They are extremely resistant and stretchy. This is a trick Alex learnt and imported from Kew. After this very exciting piece of avant horticulture, I’m back to the potting shed for propagating Amborella trichopoda (Amborellaceae) from seed. I have 21 seeds available and decide to split the lot in two, so conducting to different methods of scarification. Firstly, I immerse the seeds in water, so getting the flesh out; secondly I proceed with the scarification, by doing 11 seeds with fine sand paper and the remaining 10 in hydrogen peroxide solution 9% overnight. To remember Alex’s description of Amborella as a “basal angiosperm”. Last part of the day is Alen and me back to the Wetland Tropics. I remove and pot-up a nice mature specimen of Philodendron insigne (Araceae). Then I start planting in the benches some well-rooted cuttings of Fittonia gigantea, F. verschaffeltii var. argyroneura, Hemigraphis alternata and Ruellia portellae.

69

Propagating Amborella trichopoda from seed

Ladies stockings effectively used for firming Dischidia imbricata (left) and Schlumbergera opuntioides (right) on display stumps

Observations: There is a mystery that puzzles me in the Main Tropics. I smell like hot chocolate raise when I do the watering by Calliandra haematocephala (Fabaceae) and Phyllanthus angustifolius var. elongatus (Euphorbiaceae), both in bloom now. After some investigation Alex and I came to the conclusion that the smell is not from the flowers, but possibly from the heating pipes. However, the scientific reason is yet far to be explained.

Calliandra haematocephala (flower and fruit)

Phyllanthus angustifolius var. elongates (flowers and fruit)

70

Thursday 15th January Practical: First thing in the morning is the watering and damping down for the Wetland and Main Tropics. Unfortunately the watering lance has stopped working at some point, so I don’t have much time for catching up with other maintenance jobs in the Main Tropics. The day is a bit of a hectic one, with a plant identification test (winter twigs) as well as a session on meteorological data recording with Sally Hughes. I’m back to full work only after lunch and join Alen for sawing plastic tubes to go in the new display in the Wetland Tropics. Observations: Hamelia patens (Rubiaceae) is a bit wilting. It will need monitoring over the next few days. Hamelia is a large perennial shrub in the coffee family. Its common name is firebush, as the plant has orangish-red tubular flowers, which recruit hummingbirds and butterflies for pollination. Alex makes me notice that Philodendron and Anthurium (both Araceae) are very similar genera but they leaf venation is a distinguish feature. In the matter of fact, in Anthurium veins don’t reach the outer edge of the leaves.

Different leaf venation on Anthurium (left) and Philodendron (right) Friday 16th January Practical: First thing in the morning is the watering and damping down for the Wetland and Main Tropics. I also do the leaf picking in the balcony; depending to the weather, it may be necessary to give a good misting here early next week. Other odd jobs I do are some more weeding on Parietaria judaica, leaf picking under Guaiacum officinale (Zygophyllaceae) and dead-pruning on Monstera deliciosa (Araceae), Pandanus tectorius (Pandanaceae) and Carludovica palmata (Cyclanthaceae: it’s a monocot, not a palm!!!). In the morning I also propagate Ibicella lutea (Martyniaceae). The seven available seeds have been scarified on sandpaper yesterday and then left in hot water overnight. This morning they are already showing evidence of germination! Another job is to pot-up a specimen of Dianella ensata (Xanthorrhoeaceae) in a five liters pot. I’ve never seen dianellas (the flax lilies) in flower or in fruit, so this is a plant to check over the next months. Several species are grown in Japan and Oceania for their attractive foliage and shiny, blue to purple berries. I also clear and prepare for propagation a considerably-sized branch of Pandanus tectorius that snapped out from the parent plant in the Main Tropics. I remove approximately half of the foliage and part of the taproot, then plant the cutting in a pot filled with a mix of sand and perlite (50:50). The cutting is then stored in the Tropical Pit. In the afternoon is the usual Section’s Friday-tidy-experience, as well as the preparation of the plastic tubes that have been prepared and leveled by Phil. We want them to sit into a flat surface, so we use 3 to 5 liters pots as bases.

71

Cutting of Pandanus tectorius ready for potting-up

Horticultural maintenance of a low-light area of the Main Tropics

Monday 19th January Practical: First thing in the morning is the watering and damping down for the Wetland and Main Tropics. - A branch of Syngonium auritum (Araceae) is found on the floor this morning. Propagation can be carried out,

same as I do with Pandanus tectorius last week; - the level of the pond is up to the edge: keep an eye on it; - leaf picking under Punica protopunica (Lythraceae), the plant opposite to Cannanga odorata (Annonaceae).

The label of the pomegranate is missing; - Theobroma cacao (Malvaceae) needs repotting; - sphagnum moss on Pamianthe peruviana in the Corridor. In the afternoon we carry out the preparation work for hanging a tree stump over the pool in the Main Tropics; on this natural feature orchids will be installed as a display for the forthcoming Orchid Festival. We first go through the Risk Assessment Record (working on a ladder; tropical pool hazards). Then we start the setting up for the actual manual operations. The site is closed by using safety barriers; the long extendable ladder is then laid firmly to the glasshouse ceiling and secured with a climbing rope. Once on height, I guide stems of Passiflora boenderi (Passifloraceae) through the holes of the structural glasshouse’s poles and max-tape them. Finally, I fix the four metal ropes and clips that will support the tree stump. The “moss globes” to go in the Wetland Tropics are also prepared in the potting shed during the working day. These structures are filled with polystyrene and dressed with sphagnum moss. They will be hung on the ceiling over the tropical pond and will home orchids during the Orchid Festival. Observations: Phrase of the day is: it’s easier to keep things at the higher standards than at the medium. Very true motto, regardless the profession or the industry somebody is working in.

Alen preparing a moss balls for orchid display

The Globes hung on the ceiling in the cool pit

72

Tuesday 20th January Practical: First thing in the morning is the watering and damping down for the Wetland and Main Tropics. I also max-tape Hoya sp. (Asclepidaceae). Some more pruning and training needs doing tomorrow as well. Then I work on a specimen of Pamianthe peruviana (Amaryllidaceae) displayed on a stump in the Corridor. The plant is well-rotted on its support but leans down a little bit, getting on the pathway. Phil kindly joins me for the venture. We fix Pamianthe on the stump by packing underneath with sphagnum moss and tying with our faithful ladies stockings. After tea break we are ready to undertake one of the most important jobs of the week. We need to move a big tree stump from the potting shed’s roofs to the Main Tropics. The stump will be hung on the pond and host orchids during the festival. This is a major hard-landscaping job. Mark and Ian come to help; also Sean and Billy join us. The stump is first lifted by using climbing ropes, and then secured with metal tires on the ceiling of the greenhouse. Extreme attention is paid for the smooth running of the operations. Sean and I put our waders on and work from the pond. This gives us the opportunity to carry out some pruning on Acrostichum aureum (Pteridaceae) as well as to clear the water by using a fishing net. Last quarter of an hour I propagate Syngonium auritum (Araceae) from cutting. The material snapped yesterday from the plant displayed in the Main Tropics; it has been kept in a damped plastic bag and some of the foliage has been removed, in order to avoid too much moisture loss. I lay the cuttings horizontally in a tray filled with a mix of coir and perlite (50:50) and then store it in the Tropical Pit. Observations: Phil tells me what makes an orchid an orchid. Distinguish features are the presence of 6 segments: 3 sepals and 3 petals (one petal being exaggerated and usually adapted for pollinators’ landing). Flowers are not perfect but bilaterally symmetrical. Anther and stigma are joined in a unique structure botanically referred as the column. Some orchid genera also have mealy pollinia, that is a coherent mass of pollen grains in a plant that are product of only anther, but are transferred, during pollination, as a single unit. These are tapering into a caudicle (stalk), attached to the viscidium; their extend into the middle section of the colomn.

Installment of a display tree stump that will host orchid during the festival

Securing Pamianthe peruviana on a display stump in the Corridor

Syngonium auritum propagated from cutting

73

Wednesday 21st January Practical: First thing in the morning is the watering and damping down for the Wetland and Main Tropics. - more max-taping and pruning on Hoya spp; - pinching on Psychotria capensis (Rubiaceae); - misting session in the balcony; a good shake is given to the canopies of most plants and leaves are then picked

on the ground floor. However, the balustrade needs more leaf picking to be carried out tomorrow; - feeding the fishes with peanuts. Then Sean and I move the columns which have been cemented over the week-end to the Wetland Tropics and place them in the pond. We decide to arrange them in three small groups, in order to give more interest and variation to the composition. We adjust them straight by using small pads and spirit levels. The whole structure is then connected and stabilized by using metal sticks connecting the tubes. Holes are done with a drill. More holes are also applied at the base of the poles for the water to go in, so adding extra rigidity. Last job of the day is to prepare the seeds of Amborella trichopoda (16) for sowing tomorrow. I get the flesh out of the seeds, wash them in hot water and leave in hydrogen peroxide H2O2 overnight.

Pruning and training Hoya spp. in the Main Tropics.

Leaf clearing and misting on the balcony

Leveling the poles and fixing metal sticks on them in the tropical pond Observations: The Amborella seeds are only part of a larger batch we received from Chelsea Physics and Sydney Botanics. Other seeds I will propagate over the next days are the following. The instructions on the packs suggest using Wildflower Seed Starter for the Australian plants. This is a smoke treatment (mainly containing Karrikinolide) that can provide a major boost to the germination of many Australian native plant seeds. As a matter of fact, some seeds actually require the smoke from bushfires to trigger germination when the rains arrive. Wildflower Seed Starter is completely inert granular material that is soaked in smoky water and absorbs an amount of the chemicals that naturally occur in smoke from the burning of bush materials. However, Alex tells me that smoke treatment is important for South African plants especially; Australian seeds actually need heat to overcome dormancy.

74

Chamelaucium uncinatum Myrtaceae Western Australia Medium-sized seeds; scarification needed because the thick oily skin; watering and Wildflower Seed Starter will overcome dormancy

Swainsona formosa Fabaceae Australia Tiny seeds; leave overnight in hot water and Wildflower Seed Starter; seeds should swollen

Hypocalymma robustum Myrtaceae Western Australia Tiny seeds; no scarification needed but Wildflower Seed Starter liquid or granules recommended

Telopea speciosissima Proteaceae New South Wales Scarification needed; store seeds in a refrigerator for 6 weeks; use Wildflower Seed Starter.

Aychryson laxum Crassulaceae Canary Island Species from a Mediterranean climate. No special heat or smoke treatment is needed for seed germination. Lavatera phoenicea Malvaceae Canary Island

(Tenerife)

Chamelaucium uncinatum

Swainsona formosa

Hypocalymma robustum

Telopea speciosissima

Aychryson laxum

Lavatera phoenicea

75

Thursday 22nd January Practical: First thing in the morning is the watering and damping down for the Wetland and Main Tropics. Today I only damp the floors down, as the major watering will be carried out tomorrow morning before the week-end. It is a good horticultural practice to let things dry out before a good watering session. - leaf picking in the balcony; clearing Stephania rotunda (Menispermaceae) from dead leaves; - leaf picking under Neoalsomitra podagrica (Cucurbitaceae). This is a rather nasty task, as the main trunk and

some old stems of this plants are unexpectedly thorny; - Tillandsia usneoides (Bromeliaceae; Spanish moss) needs labeling; - clearing leaves of the Dendrobium muschatum (Orchideaceae) in the potting shed. After first tea break is a session on machinery maintenance. After lunch we concentrate on propagation of Drosera from gemmae (Droseraceae, order Caryophyllales). Long toms filled with a mix of sand and coir (70:30) are prepared. Paper is put at the bottom of the pots, so avoiding the growing medium to run out. Bottom watering is then carried out, as most of Drosera species needs very moist condition and don’t mind sitting wet. We then put the gemmae on the surface of the individual pots by using tweezers. The pots are moved to the cool pit, where the other species of the collection are kept here. These need bulking up, so I stay in the pit for carrying out more propagation on Drosera nitidula and D. Ericksoniae from gemmae. Finally, I sow seeds of Amborella trichopoda (16) that have been left in H2O2 overnight. Seeds are divided in two pans and a mix of coir and sand (50:50) is used. Observations: Drosera (Droseraceae, order Caryophyllales) are commonly known as the sundews and comprise on the largest genera of carnivorous plants, with at least 194 species. They lure, capture, and digest insects using stalked mucilaginous glands covering their leaf surfaces. The insects are used to supplement the poor mineral nutrition of the soil in which they grow. Species are found growing natively on every continent except Antarctica.

Propagating Drosera spp. from gemmae

76

A gemma (plural gemmae) is a single cell, or a mass of cells, or a modified bud tissue, that detaches from the parent and develops into a new individual. This type of asexual reproduction is referred to as fragmentation. It is a means of asexual propagation in plants. there structures are commonly found in fungi, algae, liverworts and mosses, but also in some flowering plants, such as pygmy sundews and some species of butterworts (Pinguicula). Other means of asexual reproduction in plants are bulbils and turions. Friday 23rd January Practical: First thing in the morning is the watering and damping down for the Wetland and Main Tropics. - Very good watering to all the plants, as things were left dry yesterday; - sawing off bad-looking bits of Heliconia sp (Heliconiaceae); - tying a branch of Syngonium auritum which is pending from its support; - watering a section of the Corridors; also removing fronds of Microsorum scolopendria (Polypodiaceae). I sow Lavatera phoenicea and Aichryson laxum in the usual sowing mix (pans; bottom watering). In the afternoon I sow seeds of different Passiflora species. I do P. mixta, P. tarmaniana, P. macrophylla, P. caspuralis and P. manicata. I also live in hot water seeds of Krameria lappacea for sowing tomorrow morning. Observations: Deherainia smaragdina (Theophrastaceae) is in flower in these days. This plant is endemic to Mexico, and its epithet means “emerald-like”. Nevertheless, it is notable for the unpleasant smell of the flowers, so the common name dog’s mess plant. The foul odour is released to attract carrion flies. Expecting to feast, they instead pick up pollen. The flowers are well camouflaged and hunker down under ovate, shiny leaves. With stink the pollinator attractant, there is no requirement for the flowers to be colourful, showy or exposed.

Pruning on Microsorum scolopendria

Green flowers of Deherainia smaragdina Tuesday 27th January Practical: Today I have an assistant joining me for the caring of the glasshouses. He’s an American student from Minnesota, coming for ten months to the UK. First thing in the morning is the watering and damping down for the Wetland and Main Tropics. We then move to the Wetland Tropics for carrying on with the planting of the benches. We lift two specimens of Ensete ventricosa (Musaceae) from the Catharanthus roseus bed in the backroom and store them in the glasshouse cool pit for overwintering. In the gaps that have formed in the bed we plant Calocasia esculenta (Aracae). This is commonly known in English as taro plant. Roots are edible and eaten in the tropical countries. We also fill the tropical pond with water. Dye will be used next week for colouring the water in black. Subsequently we work on seeds of Hyobanche sanguinea (Orobanchaceae). The material was wild-collected in South Africa by Alex. We need to get the minuscule seeds and sow them in the Continents Apart Range. We sow them around the roots of Euryops virgineus and Helichrysum teretifloium (both Compositae), by gently exposing their roots with hand forks. No watering is carried out.

77

For the last part of the day I work on the Australian seeds that have been the bench of the potting shed yesterday. I have four species and all are very different and with different needs. - Swainsona formosa requires initial heat treatment (pouring running boiling water) and subsequent smoke treatment. Mechanical scarification will be carried out tomorrow as well. - Hypocalymma robustum goes directly on overnight smoke treatment. - Chamelaucium uncinatum requires running water to wash up from the seeds the thick oil which inibites germination. Seeds are then left overnight in smoke primer. - Telopea speciosissima requires a period in cold condition before smoke treatment and sowing. Seeds will be stores in the fridges of the Plant Science Department.

Calocasia esculenta planted in the Wetland Tropics

Smoke treatment on Australian seeds Observations: Monstera deliciosa is about fruiting. Alex tells me about the presence of calcium oxalate crystals in the form of raphides. When consumed, fruits may cause edema, vesicle formation and dysphagia accompanied by painful stinging and burning to the mouth and throat, the symptoms occurring for up to two weeks. Within the Aracae, genera such as Alocasia, Arisaema, Caladium, Colocasia, Dieffenbachia and Philodendron contain the chemical compound. Another interesting fact about Araceae is that many plants in the family are thermogenic (i.e. heat-producing). Their flowers can reach up to 45°C even when the surrounding air temperature is much lower. One reason for this unusually high temperature is to attract insects (usually beetles) to pollinate the plant, rewarding the beetles with heat energy. Another reason is to prevent tissue damage in cold regions. Some examples of thermogenic Araceae are Symplocarpus foetidus, Amorphophallus titanium and A. paeoniifolius, Helicodiceros muscivorus and Sauramatum venoum.

Fruits and new leaves of Monstera deliciosa

Foliage of Amorphophallus titanum

78

Wednesday 29th January Practical: First thing in the morning is the watering and damping down for the Wetland and Main Tropics. - removing a dead specimen of Cymbidium eburneum from the orchid tree; unfortunately orchids are struggling rooting and growing here, it’s too shady for them to grow. Just before break I also water Trochetiopsis ebenus (Malvaceae), Cinchona officinalis (Rubiaceae)and Commidendrum rugosum (Asteraceae). In the second part of the day I join Alen in the cool pit for the planting of orchids and Tillandsia spp. (Bromeliaceae) on the moss globes. We use metal U-shaped pegs for pinning the plants in their planting pockets. We aim for the most natural effect possible, scattering the orchids unevenly on the globes. Six to seven orchids are used for each globe. Observations: Trochetiopsis ebenus is commonly known at the St. Helena ebony but is not related to the ebony in commerce (Diospyros spp.). It is unique to the island and formed great forests. It was destroyed by goats, and was thought to be extinct by 1850. In 1980, two bushes were discovered clinging to a cliff face. Horticulturalists took cuttings and now there are plants in cultivation in botanic gardens around the world. A dwarf related species, the dwarf ebony (T. melanoxylon) is now unfortunately completely extinct.

Alen showing a moss ball well-dressed with orchids

Trochetiposis ebenus, the rare St. Helena Ebony

Thursday 29th January Practical: First thing in the morning is the watering and damping down for the Wetland and Main Tropics. Today I need to do the Main Tropics first as Trees and Shrubs will come later in the morning for pruning some major plantings. - a good watering session is carried out today and not tomorrow, as I’ll be on my own for large part of the day; - pinching and light, selective pruning on Goethea strictiflora (Malvaceae) and Heteropterys chrysophylla (Malpighiaceae); - also watering the Long Corridors. In the afternoon Glasshouse as well as Trees and Shrubs team undertake the pruning of some overgrown tree in the Main Tropics. Two trainees join us as well, so it’s a team of eight at work. The main work is to carried out on Ficus benjamina (Moraceae) that is shading a too-large section of the balcony and beneath. Other plants are also pruned, so opening to the light. The orchids on the display stump will certainly benefit from it. A lot of attention is paid in not damaging the planting underneath the canopies. Last job of my day is the sowing of the Australian seeds that have been left in smoke primer from the other day. Seeds are sown in normal pans and sowing mix (50:50, coir perlite) and stored in the heated frame in Pit 1.

79

Pinching on Goethea strictiflora and Heteropterys chrysophylla

Tree pruning in the Main Tropics Observations: Today I learn about monopodial and sympodial orchids. Vascular plants with monopodial growth habits grow upward from a single point. They add leaves to the apex each year and the stem grows longer accordingly. The word monopodial is derived from Greek “mono” (one) and “podial” (foot), in reference to the fact that monopodial plants have a single trunk or stem. Orchids with monopodial growth often produce copious aerial roots that often hang down in long drapes and have green chlorophyll underneath the grey root coverings, which are used as additional photosynthetic organs. They do not have a rhizome or pseudobulbsso species adapted to dry periods have fleshy succulent leaves instead. Flowers generally come from the stem between the leaves. With some monopodial species, the stem (the rhizome) might fork into two, but for all monopodial orchids this is not necessary for continued growth, as opposed to orchids with sympodial growth, it means plants whose branches are smaller than stem. An example of sympodial growth within the orchids is Laelia. The apical meristem of therhizome forms an ascendent swollen stem called a pseudobulb, and the apical meristem is consumed in a terminal inflorescence. Continued growth occurs in the rhizome, where a lateral meristem takes over to form another pseudobulb and repeat the process. This process is evident in the jointed appearance of the rhizome, where each segment is the product of an individual meristem, but the sympodial nature of a stem is not always clearly visible.

Monopodial and sympodial growths (internet database) Golden rules for growing orchids indoor - high light level, but not direct midday and late-afternoon sunlight (will burst the flowers and leaves) - high humidity (use of a misting instead of watering lance) - turbulent air flow around the root system - regular period of drying, alternating with drenching misting - picking only the leaves that naturally leave the plant

80

Friday 30th January Practical: Today it’s only me on Section as Alex is off to Stoke on Trent for orchids and Alen is on leave. However, Katie and Sean join me; Katie does the moss balls in the pit, arranging the remaining orchids and Tillandsia spp. on the balls. Sean spreads bark in the Main Tropics. I am in charge for the pits as well as for the Tropics. I start by working through the Aeschynanthus cutting in the prop unit in Pit 1, putting some of them vertically in their pans, so allowing lesser congestion and better rooting. Then I move to the cool pit (spot checking and watering, watering the Nepenthes; leaving the doors open) and the tropical pit (misting Welwitschia, Bromelia collection, Tillandsia, Vanda collection, and a few orchids; also misting the Tillandsia matting; watering Medinilla crasseta (Melastomataceae) that are probably sitting in hydrophobic mix; watering the bench matting where the ferns pots are; dripping on Nepenthes). After tea break I water a border in the Corridor as well as the Wetland and Main Tropics. Time is spent in leaf picking under the balcony, which needs doing after the tree work of the other day. Finally, usual Friday-Tidy session is carried out for the last part of the afternoon.

Aeschynanthus cuttings

Barking the Main Tropics after tree work Monday 2nd February Practical: First thing in the morning is the watering and damping down for the Wetland and Main Tropics. Sean joins me for the task. Still a lot of leaf picking in the area under the balcony and checking the canopies for any dead leaves and debris. The balcony will need a major clearing session as soon as all the work for the Orchid Festival will be completed. After the regular caring of the tropics we concentrate on the specimen of Pararistolochia triactina (Aristolochiaceae) that has been damaged last week during the tree work in the Main Tropics. We train the climber towards the light again, also carry out some selective pruning on plants nearby, allowing light to filter through. Sturdy green wire and max-tape are used. One of the priorities today is to prepare the Wetland Tropics for the Orchid Festival. We move away the pots and crates containing Nelumbo and Ensete species and cultivars. They are moved to the pits. Sean and Katy then start planting orchids in the benches. Now only the display on and over the tropical pond still remain to be achieved. In the afternoon I am with Alen for doing the wrapping around the Cymbidium pots to go in the Corridors. We use hessian skirts that have been manufactured for the last year’s festival. A glue gun is used for firming the material around the plastic pots. Last part of the day I assist Alex tweaking the levels of the columns in the tropical pond. They need extra rigidity and balance, so we apply some heavy legs in order to keep the structure nice and firm. The dying will be carried out tomorrow. Finally, the Wetlands are sprayed, in order to avoid any cockroach damage on the newly planted orchids.

81

Pararistilochia triactina trained towards the balcony

Ensete ventricosa stored in the glasshouse cool pit

Alen placing the Cymbidium in the Corridor

Alex adjusting the level of the columns in the Wetland Tropics Observations: At CUBG we hold a significant Cymbidium collection. Some of them are about 40 years old and all are extremely beautiful. This is a genus of 52 evergreen species and its Latin genus name is derived from the Latin cymba, meaning boat. This genus is distributed in tropical and subtropical Asia (such as northern India, China, Japan, Malaysia, the Philippines, and Borneo) and northern Australia. The larger flowered species from which the large flowered hybrids are derived grow at high altitudes. Cymbidium are sympodial and grow to a height of 60 cm and the racemes as high as 90 cm. The raceme grows from the base of the most recent pseudobulb. There are fragrant varieties as well, notably the Chinese cymbidiums. They have been cultivated for thousands of years, especially in China. Cymbidiums became popular in Europe during the Victorian era. One feature that makes the plant so popular is the fact that it can survive during cold temperatures (as low as 7°C; this is why we move them out in summer!). Tuesday 3rd February Practice: First thing in the morning is the watering and damping down for the Wetland and Main Tropics. I can find many agonizing cockroaches on the floor in the Wetlands, after the spraying session yesterday. This morning we do the dying of the tropical pond by using a chemical compound. This is the same stuff they use for colouring Coca-Cola. The effect is pretty much instant, but it will take a day or so for the product to settle completely in the water. John and I finish placing the Cymbidium pots in the Corridors. We finish each pot by topdressing with coarse bark. We do the barking for the orchids on the benches of the Wetland Tropics as well. Zygopetalum spp. and cvv. are then taken from the quarantine pit and placed in the Wetland Tropics for display. Some sort of shading is required for these flowering orchids, as they are sitting on the warmest benches of the tropical house, facing south. We aim to do the shading tomorrow morning.

82

In the afternoon John and I undertake the project of displaying Vanda on the tropical pool in the Wetland Tropics. The tree flowering orchids are hung on the glasshouse structures by using fishing string. Extra care has to be taken in order to avoid major disasters. I finish off my work by pruning and max-taping Passiflora on the entrance area of the Wetland Tropics (above the rise padding bed), in order to give a neater appearance to the overall display, as well as to show the three new orchids from the entrance door. Observations: Many of our orchids present a black spotting on their leaves. Phil tells me that this is a fungus disease almost inevitable to have with indoor orchids; nevertheless, it’s not a severe disease and can be tolerated (if you don’t aim to win a prize in an orchid show!).

Vanda spp. displayed in the Wetland Tropics

Fungal disease on Bulbophyllum Wednesday 4th February Practical: First thing in the morning is the watering and damping down for the Wetland and Main Tropics. Today I go for mostly damping down with little watering of the plants. - leaf picking and misting in the balcony; - long reach pruning on Veitchia sp.(Palmae) - support Myrosma cannifolia (Marantaceae) by using hazel hops; - fixing Sabal minor (Palmae) in the Corridor. Job before first tea break is to hang one of the moss globes on the ceiling in the Corridor. This is done very carefully by using a step ladder and a sturdy chain. Only when the ball is fixed to its new support, the canes of the orchids are removed and the plants let beautifully blowing in the air. Then we bring the Stanhopea species to the Main Tropics for display nearby the pollinators’ panels. I need to find a way to display them above the logs. I go for the use of fishing wire. I create a fine net about 6 feet high, that will be used for hanging the Stanhopea pots tomorrow morning. As the supporting structure is not fully completed yet, we bring the two Stanhopea that are still in bud, back to the cool pit, so avoiding premature flowering. Observations: Stanhopea is a genus from Central and South America. They are epiphytic, but occasionally terrestrial orchids can be found in damp forests from Mexico to NW Argentina. Their ovate pseudobulbs carry from the top one long, plicate, elliptic leaf. Stanhopea is noted for its complex and usually fragrant flowers that are generally spectacular and short-lived. Their pendant inflorescences are noted for flowering out of the bottom of the containers in which they grow, lending themselves to culture in baskets that have enough open space for the infloresence push through. They are sometimes called upside-down orchids. With most Stanhopea flowers lasting three days or less (mostly in summer!), the flowers must attract pollinators very quickly. These chemical attractants are generated in the hypochile, attracting the male euglossine bees to the flower. When the bee touches down on the flower, a great effort is made to collect chemical scent - he eventually slides on the waxy surface of the hypochile, gliding down on the slippery lip to exit the flower. The longcolumn is touched in the process, resulting in the bee taking up pollinia at the very tip of the column. When the bee slides down another flower, the pollinia are deposited on the sticky surface of the stigma.

83

Moss ball on display in the Corridor

Sabal minor in the Corridor

Thursday 5th February Practical: First thing in the morning is the watering and damping down for the Wetland and Main Tropics. I go for a very good watering session, in order to have more time to spend for the last jobs on orchids tomorrow. - scraping the dirt off from the glass panels in the Wetland Tropics - clearing the borders from leaves as much as possible; using a rake and a border fork for titivating the surface of

the ground for better presentation. Then I complete the Stanhopea installation in the Main Tropics. I use fish string, creating a horizontal net about 6 feet tall that will support and space the four pots. In the afternoon we work on the tree stump on the tropical pond, team of four (Alex, Sam, Billy and I). We install several orchids on the natural structure, by using sphagnum moss and ladies stockings. Genera we use are Angraecum, Epidendrum, Brassia, Lycaste and Bulbophyllum. By the end of the day we manage to nearly complete the display. It is a very enjoyable and satisfying work. The result is really effective and natural; I secretly think that it would be worth keeping the installation after the festival!


Barking the Main Tropics after tree work

84

Friday 6th February Practical: First thing in the morning is the watering and damping down for the Wetland and Main Tropics. Attention is paid in misting the three hung Vanda in the Wetlands without water too much the orchid display below. Then it’s all about orchids. First off all I finish the display of the orchid stump in the Main Tropics. I finish two plants from yesterday and put other two on. Good finish is crucial. I spend some time sweeping the floor, cleaning the pond with the fishing net and tying some branches of Acrostichum aurem (Pteridaceae). I’m then back to the Wetland Tropics where Alen and I finish the display on the tropical pool, by placing the last glued pots on their podiums. The orchids are plunged in nice terracotta pots and top-dressed with dark, coarse bark, giving the best possible finish. For the last part of the Then I move to the pollinators display, hanging orchids pots above the stumps by using my trusted fishing wire.


Barking the Main Tropics after tree work

The Glasshouse Team during the CUBG Orchid Festival 2015

85

Horticultural Diary – Landscape and Machinery 9th February – 6th March 2015

Monday 8th January Practical: Observations: Tuesday 9th January Practical: Observations: Wednesday 10th February Practical: Observations: Monday 16th February Cedec – binding gravel in the Mediterranean Garden Tuesday 17th February Finishing the soldier course of the paving in the Tropical Courtyard. Wednesday 18th February Setting the illumination, barriers for the Twilight in the Garden. We use l.e.d. lights, bulbs and … lights. We also set up barriers and ropes to delimit the areas. Lawn on Station Road. First cut of the season. Level 3. Thursday 19th February Dismantling the set-up for the Twilight in the Garden. Killing the remaining time before tea break chipping the concrete on the inner edge of the soldier course, in the Subtropical Courtyard. In the afternoon is wet, so we stay in the workshop and service some machinery.

86

1. We do Honda no.4 (changing blades, oil, sparkplug and air filter, greasing cables, general cleaning). 2. Change the rubber tubing in a tire of a wheelbarrow which got puncured (interesting tools, take pictures!) 3. Start the ……. (changing oil and air filter) Friday 20th February Carrying on the paving in the Tropical Courtyard. Sand screeding (tools: screeder, float). We use sharp sand, not building sand; and compress it by using the wacker plate. Chipping away the concrete on the inner edge of the souldier course. Creating a cutting board and starting laying the paving blocks on the far end of the path. Good website: pavingexpert.com Monday 23rd February Carrying on with the paving. Lots of block cutting done. Servicing the Honda Matador rotary lawn mower Tuesday 24th February Finishing the paving Lot of block cutting done Wednesday 25th February Top dressing with silica sand Wacking the bricks with the vibration plate Clearing the area and storing all the tools and equipment back to the barn and compost yard Bays mowing Cory Lodge “Grooming” the Main Lawn by using a …….. Thursday 26th February Carrying on with the “grooming” Edging by the herbaceous island beds.

87

Monday 2nd March Station Rd grasscutting Tools painting and cleaning from cement. Tuesday 3rd March Re-turfing patches in the Main Lawn Trainees blitz in the afternoon Wednesday 4th March Finishing the re-turfing in the Main Lawn + starting by the Stream Garden Thursday 5th March Finishing by the Stream Garden Moving benches Storing fertiliser Friday 6th March Cory Lodge Calocedrus lawn …. (other lawn)

88

Horticultural Diary – Systematics 9th March – 3rd April

Monday 9th March Practical: I start my first week on Section with an induction of the seed storage areas. Julie tells me the importance of carefully collecting, storing and recording seeds for the horticultural management of the Systematic Beds. Mornings are generally preferred for indoor work in this time of the year. This morning we sow seeds of annuals of Papaveraceae and Poaceae plants, such as Aschscholzia californica, Argemone mexicana, A. platyceras, Dicranostigma leptopodium, Glacium corniculatum, Hunnemannia fumariifolia, Hypecaum leptocarpum, Papavar argemone, P. dubium, P. rhoes, P. somniferum, Triticum aestivum ‘Macaroni’ and T. spelta. After teabreak we move outside to the Systematic beds and start some general border maintenance. I strim down last-year’s old growths from plants in the Lamiaceae bed; a hedge cutter is used for the operation. It is important to remove the labels before to start the job! After that I rake out of the borders all the cuttings and finish off the job by using the secateurs. One old specimen of Rosmarinus officinalis (wild-collected from Tim Upson) is removed and will be replaced with a younger specimen. The bed is then forked throughout superficially, in order to kill the weeds that are growing in between the plants. Finally I carry out some edging too. It is nice to work in the Lamiaceae Bed. I can find here many plants from the Mediterranean regions that are commonly used in the gardens and balconies of my native country. In the two Lamiaceae Beds we have species of Thymus, Mentha, Calamintha, Nepeta, Prunella, Perovskia, Lycopus, Melissa, Hysoppus, Agastache, Clinopodium, Monarda, Satureja, Origanum, Stachys, Leonorus, Galeopsis, Lamiastrum, Lamium, Phlomis, Ballota, Physostegia and Sideritis.

Fridge shelves storing seeds for the Systematic Beds

Seeds taken from the fridge for sowing out

89

General border maintenance of the Lamiaceae Bed (before and after picture)

Tuesday 10th March Practical: Today we undertake the relandscaping of the Polygonaceae Bed. This bed had to be cleared from the invasive Japanese knot weed and now needs replanting. We cultivate the soil down to one foot. Thankfully we don’t find much roots of Japanese knot weed; the whole area is now weed-free and can be replanted or grassed down. The next step is to design the new Polyganaceae Bed, which will be considerably smaller and therefore controllable. We use sticks and string for delimitating the suggested area that is shaped as a teardrop. After tea break we carry on the maintenance of the Lamiaceae beds. I finish off the job from yesterday (in particular the edges) and also spend some time in cutting old seed heads and leaves of Phlomis russeliana and Stachys byzantina. Observations: The specimen of Parrotia persica nearby the Systematic Beds is in flower just in these days. The commonly known Persian ironwood is a deciduous tree in the family Hamamelidaceae, the sole species in its genus but closely related to the witch-hazel genus Hamamelis. It is native to northern Iran and southern Azerbaijan. I carry out some research about the Iran’s flora and it is interesting to note that the variety of its vegetation results from the variety and richness of its physical-geographic and natural-historic conditions and from its compound history influenced by the remote florist regions. Relict genera of the tertiary period can be frequently found in all the zones of North of Iran especially in Talysh. They are Parrotia persica, Albizzia julibrissin, Quercus castaneifolia, Diospyrus lotus, Buxus hyrcana, etc. Also Ruscus hyrcana can be included in this list.

90

Cultivating the Polygonaceae Bed Inflorescence of Parrotia persica

Deadheading groups of Stachys byzantina (left) and Phlomis russelliana (right)

Wednesday 11th March Practical: Another day in the Lamiaceae beds. Today we have the change to go through the labels and select the material we want for the next year. A group of Origanum is probably mislabeled, so we dig it out and move to the School Garden for teaching purpose (some fork-to-fork division will be carried out with those clumps). Same story for a group of Melissa officinalis.

Digging out clumps of Origanum sp. and Melissa officinalis , to be moved to the School Garden

Observations: Nice to see Viscum album (mistletoe) growing on the small hawthorn trees within the Systematics. The plant is in flower in this time of the year and adds some extra interest to the area. Viscum album is in the family Santalaceae and is native to Europe and western and southern Asia. This is a hemiparasite on several species of trees, from which it draws water and nutrients. It is technically a shrub, growing on the stems of other trees. It has stems 30-100 centimeters long with dichotomous branching. The leaves are in opposite pairs, strap-shaped, leathery textured and yellowish-green in colour. It is dioecious and the insect-pollinated flowers are inconspicuous, yellowish-green, 2-3 millimeters diameter. The fruit is a white or yellow berry containing one (very rarely several) seed embedded in the very sticky, glutinous fruit pulp.

91

Viscum album is commonly found in the crowns of broad-leaved trees, particularly apple, lime, hawthorn and poplar.

Viscum album in its integrity (left) and the male flower (right)

Thursday 12th March Practical: First thing in the morning is some propagation work in the Potting Shed. We carry on the sowing of Poaceae and Papaveraceae annual species to be plant outside in the Systematic Beds over the next few months. We then move outside and start mulching one of the Compositae beds. On this Section, they use a system of mulching I’ve never came across before, basically consisting in splitting the different tasks (shoveling, wheel-barrowing and spreading) between the team members, with little swopping involved. The main disadvantage is that only one wheelbarrow is used, but time is available for clearing the compost from unwanted material and debris. I appreciate that mulching is carried out on the Systematic Beds not only for feeding the soil, but also for leveling the surface, so giving a nice finish and look to the individual beds.

Mulching one of the Asteraceae Bed; before and after pictures

Observations: Mandragora autumnalis (syn. M. officinarum and M. vernalis), commonly known as mandrake plant, is a real botanical oddity in flower now in the Solanaceae Bed. This is a perennial herb with thick tuberous roots native to Southern Europe. Its roots contain the alkaloid hyosymine that is used for motion sickness and as a preoperative anesthetic.

92

Because mandrake contains deliriant hallucinogenic tropane alkaloids and shape of its roots often resembles human figures, it has been associated with a variety of superstitious practices throughout the history. It has long been used in magic rituals, today also in contemporary

pagan traditions such as Wicca and Odinism.

Mandragora autumnalis

Friday 13th March Practical: Today is a going to be a bit an interrupted day for me, as I have a plant ident test and plant of interest walkaround after lunch. John gives me some pruning on Dioscorea batatas and D. nipponica (Dioscoreaceae Bed). The plants are just about shooting out now. I cut off all the last year’s dead growth, only leaving some of the big branches for structural support. I finish off the bed by doing the edges and removing the weeds. Interesting facts on the Dioscorea genus are: - genus of over 600 species of flowering plants, native throughout the tropical and warm temperate regions of the world; - all the species are tuberous herbaceous perennial lianas, 2 to 12 meters or more tall; - the leaves are spirally arranged, mostly broad heart-shaped; - the flowers are individually inconspicuous, greenish-yellow, with six petals; - the fruit is a capsule in most species, a soft berry in a few species; - several species, known as yams, are important agricultural crops in tropical regions, grown for their large tubers; many are toxic when fresh but can be detoxified and eaten, and are particularly important in parts of Africa, Asia and Oceania.

93

Dioscorea batatas and D. nipponica (before and after picture)

After lunch John and I need to do the Plant of Interest walkaround. Plants for this week are: 1. Mandragora autumnalis - G5 2. Euphorbia characias ssp. wulfenii - E9 3. Prunus pseudocerasus var. pseudocerasus - D9 4. Cornus mas - S8+H6 5. Viburnum x bodnantense ‘Dawn’ - S8 6. Delonix regia - J11 7. Canarina canariensis - H11 8. Prunus pseudocerasus x cantabrigiensis - T6 9. Helleborus x hybridus - T8+C9 10. Daphne bholua ‘Jacqueline Postill’ - R8 11. Aloe ferox - G11 Areas of Interest 1. Mountain House (Tulipa & Saxifraga National Collections) - H10 2. Glasshouse Range (Orchid display) - G-J11 3. Winter Garden - R-S8 4. Meadows and long grass areas (daffodils and scillas) - all over

Cornus mas

Delonix regia

94

Winter Garden

Tulipa and Saxifraga National Collections

Monday 16th March Practical: First thing in the morning is seed sowing in the Potting Shed. Today we do Avena sativa, Secale cereale, Hordeum spontaneum, Lagurus ovatus, Hordeum vulgare ‘Optic’, Cynosurus echinatus, Gnosurus echinatus, Scandix balansae, Physalis ixocarpa, Lycopersicon esculentum var. pyriforme and L. esculentum var. cerasiforme. After tea break I undertake the trimming of Cortaderia selloana and C. selloana ‘Pumila’. This is done by using a petrol hedge trimmer, cutting the plants down to knee-height. Unfortunately some of the oldest specimens show signs of central die-back, but this is a common problem in Pampa’s grass, proving the theory that the plants should be divided after a few years. In the afternoon we move to the Scrophulariacae Bed which needs horticultural maintenance. Over the next few days we will need to dig out all the plant material and select them, feed the ground with garden compost and finally replant the bed. We lay a plastic sheet on the lawn where to put all the plants from the bed. Only Veronicastrum virginianum and Hebe rakaiensis remain in the ground, at the center of the bed. Extreme care is put in keeping the clumps with their labels, so don’t losing record of the individual species. Thankfully the weather is dull and not too windy, which is ideal weather conditions for the plants not to dry out too quickly while waiting for re-planting after mulching tomorrow.

Digging out plants in the Scrophulariaceae Bed

Trimmed Cortaderia selloana

95

Tuesday 17th March Practical: First thing in the morning is seed sowing in the Potting Shed. Today I do seeds of Abelmoschus esculentus ‘Burgundy’, Agastache aurantiaca ‘Navajo Sunset’, Clematis urticifolia, Cichorium intybus, Gaura lindheimeri ‘Summer Breeze’ and Lupinus arboreus (blue-flowered form). After tea break we are outside for undertaking the mulching the Scrophulariaceae Bed. We apply a thick layer of mulch and also fill the holes and depressions in the ground for the digging work yesterday. The mulch which remain on the trailer is applied to other beds nearby, such as Bignoniaceae, Plantaginaceae and Campanulaceae. Observations: Julie tells me about the okra plant, which we grow as an annual in the Malvaceae Bed, but is also a fruit crop in certain part of the world. Abelmoschus is a genus of about fifteen species of flowering plants in the mallow family, Malvaceae, native to tropical Africa, Asia and northern Australia. It was formerly included within Hibiscus, but is now classified as a distinct genus. Selected species are the following: - Abelmoschus caillei (west African okra) - Abelmoschus esculentus (okra) - Abelmoschus manihot (aibika) - Abelmoschus moschatus (musk mallow) - Abelmoschus ficulneus (white wild musk mallow) Several species are edible, with both the young seed pods and the young leaves being eaten as a vegetable. The most important commercially-grown species is okra. A. manihot furnishes cordage like jute, and A. moschatus is grown for musk seeds (musk ambrette, which causes photo allergy).

Abelmoschus esculentus plants and crop (internet database)

Wednesday 18th March

96

Practical: This morning the weather isn’t great (very windy conditions), so we stay in and take advantage for catching up with some prop work. I pot up three young specimen of Sedum ‘Atroporpureum’ (the leaves aren’t purple, so the plants might be mislabeled and will need double checking over the next few weeks). I am also given some salvias to pot up but their root system is not developed enough for potting up. Then I divide and pot up clumps of Verbena officinalis as well as some unidentified Verbena sp. I find the best way to do this is to vigorously shake some of the soil out of the base of the roots, then divide in smaller clumps by using tough scissors. After tea break we are back to the Scrophulariaceae Bed, continuing the job left from yesterday. We dig the well-rotted compost in the ground, then level it with sturdy landscape rakes. In the last part of the working day we move to the section opposite within the Systematics, where some compost has been piled up in the Rosaceae Bed. I wheel-barrow and spread the material in some beds nearby, such as the Geraniaceae, Onagraceae and Epimedium beds.

Dividing a clump of Verbena officinalis

Geraniaceae Bed ready to be mulched

Thursday 19th March Practical: First thing in the morning is some pricking out in the Potting Shed. John fills the pot with our compost mix, while I carry out the pricking out. As usual, we do one tray each species, leaving the remaining seedlings in the pot as spares. Today we do Papaver argemone, P. somniferum ‘Dark Plum’, Bromus rubens, Lychnis chalcedonica and Torilis arvensis. After the alpine ident walk-around, I am out to the Systematic Beds, where I finish some mulch left from yesterday by doing the Epimedium Bed. For the remaining part of the day we dig out some bulbs of daffodil which got narcissus leaf scorch. All the infected material is immediately and responsibly destroyed. Observations: Leaf scorch is a fungal disease of Narcissus, caused by Stagonospora curtisii. It is favoured by wet weather, and is most common in the mild, wet climate of south-west England. It may be found in other parts of the country in wet summers. In addition to narcissus, the leaf spot fungus has been recorded on a number of other plants in the family Amaryllidaceae, including Amaryllis, Crinum, Galanthus, Hippeastrum, Nerine,

Sprekelia and Sternbergia. Common symptoms are leaf tips take on a red-brown, scorched

97

appearance soon after emergence (this can be mistaken for frost damage); the scorch symptom spreads down the leaf, and similarly-coloured spots appear at other points on the leaf; fungal fruiting bodies may be visible as tiny black dots within the affected leaf tissue; affected leaves turn yellow, then brown, and shrivel and die.

Pricking out annuals

Narcissus leaf scorch

Friday 20th March Practical: The solar eclipse occours this morning at 9.30. My first duty is to help the Glasshouse Team with the watering of the short corridor. After tea break we are back to the Systematics, where we carry out some general tidying-up before the week-end. We walk around the individual beds, inspecting for obvious leaves and also clearing the soil surface from the bigger stones and debris. In the afternoon we level the soil around the newly reshaped Polygonaceae Bed. The soil is borrowed from other beds where the surface is too high, then wheel-borrowed to the Polygonaceae, spread and compacted. A nice tilth is ideally wanted, so stones are debris are taken away while spreading the soil with the landscape rake. We also give a start of the turfing along the edges of the new Polygonaceae Bed. The turves is lifted with the turf floater, then carefully placed and watered with water from the Stream.

Turf work in progress in the Polygonaceae Bed (left) and other beds of the Systematics (right)

Observations: Julie is successfully establishing Cymbalaria muralis in the Plantaginaceae Bed. Yet a nice attractive plant, the commonly known ivy-leaved toadflax (or Kenilworth ivy, coliseum, ivy, Oxford ivy, mother of thousands, pennywort, and wandering sailor) is usually treat as a weed. It is native to Mediterranean Europe but widely naturalised elsewhere.

98

An interesting fact is about its unusual method of propagation. The flower stalk is initially positively phototropic and moves towards the light – after fertilisation, it becomes negatively phototropic and moves away from the light. This results in seed being pushed into dark crevices of rock walls, where it is more likely to germinate and where it prefers to grow.

Cymbalaria muralis in the Plantaginaceae Bed

Tuesday 24th March Practical: Today the weather is perfect for working outdoors, so we concentrate on finishing the Polygonaceae Bed. Time is spent in leveling the area to grass-down, as the soil level needs to be perfectly right before sowing. Several barrow loads are filled with the old unwanted turves and stones from the raking. By mid-afternoon the area is ready to be sown. We sow the seeds by hand, then gently incorporate the seeds into the soil by using a landscape rake. Finally, John gently waters the area throughout. In the spare moments some soil work is carried out in the beds nearby, correcting the levels where soil has been taken away as well as burying the existing or created holes.

Re-landscaped Polygonaceae Bed

Wednesday 25th March Practical: First thing in the morning is some propagation work in the Potting Shed. I carry out pricking out of young seedlings of Silene dioica, Vaccaria pyramidata, Escholizia californica and Cerinthe major.

99

After tea break we are out again. Today we need to plant out several plants which have been hardening off over the next few weeks and are now ready to go out. I plant specimens of Erysimum ‘Bowles Mauve’, Foeniculum vulgare ‘Rubrum’, Angelica arcangelica, Hebe pinguifolia, Lavandula angustifolia, L. x intermedia ‘Grosso’, Salvia officinalis and S. Officinalis ‘Purpurascens’. When planting out in the Systematic Beds, extreme care must be paid in label all the plants; if black labels are not available, whites have to be put in the ground by the plants. In the afternoon I carry out some general border maintenance, specifically in cutting old growths of plants in the Dipsacaceae Bed. I work plants of Cephalaria flavia, C. radiata, C. uralensis, Scabiosa argentea, S. graminifolia and S. olgae. I only use secateurs and a rake for this job. In the last half an hour I carry out the same job on old flowering stalks and leaves of spurges in the Euphorbiaceae Bed. I manage to do approximately half of the bed before the end of the day.

Cutting old growths in plants of the Dipsacaceae (left) and Euphorbiaceae (right) beds

Observations: I notice three specimens of Carpobrotus edulis in the polytunnel. I like their succulent, colorful appearance and decide to make some research on the plant. Carpobrotus edulis is native to South Africa. It is known as Hottentot-fig, ice plant, highway ice plant or pig face and in South Africa as the sour fig, on account of its edible fruit. It was previously classified in genus Mesembryanthemum and is sometimes referred to by this name. It is a creeping, mat-forming succulent species and member of the stone plant family Aizoaceae, one of about 30 species in the genus Carpobrotus. C. edulis is easily confused with its close relatives, including the more diminutive and less aggressive Carpobrotus chilensis (the sea fig), with which it hybridizes readily.

C. edulis can, however, be distinguished from most of its relatives by the colour of its flowers. The large flowers of C. edulis are yellow or light pink, whereas the smaller, C. chilensis flowers are deep magenta. On the flowers, two of the calyx lobes are longer, extending further than the petals. The leaves of C. edulis are only very slightly curved and have serrated sides near the tips.

Carpobrotus edulis has naturalised in many other regions throughout the world, and is an invasive species in several parts, notably Australia, California and the Mediterranean, all of which have similar climates. The ice plant has escaped from cultivation and has become invasive, posing a serious ecological problem by forming vast monospecific zones, lowering biodiversity, and competing directly with several threatened or endangered plant species for nutrients, water, light, and space.

100

Carpobrotus edulis in the polytunnel at CUBG (left) and flowering in a wild habitat (right; internet database)

Thursday 26th March Practical: Today we have wet weather after quite a long time. This is a good fact as many things are suffering for the prolonged dry condition; it also gives us an opportunity to catch up with propagation work under glass, in preparation for the planting out in the next few weeks. We spend the entire working day in the Potting Shed, carrying out both seed sowing and pricking out. In the afternoon we tidy up and prepare the potting shed for the new trainees’ practical test next week. We also move some of the Section’s plants from the polytunnel to outside, in order to harden them off, as well as clear room for the annuals which are growing in the pits.

Propagation work (sowing annuals)

Moving plants outdoor for hardening off

Friday 27th March Practical: Helping loading and spreading the remaining compost in the Systematic beds. Ian and I manage to get two trailer loads from the heap. The material is spread between the Campanulaceae Bed and around Rheum and Aconitum plants which are starting to come up now. Rheum and Aconitum are greedy plants and always benefit from some extra mulching.

101

The day is a bit hectic, as I am also busy in the Alpine identification test and class (how to grow alpines), as well as the watering walkaround in the afternoon.

Groups of Rheum palmatum ‘Atropurpureum’ (left) and Aconitum (right) mulched with well-rotted compost

Monday 30th March Practical: Julie will be busy today, Tuesday and Wednesday with the practical test for the next year’s trainees. So, for large part of the week, it’s only John and I working on Section. First thing in the morning we decide to clear the areas nearby the Systematic Beds from the many branches, twigs and cones fallen from the trees last night because of the gusty winds. Then we start the priority job of the week, which consists in digging out Carex plants from the two Graminae beds which needs re-planting. These plants prove to be extremely tough, featuring sturdy fibrous roots difficult to break and dig out with border spades and forks. By the end of the day we manage to dig out the majority of the plants. A small part of them will be potted up and kept for future planting. Observations: Considering the circumstances, I decide to do some research on the genus Carex, which is a vast genus of almost 2,000 species of grassy plants in the family Cyperaceae, commonly known as sedges. Other members of the Cyperaceae family are also called sedges, however those of genus Carex may be called “true” sedges, and it is the most species-rich genus in the family. The study of Carex is known as caricology. Interesting facts are the followings: - all the species are perennial, although some species (such as C. bebbii and C. viridula) can fruit in their first year and not survive longer; - Carex typically have rhizomes, stolons or short rootstocks, but some species grow in tufts (caespitose); - the leaves comprise a blade, which extends away from the stalk, and a sheath, which encloses part of the stalk; - the flowers are small and are combined into spikes, which are themselves combined into a larger inflorescence. Almost all species are monoecious, each flower being either male (staminate) or female (pistillate); - the defining structure of the genus is the bottle-shaped bract surrounding each female flower; this structure is called the perigynium or utricle, a modified prophyll. It is typically extended into a “rostrum” or beak, which is often divided at the tip into two teeth. The shape, venation and vestiture (hairs) of the perigynium are critical for distinguishing Carex species; - the fruit is a dry, one-seeded achene or nut which grows within the perigynium. Perigynium features aid in fruit dispersal;

102

- Carex species are found across most of the world, albeit with few species in tropical lowlands, and relatively few in sub-Saharan Africa. Most species are found in wetlands. Carex is one of the dominant plant group in arctic and alpine tundra, and in wetland habitats.

The two Cyperaceae beds, at the first day of work

Mature perigynium on Carex gravida (internet database)

Tuesday 31st March Practical: Today the garden will stay closed the all day because of the gusty winds. Therefore, we have to work in the pits and in the Potting Shed, carrying out the propagation work under glass. For most of the morning I do seed sowing and pricking out of half-hardy annuals to be planted in the Systematic Beds. I also divide and pot up Carex species that I dug out from the Cyperaceae Bed yesterday but we need to save for future planting. In the afternoon is mainly pot washing and tidying up of the Potting Shed.

Potting up some of the Carex species dug out from the Cyperaceae Bed

Wednesday 1st April Practical: First thing in the morning is some pricking out in the Potting Shed. Then John and I move outside and clear the paths and areas nearby the Systematic Beds from the numerous twigs, branches and cones which fell last night because of the strong wind. In the afternoon, after my new-trainees’ walkaround, we carry on digging the Carex Bed. The tougher-rooted species were dug on Monday, but some very tenacious plants still are in the

103

bed. We need to use both border forks and spades in order to remove the big clumps of sedges. Some time is also spent for shaking some of the soil away from the roots, in order to maintain the surface level within the bed. By the end of the working day the beds are finally finished and now ready for future direction and planting.

The cleared Cyperaceae beds

Tough fibrous roots of Carex

Thursday 2nd April Practical: Today it’s very wet weather, so we are forced to remain inside and carry on with the propagation work and pot washing. I sow seeds of Asteraceae annuals and also do some pricking out. I find out that lettuces (Lactuca species) are in the Asteraceae family, in the same group of Taraxacum distinguishable for the milky sap in the stems. In the afternoon is mainly pot washing. Observations: Fritillaria imperialis is in flower in these days in the Liliaceae Bed. I have been worked with this beautiful plant in almost every garden of my horticultural career, so I decide to do some research on it. Commonly known as crown Imperial or Kaiser’s Crown, it is native to a wide stretch from Anatolia and Iraq across the plateau of Iran to Afghanistan, Pakistan and the Himalayan foothills. It is also widely cultivated as an ornamental and reportedly naturalized in Austria. It grows to about 1 m in height, and bears lance-shaped, glossy leaves at intervals along the stem. It bears a prominent whorl of downward facing flowers at the top of the stem, topped by a “crown” of small leaves, hence the common name. While the wild form is usually orange-red, various colours are found in cultivation, ranging from nearly a true scarlet through oranges to yellow. The pendulous flowers make a bold statement in the late spring garden; in the northern hemisphere, flowering takes place in late spring, accompanied by a distinctly foxy odour that repels mice, moles and other rodents. Due to the way that the bulb is formed, with the stem emerging from a depression, it is best to plant it on its side, to prevent water causing rot at the top of the bulb.

Fritillaria imperialis requires full sun for best growth, and sandy, well-drained soil for permanence. After flowering and complete drying of the leaves, the stems should be cut off just above the ground. Numerous cultivars have been developed for garden use, of which the yellow-flowered 'Maximea Lutea' has gained the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of

Garden Merit. Like other members of the lily family, F. imperialis is susceptible to depredation by the scarlet lily beetle (Lilioceris lilii).

104

Fritillaria imperialis; planting (left) and flowers (right)

Friday 03rd April Practical: First thing in the morning I help Phil setting up some parasols for the tables of the Restaurant. Then I undertake some propagation work and sow seeds that Julie has left for us to do in case of bad weather. I do Coronilla scorpioides, Medicago arabica, Lathyrus aphaca, L. belinensis, L. davidii, L. tingitanus, Linum grandiflorum, L. perenne and L. usitatissimum. I also sown nine seeds of Ricinus communis ‘Carmencita’, which require some extra care; apart from being very poisonous, castor oil plant seeds also require scarification. This is done by pouring boiling water on the seeds that are placed on a grid. In the afternoon John and I move outside and carry out some general border maintenance and tidy-up before for the Easter week-end.

New parasols by the garden’s restaurant

The big seeds of Ricinus communis sown in a pan

105

Horticultural Diary – Trees and Shrubs 21th April – 1st May

Tuesday 21th April Practical: Back on Trees and Shrubs after two weeks working in Belgium, at Arboretum Wespelaar and Herkenrode Garden. In the morning it’s a trainees’ blitz, i.e. the clearing of the Fountain. This job is carried out annually in this time of the year. It involves the cutting of the old plant material, the removal of any coins and debris and the jet-washing of the inside of the structure. We alternate the use of rakes, shovel and jet stream washing machine. This is also the opportunity for feeding some of the aquatic plants in the Fountain, notably Nymphaea cultivars. Balls of clay soil packed with Osmocote are pressed in the containers by using an iron bar. The other aquatic planting displayed is represented by Iris pseudacorus, I. pseudacorus ‘Variegata’, Pontederia cordata and Schenoenoplectus lacustris. In the afternoon Mark and I are in the compost yard, for tidying up the various piles of material, especially saw dust and logs. We need to create space for more wood which will be brought here next week during the tree work we need to do; also, the Botanic Garden will hire a big shredder next week here for the compost, so that considerable room for maneuvering will be necessary.

Paul applying feed on Nymphaea cultivars

Shredder at work in the Compost Yard

106

Observations: Unfortunately I missed the plant ident walk around and test last week, but here are the 15 Flowering Shrubs in the list. Plant Family Origin Magnolia x loebneri ‘Merrill’ Magnoliaceae GO Magnolia ‘Vulcan’ Magnoliaceae GO Osmanthus x burkwoodii Oleaceae GO Forsythia x intermedia ‘Lynwood Gold’ Oleaceae GO Pyrus pyrifolia Rosaceae China, Japan, Taiwan, Korea Amelanchier lamarckii Rosaceae Europe Staphylea holocarpa ‘Rosea’ Staphyleaceae GO Oemleria cerasiformis Rosaceae Western N America Prunus ‘Shosar’ Rosaceae GO Prunus x dasycarpa Rosaceae GO Ribes sanguineum Saxifragaceae Western N America Lonicera x bella Caprifoliaceae GO Prunus x yedoensis Rosaceae GO Clematis armandii Ranunculaceae SW China Sophora cassioides Leguminosae Chile, Gough Islands Many of them are going out of flower now, such as Oemleria, Staphylea, Magnolia and Ribes species. Most of them are known to me from previous gardens I’ve been working in. I remember a cracking ancient specimen of Clematis armandii growing in the Lower Terrace at Osborne House, Isle of Wight. Amelanchier lamarckii was among the species that my previous Head Gardener and I planted in an arboretum in Aberdeenshire last year. There are also some new entries for me; Oemleria cerasiformis and Staphylea holocarpa are not plants I know yet. One of the most interesting facts to notice is how many things are ahead here respect to the continental Belgium where I was last week. The majority of these plants are hardy there, but, because of the longer winters (they had a frost just last week), things tend to leaf out and flower a few weeks later then in here.

Oemleria cerasiformis

Staphylea holocarpa ‘Rosea’

107

Plant Description Magnolia x loebneri ‘Merill’ This is an hybrid between kobus and stellata, very free

flowering. It is a small magnolia, with a rounded crown. It is more often grown in a multi-trunked form that a single trunk free. RHS AGM.

Magnolia ‘Vulcan’ Among the darkest red magnolias ever introduced. Big, showy blossom (10-12 inches across!). Hardy and easy to grow.

Osmanthus x burkwoodii This is the hybrid between delavayi and decorus, combining the powerful blossom of the first with extra toughness of the second. It has been raised in England. This is the best seller with delavayi, with fresh-looking flowers which contrast beautifully with dark green foliage. It has stronger scent than delavayi.

Forsythia x intermedia ‘Lynwood Gold’

This is a ‘border Forsythia’ with excellent reliability and hardiness. It is a vigorous medium-sized deciduous shrub, upright in growth, with narrowly ovate or sometimes trifoliate leaves. Flowers relatively large and bright.

Pyrus pyrifolia Fantastic blossom and billiard ball shaped copper coloured fruits (with a distinct pear like taste, but with a superior sweet and juicy flavour). Asian Pears have been popular on the Continent for many years but are virtually unknown in the UK.

Amelanchier lamarckii A versatile small sized tree, valued for its subtle blossom in spring, its light dappled shade in summer, and its attractive autumn tints. Leaves emerge bronze, with the flowers, phasing to green in summer. Ideal as a specimen in a small garden, or planted in naturalistic drifts in a parkland setting.

Oemleria cerasiformis Sometimes referred as Osmaronia (or even Nuttalii cerasiformis), commonly known as osoberry or Indian plum. Unlike others in the Rosaceae, Oemleria is dioecious and so both male and female plants are needed for obtaining the fruits. Amenable to conditions both moist and dry, it is an excellent choice to plant in the drier conditions beneath conifers (like at CUBG).

Prunus ‘Shosar’ One of the best ornamental cherries. Strong grower, narrowly conical, with excellent autumn colour. Masses of pink single flowers are produced in March/April.

Prunus x dasycarpa Commonly known as the purple apricot or black apricot. Lovely, delicate tree with reddish-orange buds bursting into white blossoms.

Lonicera x bella Sometimes ripe berries and new flowers coexist in the same plant. This Asian honeysuckle can sprout back vigorously if the stems are cut off. This plant has become invasive in the American Midwest.

Sophora cassioides Flowering bountifully on bare branches. It is still an uncommon choice, but fast and easy. Chilean native which can create a long lasting massive display of showy, large bright yellow flaring bells with long stamens, held in dense clusters.

108

Wednesday 22nd April Practical: This morning Mark and I are busy mowing and strimming the long border between the East Walk and the eastern boundary of the Botanic Garden. The main aim is to reduce competition and possible water stress on some young birches which were planted three years ago. These particular species have been chosen as they are good, tidy performers in such as situation, ensuring good filter (but not too much screening) with their gentle and small foliage. Also their root system is not too greedy and plants can survive well dry conditions once established, also allowing understory plants to grow underneath. I roll everything down with the mower apart of a long drift of Petasites and clumps of Narcissus ‘Actaea’. For the remaining part of the day I join Ian, edging and weeding the beds in the Autumn Garden. This maintenance work is starting just now on Section, and will keep them busy till the end of summer; edging and weeding is done fortnightly in each bed and border they are in charge for. In the afternoon I sow some of the seeds which I brought back from Wespelaar Arboretum. I concentrate on Alnus, Corylopsis, Phellodendron and Pawlonia species. Seeds of Franklinia alatamaha are also sown; these need slightly warmer conditions then the others, so the sown pan is placed in the Pit1 (while all the other pots are in Pit2). The other star from my expedition to Belgium is also placed in Pit2. This is a young (wild collected) seedling of Abies squamata, the flaking fir from Tibet. This is a stunning plant, which occours commonly in the Tibetan plateau but is still very uncommon in cultivation. It grows in considerable altitudes (3.500-4.000 meters) and this is probably the reason of its misfortune in horticulture. It bears blue young cones and displays a lovely red flaking bark. A downside is that it a very slow grower.

Mowing the border along the eastern boundary

Long drift of Petasites left untouched

109

Here is the list of seeds collected in Wespelaar Arboretum last week and brought back to Cambridge University Botanic Garden. In bold are the species that have been sown this week.

1 Betula utilis var. prattii Betulaceae 2 Betula alleghaniensis Betulaceae 3 Euonymus maackii Celastraceae 4 Clethra alnifolia ‘Hokie Pink’ Clethraceae 5 Clethra tormentosa Clethraceae 6 Betula platyphylla Betulaceae 7 Clethra fargesii Clethraceae 8 Betula medwediewii Betulaceae 9 Alnus x spaethii (japonica x subcordata) Betulaceae 10 Betula x apoiensis (ermanii x ovalifolia) Betulaceae 11 Alnus viridis subsp. fruticosa Betulaceae 12 Alnus maximowiczii Betulaceae 13 Betula lenta Betulaceae 14 Alnus japonica Betulaceae 15 Paulownia coreana Paulowniaceae 16 Sorbus mougeotii Rosaceae 17 Sorbaria sorbifolia var. stellipila Rosaceae 18 Tripterygium wilfordii Celastraceae 19 Alnus hirsuta var. sibirica Betulaceae 20 Phellodendron japonicum Rutaceae 21 Alnus subcordata Betulaceae 22 Buddleja albiflora Scrophulariaceae 23 Phellodendron amurense Rutaceae 24 Photinia davidiana Rosaceae 25 Corylopsis glandulifera Hamameliaceae 26 Corylopsis sinensis var. sinensis Hamameliaceae 27 Corylopsis sinensis Hamameliaceae 28 Corylopsis sinensis / spicata (veitchiana) Hamameliaceae 29 Franklinia alatamaha Theaceae 30 Thuja plicata ‘Excelsa’ Cupressaceae 31 Trochodendron aralioides Trochodendronaceae 32 Halesia carolina Styracaceae 33 Tetradium daniellii Rutaceae 34 Halesia tetraptera var. monticola Styracaceae

Young seedling of Abies squamata

Seeds of Paulownia coreana

110

Abies squamata Flaky Fir

Description A tree up to 40 m high. Bark reddish-brown, exfoliating in thin papery layer like that of a birch, even on trees only 6 year of age. Shoots with dense brown hairs. Buds globose, red-brown, very resinous. Needles densely arranged, erect, not pectinate, linear, 1.5-2.5 cm long, rounded or acute apex, bluish green, with 2 white stomata bands on lower surface. Cones oblong-ovate, 5-6 cm long, violet when young; the tips of bract scales protruding past the seed scales, which are 1.5 cm wide Habitat and Ecology A subalpine species of the high mountains of western China, where it occurs between 3,500 m and 4,500 m asl [3,000-4,700 m according to Liu (1971)] making it one of the highest reaching mountain trees in the world. The soils are commonly grey-brown mountain podzols or lithosols. The climate is cold, relatively dry (arid in E Xizang), but usually perpetual snow at higher elevations provides sufficient moisture throughout the year. It is a constituent of mixed coniferous high altitude forests, with among other species Abies recurvata, A. fargesii var. faxoniana, Picea likiangensis var. rubescens, P. asperata, P. linzhiensis (in E Xizang), Larix potaninii and possibly also Tsuga forrestii. There are very few broad-leaved trees at these high elevations, Betula albosinensis and B. utilis var. prattii being the most common. Range Description Recorded from S Gansu, S Qinghai (Baima Xian), W Sichuan, and E Xizang [Tibet] (Markam Xian) in China. Native to China (Gansu - Present - Origin Uncertain, Qinghai, Sichuan, Tibet [or Xizang]) Use and Trade Flaky Fir is a potential timber tree but its occurrence at extremely high altitudes in inaccessible places prevents it from being exploited commercially. Ernest Wilson collected this fir with its peculiar bark in June 1904 in the Daxue Shan of western Sichuan, China, when on a plant hunting expedition for Veitch & Sons in England. Although it was successfully introduced in Europe and North America, it has remained rare in cultivation, restricted to a few collections in botanic gardens and arboreta, where it tends to be a slow grower. Its unusual bark has an attraction to dendrologists, but unless renewed seed collecting from wild sources can be resumed, this species may gradually disappear from horticulture.

Abies squamata

111

Thursday 23rd April Practical: This morning I join Ian for some border work in the Forsythia Bed. First we edge and weed the border. Then we prune Forsythia suspensa var. fortunei, F. suspensa var. fortunei f. atrocauli and F. x intermedia ‘Arnold Dwarf’. These species are now gone over flowering and it’s horticulturally correct to reduce them a little, especially considering that many specimens in the border are a little overgrown. Plants are pruned back to knee-level; all the dead and damaged wood is removed, and some young shoots are selected. We also decide to carry out some propagation. Twigs that have been rooted on the ground are taken and potted up in. We also do propagation by layering on suspensa var. fortunei and x intermedia ‘Arnold Dwarf’. It will be interesting to see how these plants will respond from this type of propagation.

Pruning and propagating Forsythia species

112

Observations: On the way back from the Forysthia Bed, we notice a very colorful Erysimum which is grown in the Mediterranean Garden. This is Erysimum scoparium, a woody bush carrying long stems of coloured flowers (dark purple buds open creamy-yellow flowers feathered with mauve). Very nice! This plant can apparently flower for very long periods, from spring into summer. Another interesting plant in flower nearby is Rhaphiolepis umbellata var. ovata (Rosaceae).

Erysimum scoparium

Friday 24th April Practical: First thing in the morning is a garden walkaround with Alister for the Plants of Interest of the week. From the remaining part of the morning I join Ian for edging and weeding the beds all along the South Walk (Rosaceae and Ribes beds). Right at the end of our tour we notice some serious muntjac damage on Aster x frikartii ‘Mönch’ and Bergenia cordifolia. Some measure of protection or control is needed here. In the afternoon we plant Magnolia cylindrica in the Magnolia collections by the Lynch Walk, and also prepare the wood chipper as well as the tools for tree work ready for the next week.

Magnolia Collection on the Lynch Walk

Muntjac damage on Bergenia cordifolia

113

Plants of Interest: 1. Echium hierrense H10 (Oceanic Island) 2. Skimmia laureola D9 (Bog Garden) 3. Dicentra spectabilis C10 (Woodland Garden) 4. Fritillaria imperialis ‘Lutea’ C10 (Woodland Garden) 5. Prinsepia uniflora D5 (Systematics) 6. Ercilla volubilis F4 (Systematics) 7. Euphorbia epithymoides F4 (Systematics) 8. Betula utilis subsp. jacquemontii ‘Grayswood Ghost’ M5 (Betula Collection) 9. Staphylea holocarpa ‘Rosea’ P6 (Rose Garden) 10. Prunus padus ‘Colorata’ W6 (by Ribes Bed) Areas of Interest: 1. Mountain House H10 2. Magnolia Collection C-D11 3. Forsythia Collection H4 4. Cowslips on Fairway (Primula vera) R-S 5-6 5. Display of Tulipa ‘Apeldorn’ and Narcissus ‘Actaea’ T13 6. Ribes Bed

Skimmia laureola (Rutaceae)

Mukdenia rossii (Saxifragaceae)

Ercilla volubilis (Phytolaccaceae)

Prunus padus ‘Colorata’ (Rosaceae)

114

Monday 27th April Practical: This morning the hired cherry picker is brought to the Garden and will be available for us for the entire week. This will give us the opportunity to concentrate on tree work for most of the week. The first tree we start from is a specimen of Quercus ilex, growing in the long border between the cedar lawn and the gardeners’ yard. The plants got fungal disease (Ganoderma sp.) and needs feeling before becoming too instable and dangerous. Health and safety practices: roping the area off, safety signs, moving the legs of the cherry picker on a stable, possibly even surface, double-checking stability of the legs (by knocking them), work preferably carried out before opening time. Extreme attention is paid in not damaging the young conifers nearby the holly oak, such as a Wollemia nobilis, Gingko biloba ‘Fairmount’ and Podocarpus macrophyllus. Inevitably, some damage occours on some plants of Mahonia japonica and Prunus laurocerasus, but this is matrix planting which is not as important as the specimen conifers nearby. The tree is progressively limbed and cut in sections; finally felled with the chainsaw, also helping with a rope for better guiding the felling direction. When we observe the stump, we notice that the damage caused by the fungi was quite serious. The wood is rotten inside, with the damage going well below the ground level. By the end of the working day we are able to cross-cut and pail up most of the wood in the area.


Ganoderma damage on the main trunk

115

Tuesday 28th April Practical: First thing in the morning is to finishing the clearance from yesterday. Also some work on the cedar lawn is necessary, as small bits of the lawn have been damaged yesterday and need repairing (i.e. soiling, leveling and grass sowing). We then move to the Autumn Garden for felling a specimen of Populus tacamaha. Then to the Betula collection. Felling Betula pubescens and B. pendula ssp. szechuanica. In the remaining part of the day we move to the area behind the Main Walk, just behind Sequoiadendron giganteum. Here is displayed an old specimen of Phillyrea latifolia, which unfortunately got Ganoderma and need feeling. We move the cherry picker here, ready for tomorrow; I also start roping the area off.

Processing Populus tacamaha

Wednesday 30th April Practical: Today we work on Phillyrea latifolia. This is an old multi-stemmed specimen, possibly one of the oldest phillyreas in the country. Like many other plants we are working on this week, this tree got Ganoderma and the diseased parts need cutting. Fortunately, not the entire plant is affected by the fungi (yet?), so a few trunks are saved. In the afternoon we move by the Tilia Collection, where a dead specimen of Gleditsia sinensis needs felling. I am in charge for this job. The chainsaw is used for limbing the main branches Gleditsia sinensis. It has been some time I don’t have the opportunity to use a chainsaw, so this is a very welcomed opportunity to refresh my skills. I start by cutting the smaller branches (perhaps skinning away the nasty thorns before), so progressively opening my way to the bigger stuff. The dead main trunk is then smashed down with the bucket of the big tractor.

Phillyrea latifolia

The spiky habit of Gleditsia sinensis

116

Observations: Not far from Phillyrea latifolia is grown a beautiful specimen of Cornus ‘Eddie’s White Wonder’, now in flower. This is a hybrid (originally raised in Vancouver) between the Western North American dogwood, Cornus nuttallii, and the Eastern species, Cornus florida. The large flowers open in early spring and have a broad overlapping bracts that are gleaming white and abundant. The tree has a narrow frame and distinctive lax layered branching habit that works well in the garden and shows the blooms to their best advantage. It has shown resistance to dogwood anthracnose, a common foliage disease.

Cornus ‘Eddie’s White Wonder’

Thursday 30th April Practical: This morning the cherry picker is moved to the New Pinetum. Here some dead wood needs to be cut, especially in the canopy just above the benches recently moved to the area. The group of trees here is composed by three pines (i.e. Pinus halepensis, P. ponderosa and P. ponderosa var. scopulorum). As always, branches are processed on site with our faithful wood chipper. Subsequently, I also a specimen of Juniperus indica and cut the dead top off. Only the pruning saw is necessary for the job. In the afternoon I am on the cherry picker, for removing some dead branches on Fagus sylvatica ‘Fastigiata’ by the entrance on Station Road.

Pruning a group of pines in the New Pinetum

Topping Juniperus indica

117

Observations: Unfortunately, in some pines of the New Pinetum there are evidences of red band needle blight (Dothistroma septosporum). This is an economically important disease which causes premature needle defoliation which results in the loss of timber and, in severe cases, tree mortality. Since the late 1990s the incidence of the disease has increased dramatically in Britain, particularly on Corsican pine (Pinus nigra ssp. laricio), and due to the extent and severity of the disease on this species, there is now a five-year planting moratorium of it on the Forestry Commission estate. More recently there have been reports of the disease causing damage to lodgepole pine in Scotland and it has also been reported on Scots pine – although it rarely appears to be causing significant damage to this species. Reasons for the increase in disease incidence are unclear but could be due to increased rainfall in spring and summer coupled with a trend towards warmer springs, optimising conditions for spore dispersal and infection. Such conditions may become more prevalent in Britain over the next 20 years if current trends in climate change continue. In Britain disease management is currently focused on silvicultural measures to reduce inoculum loads and the use of alternative, less susceptible species in future rotations. Friday 31st April Practical: Today we are back to the beeches along the East Walk for felling two old specimens of Betula pubescens. For the second time this week, I am on the cherry picker, this time for tying the main branch of the second beech with the felling rope. Great care is paid for the felling, in order not to damage a beautiful specimen of Acer davidii growing not far from the felling area, on the other side of the path. In the afternoon we work in the Chipping Yard, paling up the woodchip and crosscutting and processing the logs resulted from the week’s work. I do the crosscutting, so having the opportunity to use the chainsaw again this week and refresh my skills and confidence with the tool.


Seeds taken from the fridge for sowing out

118

Horticultural Diary – Alpine and Woodland 4th – 22nd May

Monday 4th May Practical: Today is Bank Holiday and a great affluence of visitors is expected. Therefore we aim to finish our work in the Mountain House before or within opening time. With a certain sense of excitement I discover that I will be responsible for the display of the “shady characters” bench during my second rotation, as we are short of staff on Section at the moment. First thing I have a walk-around within the areas of the Sections, as many things has changed since Helen left three months ago: the aluminum house is now a propagation house; the plants that used to be in the aluminum house are now outside the glasshouse or on the new bench, waiting to be plunged in sand; there also are many Caryophyllaceae around, because the interest of the new Curator; in the outdoor areas, the bamboo bed was stripped off and now caulk / keatinge clay is expected for further re-landscaping. My first job is the Mountain House Displays (geophytes + shady characters). Plants in: Asarum splendens, Bulbine bulbosa, Disporopsis pernyi, Hosta ‘Green With Envy’ and Iris marsica. Plants out: Anemone nemorosa ‘Robinsoniana’, Babiana patersonii, Cheilanthes myriophylla, Gynnandris sp., Gladiolus tristis, Heuchera villosa, Morea ciliata, Thalictrum coreanum, Tristagma bivalve and Umbulicus heylandianus. I also move around plants in the benches, trying to display some of them according to esthetic as well as taxonomic criteria (i.e. grouping Asparagaceae and Alliaceae, working with colour and texture combinations, etc.). Finally, I water the benches as well as the containers in the corners. Unfortunately, because of the affluence of visitors, we have no time for further work in the Mountain House. In the central bed, only the tufa rocks are quickly splashed through, so leaving the main watering and some feeding to do tomorrow. Then I re-pot a rare fern I brought back with me from Belgium. This is Coniogramme emeiensis. I use a mix composed of equal parts of alpine mix and leafmould, with some perlite in it for better drainage. A nice rough bark is used for top-dressing. An accession form is prepared for the new plant.

Coniogramme emeiensis

Drimiopsis maculata

Disporopsis pernyi

119

In the afternoon we move outside (it is a glorious day!) and work in the Greek Beds. We need to replant the edge of the bed, which was enlarged after the re-landscaping work of the Mediterranean Garden. First we dig out young plants of Asphodeline lutea and Geranium cinereum var. subcaulescens. These are re-planted and intermingled with Iris lutescens, Mandragora officinalis and Geranium subcaulescens ‘Mt Kithairon form’ from our reserve bench. Some young specimens of Asphodeline lutea is saved as stock plants to pot-up and keep in the Alpine Yard. Because it is a very warm sunny day, we make sure to water the plants as soon as they are planted. Some rain is expected tonight, so all the plants should hopefully survive. Then we top-dress the bed with coarse sand (first layer) and finer grit (second layer). We scatter and mix the grits by hand, so filling all the gaps between the plants and also giving a more naturalist finish.

Planting, top-dressing and finishing off the Greek Beds

Observations: My plant of the day is the fern I brought back from a nursery in France, not far from Lille. This is the very rare and uncommon in cultivation Coniogramme emeiensis. Coniogramme spp. and cvv. (family Pteridaceae) don't appear to be easily available in the UK. After looking further into Bamboo Ferns (this is the common name), I discovered there are three main species: emeiensis, intermedia and japonica. The good news is that emeiensis is the most attractive one, with the characteristic zebra pattern on the fronds. All are said to be hardy to around zone 7b (around -15c) so should make reliable ferns for the UK. All are evergreen and vary between 18 to 36 inch tall.

From left: C. emeiensis, C. intermedia, C. japonica (internet database)

120

Tuesday 5th May Practical: First thing is the regular check of the Mountain House, involving some targeted watering and feeding. I use for the first time a Dosatron Cart, a machine that mix the feed with water, working by injection. This morning we enjoy the perfect conditions for the job, as it is a rather dull day and there is less risk to scorch the foliage of plants while applying the liquid feed. I feed all the plants in my benches, plus the orchids tree and Alex’s rhododendrons in the Long Corridor (I use a different, acid feed solution for the rhodos). I also do some of the woodland plants in the bench in the Alpine Yard. Then I carry out some background watering the benches in the Alpine Yard. While doing this, I also inspects the plants for P&D and remove any dead or infested material. Dodecatheon, Cyclamen and Primula spp. got aphids. The next job is to re-pot two woodland plants I brought back from my trip to Belgium. There are Beesia calthifolia and Hepatica nobilis var. japonica ‘Golden Banded’. Same procedures and materials of the Coniogramme are used for the job. Accession forms are then prepared for the two new-entries. For the last part of the day we do pot washing and re-stock our terracotta pots for future jobs; hopefully many plants (and in particular the Fritillaria Collection) will be repotted in terracotta over the next few months. Observations: Plant of the day is Beesia calthifolia (Ranunculaceae), one of the woodlanders I brought back from my trip to Belgium. This is an evergreen perennial groundcover native to forested slopes and moist meadows of China (Guangxi, Guizhou, Hubei, Hunan, Sichuan and Yunnan), growing at an average elevation of about 2300 m. Plants produce glossy, leathery heart-shaped leaves on relatively long petioles. In winter, the leaves often turn dark purple. Flowers are a secondary feature of this plant. They are small and produced on a leafless raceme up to 45 cm in length. Individual flowers have narrow, white sepals and a central cluster of creamy-white stamens. It is a member of the Buttercup family. Beesia was named for the Bees of Chester, a British nursery firm that sponsored the plant-hunting expeditions of British plant explorers George Forrest and Frank Kingdon-Ward. However, neither Forrest nor Kingdon-Ward had the honor of introducing Beesia to Western horticulture. Horticultural consultant and plantsman Dan Hinkley first spotted B. calthifolia in 1996 in Zhongdian Plateau, Yunnan Province.

The Dosatron Cart

Hepatica nobilis var. japonica ‘Golden Baded’

121

Wednesday 6th May Practical: First thing this morning is the regular checking of the Mountain House, which involves primarily the re-opening of the vents (after closure because of wind conditions yesterday), sweeping of the floors and checking for any rubbish or debris left. A group of Primula japonica that are going over, are substituted with other drumstick primroses in full bloom. Same story for the Amorphophallus mirabilis in the terracotta pot in the corner; the display is changed completely, by picking three different species (i.e. henryi, variabilis and krausei) and plunging them in three smaller terracotta pots, so enhancing their differences. I use coarse Corsican pine bark for topdressing: this is a fantastic medium indeed, with great longevity and esthetics, ideal for orchid culture or as a topdressing for woodland plants. Then we move outside for some pea sticking. We do specimen of Osmunda regalis (Bog Garden) and Aconitum carmichaelii, Lilium henryi (Woodland Garden). We also carry out some weeding in the Woodland Garden. Indeed this is a good exercise in view of my plant ident test on weeds tomorrow. In the second part of the morning we do propagation work in the Potting Shed. First, prop mix is prepared (1/3 perlite + 1/3 sand + 1/3 grit). Then cuttings are taken for the plants. Plants we do are Androsace vandelli, A. idahoensis, Asperula sintensis, Salvia caespitosa (this is a real beauty), Arenaria lithops, Draba bryoides, Thymus ‘Peter Davis’, T. holosericeus, Phlox hoodii, Draba x salmonii and Helychrysum pagophyllum. Infected or flowering material is avoided; bottom watering is preferred to top watering; pots are moved to the Prop House and covered with plastic lids, so maintaining good moisture level. In the afternoon we are out in the Woodland Garden trying to eradicate as much Circaea lutetiana as possible. Some hoeing is also carried out, paying attention not to damage too much the young shoots of Zingiber officinale that are coming out now. Last job of the day is spot watering in the Yard, especially on Ligularia przewalskii.

Amorphophallus display in the Mountain House

Pea sticking on Osmunda regalis

122

The plants that are struggling and need propagation from cutting

The plants that are struggling and need propagation from cutting

Thursday 7th May Practical: First thing in the morning is the display in the Mountain House. I continue with my policy “less is more” (taking 10 plants out and putting 3 plants in!) Plants in: Gladiolus carneus (2), Muscari armeniacum ‘Argi Album’ and Beesia calthifolia. Plants out: Scilla verna, Acis autumnalis, Ranunculus gramineus, Muscari comosum, Allium kavataviense, Gladiolus inflatus. A specimen of Scilla peruviana which is going over is also replaced with a better looking one. I am fairly happy about the display at the present stage. I think what’s going to happen over the next two weeks is that more woodland plants will be available, while more time will be necessary for a second spell of geophytes. In the second part of the morning I work in the Alpine Yard, watering the benches and checking for pests and diseases. Aphids are present, and wine weevil larvae will be, as usual, a problem to deal with in the warmer months of the year. I also remove some dead plants, such as Soleirolia soleirolii and Saxifraga dinnkii. I have to admit, it is with a certain sense of renovated hope in life that I see the tough mind-your-own-business plant finally died in its pot on the bench. In the afternoon we move out and undertake the grass cutting in the outdoor areas of the Section. Simon does the edging, while I use the mower. Long grass is cut all along the edges of the beds and borders where the ride-on mower can’t reach and also under the branches of the trees around the Lake. By the end of the day I manage to finish with the mowing, which means that tomorrow I can concentrate to the remaining edging and other border work outside. Observations: I get some interest in Hepatica nobilis, its forms and cultivars. I find them quite attractive: Simon agree with me but also tell me that they have the tendency to flower for a short period. Many Hepatica species are so similar, even across oceans, that recent taxonomists have lumped most into the all inclusive Hepatica nobilis, merely as subspecies or even simply just as varieties. This has a wide distribution and is found in Europe, Asia, Russia and eastern North America. It has glossy green or sometimes marbled leaves that are purple underneath. Flowers with 6 to 7 showy sepals are mostly blue, but there are white and pink flowers found in the wild and many cultivars being grown; there are rarely offered in doubled forms and are very expensive.

123

• H. nobilis is the one species with some claim to be a bulb because it has a short thick, rhizomatous rootstock. Other species (or subspecies or varieties of nobilis) are:

• H. acutliloba: an American species which resembles H. nobilis but is identified by its sharply pointed green or occasionally slightly marbled leaves. Flowers are upward facing and often white but can come in pale shades of pink, mauve or blue.

• H. americana: is obviously another American species this one enjoys acid conditions, the flowers are usually a pale mauve, leaves are more rounded and can be heavily marbled.

• H. transsilvanica: is much more limited in its distribution growing in small colonies in Romania especially in the Carpathian Mountains and Transylvania This plant is a handsome species and is larger in all its parts, flowers come in beautiful shades of blue although there are rarities in pink and white.

• H. x media: this is a cross that occurs between H. nobilis and H. transsilvanica and is again limited in nature to small pockets in Romania.

• H. japonica: the Japanese species comes in many hues and forms as well as some excellent deliberate cultivars, generally the flowers have between 9 and 12 petals most are small but very intense colours, several very fine doubles are available we would love more of these but at the moment the cost is prohibitive.

Beesia calthifolia

Hepatica spp. and cvv.

Friday 8th May Practical: Today it’s only me on Section, which is quite exciting in a way. First thing I finish the hedging from yesterday (Rock Garden, paths around the Woodland Garden, Stream Garden). While doing this, I keep an eye on the water level in the Stream and in the Lake and eventually take another sandbag out of the Pterocarya rill, so that raising the level. Before lunch time I’m in the Alpine Yard, checking the plants. I mist the cuttings in the Propagation House and also water some of the plants in pots outside (especially the “greedy” ones, such as the ligularias and primulas. In the afternoon I move to the North American Bed in the Rock Garden. Here I carry out some weeding and hoeing. The weeds here are Geranium robertianum, Epilobium hirsutum and, above all, Eschscholzia californica. I try to eradicate the big specimens of hairy willow herb (perennial), and just hoe through Californian poppy and herb Robert (annuals). One plunged specimen of Fragaria chiloenis, died and is removed and put on the bench of the Potting Shed for accession.

124

Observations: The trick of the day comes from Alex. He suggests me to use milk for polishing the leaves of Scilla peruviana. I dunk a clean cloth in the milk and then gently wipe the leaves through. The result is excellent. The foliage milking is a trick Alex learned at Longwood Gardens. My plants of the day are Paulownia coreana (Woodland Garden) and P. fargesii (Bog Garden). They are just about budding, with their tubular purple corolla resembling a foxglove flower, thus the common name.

Amorphophallus display in the Mountain House

Paulownia fargesii budding out

A naturalistic display of hardy geophytes in the Alpine Yard

Nectoscordum siculum

Monday 11th May Practical: First thing in the morning is the display in the Mountain House. This morning approximately the same number of plants goes out and in, showing that I am finding a balance in the density of the display within the two benches. Plants in: Disporopsis pernyi, Hosta ‘Lemon Lime’, H. ‘Blue Mouse Ears’, Dodecatheon redolens, D. alpinum ssp. alpinum, Phlox adsurgens (2) and Eremurus himalaicus. Plants out: Andromeda polifila ‘Compacta’, Paesia scaberula, Helleborus odurus, Melaspaerula ramosa, Dodecatheon austrofrigidum, Dedecatheon sp. and Primula sp. (3). All the plants look good on the benches. On Thursday it will be the turn for the trilliums to go back to the Yard; some Ornithogalum might also return to the Yard. However, more interesting things are coming available, such as Albuca canadiensis and Arthropodium cirrhatum in the pits, or Uvularia grandifolia and Smilacina stellata in the Woodland reserve

125

bed. I also water the benches and check for P&D. We had a warm week-end so virtually all the plants need a good drink. I wipe with milk the leaves of Phlox adsurgens. Then I move to the Yard for the horticultural care of the benches. As usual, it’s spot watering on the woodland plants and background watering on the bulbs and Saxifraga spp. and cvv. In the afternoon we weed throughout the Mountain European Bed. Last job of the day is propagation of spare plantlets from last week’s works; I pot up spare seedlings of Asphodeline lutea and a baby Paesia scaberula which was growing out of the pot of the parent plant. Unfortunately, Mertensia simplicissima died but seedlings are growing on the sand in the plunged bench; they are potted-up and moved to the Prop House.

Baby Asphodeline lutea (left) and Paesia scaberula (right)

Scilla peruviana

Albuca canadiensis

Chiastophyllum oppositifolium

Diosporopsis pernyi

126

Observations: How to tell apart colombines (Aquilegia, Paraquilegia and Semiaquilegia). Aquilegia species are known for the spurred petals of their flowers, showing an enormous range of length diversity ranging from a centimeter to the 15 cm spurs of Aquilegia longissima. Selection from pollinator shifts is suggested to have driven these changes in nectar spur length. Interestingly, it was shown that this amazing spur length diversity is achieved solely through changing cell shape, not cell number or cell size. The cousins Paraquilegia and Semiaquilegia lack of the petal nectar spurs.

Presence and absence of the petal nectar spurs in Aquilegia (left) and Semiaquilegia (right)

Tuesday 12th May Practical: First thing in the morning is the care of the Mountain House (sweeping the floor and benches, watering and checking for P&D, sand tweaking in the perennials bench). I also made a change in the display of the containers, as Daphne collina var. neapolitana has gone off flowering and needs replacement. I choose to display Saracenia (two taxa: Saracenia flava var. flava and S. oreophila). They are woodland plants and their new position by the end of the shady woodland plants is acceptable. They like to sit wet and will need water every day. After that we work in the Alpine Yard, inspecting the benches and pots and pulling all the falling and dead material from the potted plants; also cleaning any rubbish and overall tidying up, especially raking up the pine needles and storing things properly. Hopefully this session will save us some nuisance with pests and diseases (especially grey mould, Botrytis cinerea). In the second part of the morning it’s a trainees’ blitz in the School Garden.

The first two hypothesis (Bowiea volubilis and Dracunculus vulgaris) and the final choice (Saracenia oreophila and S. flava var. flava)

127

In the afternoon we are in the Bog Garden, for some border work. This is mainly weeding and tidying up. Some of the plants are moved and grouped in clumps, such as several Primula spp., Anemone rivularis and Allium ursinum. The three young specimens of Strobilanthes wallichii, which I planted last autumn, look chlorotic and struggle to develop their roots and establish properly. Feeding might be a good idea. Observations: On the way back from the Bog Garden we notice the rather odd arrangement of the inflorescence in Helwingia japonica. Flowers are borne on the leaves, so giving scope to think to cladodes rather than true leaves. However, this is not a genus I can remember from my essay on Ruscus and other cladode-bearing plants. After some research, I found out that the small inflorescences on Helwingia are epiphyllous, i.e. directly growing from true leaves. The genus Helwingia consists of four species of shrubs native to temperate eastern Asia, the Himalayas, and northern Indochina. It is the only genus in the family Helwingiaceae.

Helwingia japonica

Wednesday 13th May Practical: First thing in the morning is the care of the Mountain House (sweeping the floor and benches, watering and checking for P&D, sand tweaking in the perennials bench). Then we pot up Primula auricola cultivars (12). We use a mix composed by ½ alpine mix + ½ leafmould + some peat. The peat is used purely to balance the original potting mix, so causing less shock for the plants. While doing the job, Simon tells me about the “Primula theatres”, Victorian display cabinets where P. auricola cultivars used to be shown. Last part of the morning we finish the weeding in the Bog Garden, concentrating in the area between Rosa palustris and Cotoneaster horizontalis. A nice interesting plant here is Schizostylis coccinea (Iridaceae). Also Orontium aquaticum (the golden club) is a wonderful aquatic plant, in flower now by the little bridge in the Bog Garden. The water level is always kept under control, and more sand sacks are taken away from the rill and then put back before the end of the day. In the afternoon we work in the Mountain Asian Bed in the Rock Garden. It’s again mainly maintenance but also Trollius pumilus (12 plants) is planted out. These are nice pretty globeflowers from the Himalayan mountains. They like wet conditions, so we plant them by the edge with the Lake, hoping for good establishment. Pruning some branches of Osteospermum schwarnii.

128

Potting up Primula auricula cultivars to be displayed in the Mountain House

Potting up Primula auricula cultivars to be displayed in the Mountain House Observations: Nice to see Lathraea clandestina in bloom in these days. I find a patch in a border by the entrance of the Bog Garden, presumably parasiting on Metasequoia glyptostroboides. The purple toothwort is a root parasite found mainly on poplar and willow, but is also recorded as growing on a wide range of other plants in the wild and in cultivation, including Acer, Alnus, Buxus, Carpinus, Corylus, Juglans, Metasequoia, Rhododendron, Taxus and even Gunnera (as shown in the Gunnera Bed just on the other side of the Lake). This is also the only member of the broomrape family (Orobanchaceae) that is commonly cultivated as a garden plant. In addition to its decorative nature, being likened by some to purple crocuses, it is easier to cultivate than many related species.

Colonies of Lathraea clandestina growing in damp patches around the Lake

129

Thursday 14th May Practical: First thing in the morning is the horticultural care of the Mountain House. Plants in: Leucocoryne ‘Blue Ocean’, Ornithogalum sp. (2 different taxa), O. chinophilum, Albuca canadiensis (3), Drimiopsis maculata (2), Arthropodim cirrhatum, Anemone coronaria, Chiastophyllum oppositifolium, Hylomecon japonicum, Vaccinium delavayi, Aquilegia fragrans and Polygonatum pubescens. Plants out: Trillium album, T. grandiflorum, T. rugellii, T. chloropetalum, Muscari armeniacum ‘Argei Album’, Ornithogalum montanum, Scilla ramburei, Anemone nemorosa ‘Alba Plena’ and Primula ‘Schneekissen’. Before to move some of the plants back to the Alpine Yard, I also carry out some deadheading on the old flower heads. This is a good horticultural practice (when seeds are not needed), as more energy is put into the plants for the next year’s growth. I deadhead the trilliums and Tritonia crocata, and leave fruits on Ornithogalum montanum. In the meantime Simon does the feeding on some of the plants in the Mountain House + Alpine Yard. In the second part of the morning walk-around for the plant ident test on trees with Mark. After that it follows a classroom on trees inspection in the messroom. In the afternoon I finish with the watering and P&D checks + the moving form. After a quick tidying-up in the Potting Shed, I am ready to undertake some work there. I pot up three plants of Trollius pumilus in a large terracotta pan, to be displayed next week in the Mountain House; standard woodland mix is used for this task. I also pot up Helychrisum ambiguum (3), Baccharis patagonica (3) Cistus creticus (3) and Gaultheria pumila (1), all in standard alpine mix. These are plants I propagated from cutting last October, and are all responding well, showing positive signs of growth. Only Gaultheria is struggling a little bit, so I re-pot it in a more acid mix.

Potting up Trollius pumilus to be displayed in the Mountain House

130

Friday 15th May Practical: First thing in the morning is the care of the Mountain House (sweeping the floor and benches, watering and checking for P&D, sand tweaking in the perennials bench). I wipe with milk the leaves of Arthropodium cirrhatum; also deadheading on Rosa ‘Roulettii’ and Lithodora zahnii. There is also a substitution in the shady woodlanders’ display. I take Aquilegia fragrans out and put Polygonatum hookeri instead. The creamy white tinge of the columbine was a bit out of place in the display; the new asset will allow me to create a patch of pink-lilac flowering plants followed by a defined group of Asparagaceae. After tea break we are out in the gardens for some border work. We edge the beds around the Lake and the Stream Garden. I also trim Euphorbia sp. and weed the bed through. In the afternoon I am busy for the watering and P&D checks in the Alpine Yard. Observations: Money for Section’s books has become available. Following some titles that might be useful: - Roger Phillips and Martyn Rix. Perennials (2 Vol). - Roger Phillips and Martyn Rix. Plants for Shade. - Elliott, J. (1998). The Woodland Garden. A Guide to Shade-loving Plants. - Rice, G. (2013). Planting the Dry Shade Garden. - The forthcoming monograph on Fritillaria, by Bob Wallis. - Jim Jermyn. Walks in the Eastern Alps. - European Alps (published by the Alpine Garden Society). - Malcolm McGregor. Saxifrages, the Complete Cultivars and Hybrids.

Rosa ‘Roulettii’

Last flowers of the season on Lithodora zahnii

131

Monday 18th May Practical: Today it’s only me on Section, as Simon booked a day-off. First thing is the horticultural care of the Mountain House. Plants In: Weldenia candida, Phyteuma nigrum, Ornithogalum longibracteatum and Smilacina stellata. Also putting in Trollius pumilus in the Perennials Display. Plants Out: Iris marsica, Paeonia cambessedesii and Ornithogalum fimbriatum. I also take the Amorphophallus display out and put three species of Iris albicans instead; sweeping, tidying-up, watering and checking for P&D (Rosa ‘Roulettii’ got aphids and will need constant monitoring; also Iris albicans and Arum dioscoroides); tweaking the sand on the Perennials’ benches; raking the gravel underneath the benches; watering the rocks in the central bed (more generously along the edges, and avoiding overwatering on Dionysia spp.); watering Saracenia and Echium in the terracotta containers; deadheading on Rosa ‘Roulettii’ and Anemone pavoniana.

Iris albicans

Weldenia candida

Ornithogalum longibracteatum

Then, thus the weather doesn’t want to improve a little, I work in the yard until the rest of the day. I first do all the watering (cuttings and young seedling in the Prop House; back- and spot-watering on Saxifraga and actively growing plants in the benches). I spend some time pulling out the old foliage from the resting bulbs (especially Fritillaria and Tulipa). This is a rather boring job, but is important for the overall hygiene of the bulbs and will save us some nuisance later in the next growing season. I also deadhead on Rhododendron ‘Curlew’, which is just outside the public gate of the Alpine Yard; I try to leave the young growths, when snipping out the old flowers from the stems. The only job I undertake outside the perimeter of the Alpine Yard is the propagation of Paeonia emodi from the Rock Garden. I divide a mature rhizome and pot it up in woodland mix; topdressing with Corsican pine bark. Observations: Paeonia emodi is one of the best peonies out now. This is a sought-after herbaceous plant for light shade, longer flowering than the papery petalled forms such as P. mlokosewitschii as the petals are of more substance. The white flowers are produced in late May and early June with prominent yellow stamens. It is completely hardy. The mature plants carry masses of flowers and the divisions as supplied may well carry a few flowers next spring and will get better thereafter. Do expect untidy roots as these are freshly dug and plant them into good soil to give them a chance to flourish.

132

Tuesday 19th May Practical: First thing in the morning is the horticultural care of the Mountain House. Plants In: Arum dioscrorides, Dodecatheon pulcherrimum ssp. pulcherrimum and Polygonatum pubescens (2) Plants Out: Anemone coronaria, Pachysandra procumbens, Dactylorhiza fuchsii (2), Polyphillum hexandrum and Trillium foetidissimum. I also check for P&D’s; Iris albicans and Phlox adsurgens got aphids and need spraying with Savona. Other jobs are my usual deadheading on Rosa ‘Roulettii’ and the watering of the central bench, especially the edges that tend to dry out more quickly. In the second part of the morning I am busy mowing the outdoor areas of the Section. In the afternoon we weed the Gunnera Bed, and other beds within the Woodland Garden; Koelreuteria paniculata especially seems to self-seed very easily.

The two ends of the Woodland Shady Plants bench: the new entry Arum dioscorides dominating a group of foliage characters (left); representatives of the subfamily Convallariaceae, such as Smilacina, Polygonatum and Diosporopsis species (right)

Wednesday 20th May Practical: First thing in the morning is checking the Mountain House. This is done very quickly, as we have a lot of work to do in the Yard as well as in the Bog Garden today. Tasks in the front house this morning involve watering, spraying with Savona (on Rosa ‘Roulettii’, Iris albicans, Phlox adseurgens, and Arum dioscorides) and general tidying up. Then I work in the Potting Shed and pot up Papaver miyabeanum, Dianthus ‘Eileen Lever’ and Thymus cephalotus; standard alpine mix and terracotta pots are used; accession numbers are still needed for all these new entries. Then up to the cushion plants; I do Androsace pyrenaica, Dionysia curviflora x tapetodes (both Primulaceae) and Benthamiella patagonica (Solenaceae). All these plants, especially Dionysia, are extremely fussier to pot up. Therefore, the extraction from the original pot is done by cracking it, in order to cause as less root disturbance as possible. When the old flower heads are still present on the plant, they are removed by using tweezers. Obviously the neck of the plant is also cleared from any old gravel, dead leaves and debris. Then, the double potting is carried out: standard alpine mix is used for the inner pot, while the outer pot is filled with sand, good medium in terms of moisture retention. The label is stuck in the outer pots. Plants are finally plunged in the sand bench in NW 28-10.

133

Careful extraction of a cushion plant from the old terracotta pot, that is cracked by using a garden trowel or similar tool

The cushion plants are double-potted and plunged in the benches

Newly acquired plants potted up and ready for accession

We then decide to plant out some of the specimens we have been sitting in the Yard for long time. They require continuous watering and care, so it is a good idea to plant them outside where they will look after themselves (and also add interest to the gardens). Today we concentrate on Primula species, to be planted in the Bog Garden; species available are vialii , denticulata, florindae, prolifera and japonica.

Planting Primula spp. in the Bog Garden

Primula prolifera

134

For the last hour of the day we are in the Woodland Garden, undertaking some weeding on the long narrow bed facing the Lake. By the end of the day we manage to weed almost all the bed (from a group of Iris lazica to Salix eleagnos ssp. angustifolia, so preparing the ground for the planting-out of other primulas and marginal plants, to be carried out tomorrow and Friday. Thursday 21st May Practical: First thing in the morning is the care of the Mountain House. Plants In: Lilium henryi, Triteleia ‘Crystal Pink’, Allium carolinianum and Primula deflexa. Plants Out: Leucocorjne ‘Blue Ocean’ (3; after almost five weeks!) and Allium orientale. My main effort is to divide the geophytes into geographical areas. I consolidate the Eurasian bulbs at the center of the bench and also highlight species from South Africa, North America, South America and Australasia. Then, watering, checking for P&D, sweeping and tidying up within the Mountain House. After break is plant ident test on trees and then a lection on “how to do a garden tour”. In the afternoon I am busy watering in the Alpine Yard; also the spare Primula spp. left on the truck from yesterday; finishing the deadheading on Rhododendron ‘Curlew’. Last job of the day is weeding in the long narrow bed in the Woodland Garden. By the end of the day we get rid of all the major weeds, also move the ground and get it ready for the planting out tomorrow.

Allium carolinianum

Lilium henryi

Triteleia ‘Crystal Pink’

Friday 22nd May Practical: First thing is the overall check of the Mountain House. I carry out those tasks quickly, in order to start with the spraying as soon as possible. As a matter of fact, this morning I need to spray with chemical a large quantity of plants within the front house, the yard and the polytunnel, as aphids are becoming more and more present. I spend most of the time in the polytunnel, where Primulas spp. are literally under attack of aphids. First I deadhead and remove any dead bits, then spray carefully; the plants are also more widely spaced, in order to improve ventilation and have less pests over the summer months.

135

After tea break we are in the Woodland Garden for completing the planting of the bed we prepared yesterday. We move down two trucks loaded with a selection of moisture-loving woodland species, such as Ligularia przewalskii, Filipendula purpurea ‘Elegans’, Hosta spp., Gentiana asclepiadea, Aruncus aethusifolius, Astilbe x rosea ‘Queen Alexandra’, Primula sikkimensis, P. melanantha and P. florindae. All the new plants are accessed on the bed form and labelled; also a census of the existing plants is done, and thankfully most of them are still represented in the bed. Several criteria are observed in the planting session, such as the understanding of the different moisture level in the front and back section of the bed, or the juxtaposition of different foliage textures and flowers colours within the bed. Decaisnea fargesii will need stacking.

Planting a damp bed in the Woodland Garden. A group of Primula florindae, Hosta sp., Iris lazica and Primula sikkimensis (left)

Hosta sp., Kirengeshoma palmata, Aruncus aethusifolius, Ligularia przewalskii and Melica uniflora ‘Alba’ (right)

Observations: Particularly attractive is Kirengeshoma palmata, which I’ve never seen in flower yet. Kirengeshoma (Hydrangeaceae) is a genus containing two species of plants, i.e. palmata and koreana. Both are clump-forming herbaceous perennials native to Eastern Asia, with sycamore-like palmate leaves and nodding, waxy yellow flowers on slender stalks, growing in shady environments. They are grown as garden plants in temperate regions of the world. • Kirengeshoma palmata (yellow wax bells) is the Japan native, and the most common in

cultivation. It is 60–120 cm tall by 75 cm broad, with sycamore-like palmate leaves, and fleshy, pale yellow flowers borne on slender maroon stems in late summer. It is acalcifuge, suitable for cultivation in a shady, moist location in acid soil.

• Kirengeshoma koreana is a herbaceous plant with opposite, simple, palmately lobed leaves, on stout, green stems. The flowers are yellow, borne in midsummer. The main difference with the Japanese form is that koreana is a bigger plant and its flowers are not as graceful, although very lovely.

136

Tuesday 26th May and Friday 29th May Helping with the horticultural care of the Mountain House for two mornings. I am still in charge for the Geophytes and Shady Woodland Plants benches. Plants In: Tritoleia ‘Crystal Pink’, Calochortus amabilis, Tulbaghia natalensis, Ledebouria cooperi, Ixiolirion tataricum, Hypoxis rooperi, Arthropodium cirrhatum, Roscoea humeana, R. cautleoides.

Hypoxis rooperi

Ledebouria cooperi

Tulbaghia natalensis

Arthropodium cirrhatum

Calochortus amabilis

Albuca canadiensis

Sunday 31st May Helping with the NGS Garden Open at Madingley Hall. Some new interesting plants that I can see in flower now are Fuchsia magellanica var. molinae, (lovely pale pink flowers with long stamens) and Eccremocarpus scaber (the so-called Chilean Glory Vine). One of the nursery sell Pterostyrax corymbosa (known as epaulette tree), which is another new entry for me, absolutely stunning when in flower. I also buy three plants to give to the A&W collection (from Swines Meadow Farm Nursery). These are: Polygonatum curistylum, Disporopsis aspera and Disporum longistylum.

137

Polygonatum curvistylum

Disporopsis aspera

Disporum longistylum

138

• Polygonatum curvistylum: Erect stems to 75cm. The pendulous clusters of flowers are purple and borne in late spring. This is one of the latest Solomon’s seals to emerge in the spring.

• Disporopsis aspera: cream pendant scented flowers in June followed by succulent purple berries which can persist through to spring. Alternate large leathery leaves running up stems up to 40cm.

• Disporum longistylum: cream flowers in May-June followed by black berries in Autumn. Stems up to 150.

Disporum and Disporopsis are from cutting, while Polygonatum was propagated by division. The parent plant of Disporum was wild collected. Pot Mix used at Swines Meadow Farm Nursery: 65% general multi-purpose garden compost; 30% chipped bark; traces of volcanic rock (brand name: REMIN); no slow fertiliser is in the pots, but garlic and seaweed feed has been used. Also MET52 is the product they use to control wine weevil; it is proving to be really effective. Asparagaceae family, Nolinoideae subfamily Solomon’s Seal types (tribe Polygonatae) Disporopsis – evergreen Solomon’s seal (7 species) Disporum – fairy bells (22 taxa). Subfamily Colchicaceae!!!! Heteropolygonatum – (6 species) Maianthemum – false Solomon’s seal (about 40 taxa) Oligobotrya – (1 species. O. henryi) Polygonatum (about 80 taxa) Smilacina – synonym of Maianthemum

The species of tribe Polygonateae sensu strictu (Convallariaceae, Liliaceae sensu lato) are perennial herbs and possess a horizontally creeping fleshy sympodial rhizome, a simple elongated aerial stem, foliage leaves which are all cauline and parallel-veined, pedicellate flowers, two whorls of tepals and stamens respectively, introrse anthers, well-connate carpels with a superior ovary, a slender style with a capitates or lobate stigma, and berries. Polygonatum and Disporopsis share a pseudo-terminal cauline foliage leaf, axillary inflorescences, connate tepals, linear to oblong anthers, and filaments more-or-less adnate to the tepals. Disporopsis differs from Polygonatum in having a corona. Smilacina and Maianthemum share a terminal inflorescence of panicle or raceme, free tepals (except five species of Chinese Smilacina), oblong or orbicular anthers, and mostly free filaments. Maianthemum deviates from Smilacina in having dimerous flowers and cordate leaves. [Heteropolygonatum, a New Genus of the Tribe Polygonateae (Convallariaceae) from West China. 1997] Lily of the valley types Convallaria – lily of the valley (3 species, majalis + varieties, montana and keiskei) Peliosanthes – (16 species) Speirantha – false lily of the valley (1 species, S. gardenii) Butcher’s broom types Ruscus (7 taxa) Danae racemosa Semele androgyna For further analysis Aspidistra (including Antherolophus and Colania); Campylandra; Liriope; Ophiopogon; Reineckia carnea – Reineckia (1 species); Rhodea; Theropogon.

139

TREES Following the list of the trees studied for the Plant Ident (15 knows, 5 extras and other interesting extras).

15 KNOWNS

Species Family Origin Ostrya japonica Betulaceae Japan, China, Korea Ostrya virginiana Betulaceae Eastern N America Pterocarya fraxinifolia Juglandaceae E Turkey, N Iran, Caucasus Corylus colurna Betulaceae S Europe, SW Asia Fraxinus ornus Oleaceae S Europe, SW Asia Pistacia chinensis Anacardiaceae China Betula utilis ssp. albosinensis Betulaceae N China Malus halliana var. spontanea Rosaceae Japan Sorbus domestica Rosaceae Mediterranean Cydonia oblonga Rosaceae C Asia Tilia henryana Malvaceae C China Quercus x wanburgii Fagaceae GO Emmenopterys henryi Rubiaceae C&W China Cornus controversa Cornaceae China, Japan Rhamnus imeretinus Rhamnaceae W Asia 5 EXTRAS

Acer sempervirens Aceraceae SE Europe, SW Asia Liquidambar orientalis Hamameliaceae SW Turkey, Greek Islands x Sorbaronia alpina Rosaceae North America Picrasma quassioides Simaroubaceae SE Asia Xanthoceras sorbifolium Sapindaceae N China OTHER EXTRAS

Species Family Origin Tilia endochrysea Tiliaceae China (Hunan) T. cordata - Europe T. platyphyllos - Europe T. x europea - Europe Acer platanoides ‘Goldsworth Purple’ Sapindaceae GO A. velotinum var. valvolxemii - E Caucasus A. davidii - C China A. davidii spp. grosseri - N&C China Koelreuteria paniculata var. paniculata - C China Cornus kousa var. chinensis Cornaceae China C. ‘Eddie’s White Wonder’ - GO Davidia involucrata var. vilmoriniana - C&W China Fagus orientalis Fagaceae SE Eur, Turkey, Caucasus F. sylvatica forma purpurea - C Europe

140

Quercus robur Fagaceae Europe, N Africa, SW Asia Q. ilex - Mediterranean Q. x hispanica - S Europe Castanea sativa - Mediterranean Aesculus hippocastanum Hippocastaneaceae Balkans A. x mutabilis ‘Induta’ - GO A. indica - Himalaya A. flava - E&N USA A. glabra var. arguta - Queen Charlotte Islands Cercis siliquastrum Leguminosae S Europe, SW Asia Gleditsia delavayi - SW China Cledrastis kentukea - N America Viburnum kansvense Caprifoliaceae W China Lonicera maacki forma podocarpa - China Malus ioensis Rosaceae C USA Crataegus levigata ‘Punicea’ - GO Amelanchier florida forma tormentosa - Western N America Prunus laurocerasus ‘Latifolia’ - GO Paulownia fargesii Scrophulariaceae China, Vietnam Liriodendron chinense Magnoliaceae C China Platycarya strobilacea Juglandaceae E Asia Sinojackia renderiana Styracaceae E China Staphylea x colombieri Staphylaceae GO Asimina triloba Annonaceae Eastern N America Catalpa x erubescens ‘Purpurea’ Bignoniaceae GO Cercidiphyllum japonicum Cercidiphyllaceae China, Japan Populus tremula var. villosa Salicaceae Europe, N Asia Liquidambar styraciflua ‘Worplesdon’ Hamamelidaceae GO Eucalyptus urnigera Myrtaceae Australia (Tasmania) Platanus orientalis Platanaceae SW Eur, Turkey, Caucasus

141

Horticultural Diary – Demonstration and Display 26th May – 12th June

Tuesday 26th May Practical: Undertaking the stripping off of the borders and containers by the Main Gate. Plants that we take out are: Cheiranthus cheiri ‘Fire King’ (wallflower) and Polyanthus. Plants that stay in are: Foeniculum vulgare ‘Purpureum’, Melianthus major, Miscanthus sinensis, Phormium tenax Purpureum Group, Clematis macropetala and Clematis ‘Gravetye Seeding’ Everything is loaded on the big trailer and deposited in the compost heap; the blower is used for clearing the steps. The soil looks a bit exhausted; we dig it over and clear it from any cuttings and debris Wednesday 28th May Practical: Starting the planting-out of the summer display by the Main Gate. We plant: Canna ‘Durban’, ‘Green’ and ‘Purple’, Dahlia ‘Bishop of Llandaff’, D. ‘David Howard’, Miscanthus sinesis ‘Variegatus’, Musa basjoo and Senecio ‘Vira Vira’,

Stripping off the old spring display and undertaking the planting out of the summer display at the Main Gate

Thursday 28th May Practical: Cracking on with the planting by the Main Gate. This morning Verbena bonariensis, Cosmos ‘Purity’ and Aeonium ‘Schwarzkopf’ go in, but still Ricinus , Alonsoa have to be planted for the borders to be completed. In the afternoon I prepare a temporary display of four containers for the launch of the School Building. I use Pelargonium capitatum, P. tormentosum, P. ‘Lady Plymouth’, Miscanthus sinensis ‘Variegatus’, Salvia curviflora and S. leucantha. After tea break we move Agapanthus africanus (12) to the Fountain Garden; these will be plunged in the planters there. The soil is taken out; the plants go in and the sides between the two containers are filled with soil.

142

Preparation of four planters for a temporary display

Agapanthus africanus plunged in the Fountain Garden

Friday 29th May Practical: Spells of wet weather are expected today, after a long period of drought. This, together with the various end-of-the-week jobs and tasks, will give us some rather busy and hectic time. First thing I help Imogen with the Display in the Mountain House. Then it’s the watering the D&D plants in the polytunnels and pits before the week-end; raking and collecting leaves in the fern garden; finally finishing the filling of the agapanthus planters with soil. Monday 1st June Practical: This week Paul moves to his new Section, so it will be only Peter and I to work on D&D. We first undertake the planting of the borders in Station Road. Plants that go in are: Papaver somniferum ‘Lauren’s Grape’ and Verbena bonariensis. We use these plants in order to give a successional effect to the early/mid summer flowering annuals; ideally verbena will create a purple haze throughout the borders in the late summer months. Then we plant in the borders in Brookside. Plants that go in are Nicotiana affinis and Verbena bonariensis. Then we complete the display by Main Gate. Plants that go in today are: Amaranthus ‘Coral Fountain’, Cleome ‘White Queen’, Ricinus communis ‘New Zealand Purple’, R. zanzibarensis and Rudbeckia hirta ‘Goldilocks’. Slug pellets are also scattered nearby the young plants for protecting their leaves (and live, at this early stage!). Only Alonsoa meridionalis ‘Rebel’ is still to be planted and will go out tomorrow. Observations: Linum monogynum var. diffusum in the New Zealand Garden.

143

Tuesday 2nd June Practical: First thing is the finishing of the display by the Main Gate, with the planting of young specimens of Alonsoa meridionalis ‘Rebel’. All the plants are watered thoroughly; a period of drought is expected over the next weeks. After tea break is a trainees’ blitz in the Scented Garden. We pull out wallflowers, stocks and polianthes; also clearing the tubes and tacking some of the old soil out; Deadheading on the irises and wherever necessary; some obvious weeding. In the afternoon I carry out the watering of the polytunnels and pits. Also pricking out Digitalis purpurea ‘Alba’ (8 trays prepared) Wednesday 3rd June Practical: First thing in the morning is the watering of all the planters in the garden (Bee Garden, Pergola, Main Gate, Fountain Garden and Scented Garden). Then, lawn edging in the Bee Garden. From first tea break until the end of the day we plant out summer flowering plants in the Scented Garden and the Mixed Island Beds. Plants that go in are: Verbena bonariensis, Heliotropium arborescens, Agastache anisata, Lavandula dentata ‘Linda Ligon’, Papaver somniferum ‘Lauren’s Grape’, Gaura lindheimii ‘The Bride’ and Salvia leucantha. Friday 3rd June Practical: First thing in the morning is the watering of all the planters in the garden (Bee Garden, Pergola, Main Gate, Fountain Garden and Scented Garden). Then I prick off Digitalis; I cut corners here: using trays instead of pots. Some Chelsea crops on the plants behind the polytunnel. Finally potting up Antirrhinum braun-blanquettii in 3 litre plastic pots. Plants of the Week Halesia diptera C10 Nepeta racemosa ‘Walker’s Low’ K8 Goethea strictiflora J11 Clerodendrum thomsoniae J11 Clematis coactilis H10 Polygonatum curvistylum H10 Bletilla striata F9 Rheum palmatum G4 Beschorneria yuccoides G5 Anisodontea capensis G10 Areas of Interest: Philadelphus Collection V-W4 Rose Garden (foxgloves display) P5 Passiflora species (Tropical Wetlands) J11 Mediterranean Garden F9 Mountain House H10

144

Monday 8th June Practical: This week I’m on my own on Section as Peter is away the entire week. The priority will be watering the plants which went out over the last two weeks, plus the collections under glass and around the polytunnels. In the time left from those jobs, I aim to concentrate on the maintenance of the Chronological Beds and Winter Garden, specifically hedge trimming, lawn edging, grass cutting and weeding. First thing in the morning is the watering of all the planters in the Garden. This gives me the opportunity for observing the state of the young plants after a rather dry week-end. In the afternoon I carry out the watering of all the beds and borders that were planted over the last two weeks. Also filling with more soil the agapanthus planters by the Pergola. Tuesday 9th June Practical: The entire morning is spent in thorough watering (particularly pits, polytunnels, Brookside and Chronological Beds). In the afternoon I can concentrate on the hedges of the Winter Garden, doing all the tops and front sides. Wednesday 10th June Practical: First thing in the morning is the watering all the planters (but Agapanthus, which stay on the drier side), plus borders by the Main Gate and spot watering on Heliotropium arborescens (Scented Garden) and Helianthus (Chronological Beds). Then I can finish the hedges in the Winter Garden and also give a start to the lawn edging around the Chronological Beds. Thursday 11th June Practical: Carrying on and finishing the edges of the Chronological Beds; also mowing in the Winter Garden and around the Chronological Beds. The weather is sunny and windy today; worst possible conditions in terms of time spent in watering. I can see that things tend to dry out twice quicker than yesterday. I water thoroughly the Scented Garden, Island Beds and the borders by Brookside. Friday 12th June Practical: Watering all the planters, plus borders by the Main Gate. Then I do the inner edges in the Winter Garden; I’m glad, as all the minimum maintenance that was fixed for the week has now been achieved (despite the tyrannical weather). In the afternoon I go for a walk-around, observing the state of the plants and carrying out some odd maintenance jobs which have been left, such as clearing the excrements of ducks and swans in the lawn by the Main Gate, sweeping up the soil that have been washed out with watering along the edges of borders and walls; tidying up the D&D shed No.3

145

Horticultural Diary – Experimental 15th June – 3rd July

Monday 15th June Practical: Care of the Experimental Glasshouses; watering and feeding tomatoes, checking for P&D; sweeping and tidying up. Earthing-up potato plants.

The Dosatron Cart


Tuesday 16th June Practical: Tomatoes (watering, spacing, tidying up) Moving beans outside (back of the polytunnel) Finishing earthing-up the potatoes (experimental plots) Seed collecting on Bromus interruptus (British native wild plant, exinct in the wild). Also topping up the water of Senecio paludosus Hoeing throughout the plots (public perception) And in between the rows of maze Observations: Dianthus ….. looks beautiful this time of the year. Incredibly beautifully scented too. Misopates orontium is a weed in the plots. Wednesday 17th June Practical: Watering tomatoes Bio control in the Glasshouse Range and Experimental Glasshouses (thrips and …) Genetics Garden: weeding, deadheading, hoeing, edging, Observations: Plants of the day is certainly Phacelia tanacetifolia. Also Plantago media is flowering. Also Fumaria in flower in the beds.

146

Thursday 18th June Tomatoes Watering beans in the back of the polytunnel. Also Woodland Perennials (A&W) in the shady polytunnel; also weeding. Keying out Verbascum (nigrum, pulverulentum, virgatum) Start weeding through the Ecological Mound Friday 19th June Practical: Tomatoes (double watering morning / afternoon) Weeding the Ecological Mound Aronathrium elatior (weed) looks similar to Trisetum flavescens in the Chalk Grassland. One thing this weed gets is smut, a fungal disease. Also noticeable Bromus ….. Koeleria cristata would be a nice introduction here. Ononis spinosa (restharrow) is the other thing we try to keep under control here. In the Ecological mounds Dianthus grationopolitanus is a star. Also Linaria repens Geraunium lucidum G. ….. G. mollis (that’s a weed) Nice groups of Helianthemum (appenninum, ….) Seum reflexum and S. acre. Euphorbia serrulata (out, in parts) E. portlandica Lectuca virosa out Observations: Dactyloriza fuchsiae (orchid in the chalk grassland) Monday 22nd June Practical: Tomatoes (feeding) Helping in the Winter Garden Hoeing Lavandula and Rosmarinum Collections

147

Propagating stuff for Sam (curator) see pics Observations: Tuesday 23rd June Practical: Watering tomatoes Weeding throughout the maze (we weed through the rows; what is out now is what we have, nothing more should pop up) after this weeding session, the maze might develop well enough for not to need more weeding for a while Light pruning the hedgerow (Prunus cerasifera proves to be an uncomfortable plant to work with; it looks spineless but then it has thorns and needs to be handle with care. I use loppers and secateurs, occasionally pruning saw). Second check and watering in the Experimental Glasshouses, as the weather is brightening up a little bit. Observations: Wednesday 24th June Practical: Watering the Experimental Glasshouses (hot day, second watering session + damping down in the afternoon) Preparing ground for the planting-out of some Anthirrinum in the Experimental Plots Horticultural maintenance in the borders at Cory Lodge - deadheading of Aquilegia, Geranium, Iris, Camassia - obvious weeds Pentaglottis sempervirens, Sonchus arvensis - Calamagrostis epigejos is a weed, to be controlled Observations: Thursday 25th June Practical: Watering Experimental Glasshouses Plant Ident Propagating Lavandula from cutting (plants were watered yesterday) Observations: Friday 26th June Practical: Watering feeding tomatoes Watering the shade polytunnel Building up a cage in the Genetics Observations:

148

Monday Watering and feeding tomatoes (x2) Netting the cage in the Genetic Garden Tuesday Watering tomatoes (x2) Feeding Jatropha curcas Setting up a bench and pricking out + potting up material for the Caryophyllales collection. Mirabilis jalapa Suaeda aegyptiaca Anthirrhinum chardensii Cycloma atriplicifolium Linaria dalmatica Fuchsia glauca Frankenia salcina Salsola nollothanensis Monococcus echinophorus Silene armeria Wednesday Glasshouses Potting up Caryophyllales, clearing bench and tools Spot watering Thursday Digging out broad beans in the Genetic Garden and Experimental Plots Watering duties walk around Wedding out Papaverum somniferum and Lactuca (…?) from Fen Display

149

Horticultural Diary – Glasshouse 6th July –

Monday 6th July Practical: Daily horticultural care of the Main and Wetland Tropics. Instructions on this rotation: - The vents and door on the tropical courtyard stays always opened overnight; the allow the

atmosphere to cool down, which is what the tropical plants naturally need. - Feed Victoria cruziana and Nelumbo sp. with …. ; 3 times a week the Santa Cruz water

lilies, 2 times the sacred lotuses. - Keep the water level high in the rice pnd (especially on Fridays); also cut the turf weekly. - Sprays glyphosate on Oxalis …. - Soak up the orchid in pots 3 times a week. - Cut away the old flowers of Thunbergia mysorensis - Tradescantia pallida can be reduced to 1/3 - Containing Strongylodon macrobotrys (don’t prune young shoots – as the flowers are borne

on three year old branches – but comb them over. Every 5 years or so it’s ok a more severe rejuvenating pruning.

- Musa cavendishii tends to get spider mite. Keep an eye on it; don’t allow to dry too much. - Slugs on Eucharis amazonica (Amaryllidaceae) and Tacca chantrieri (Dioscoreaceae). Put

slug pellets; the plants will be reduced and hopefully … - Pruning and pricking out on Acokanthera oblongifolia (Apocynaceae), Psychotria capensis

(Rubiaceae), Persea americana (Lauraceae), Acrosticum aureum (Pteridaceae). - Clearing underneath Guiacum officinale, Phylianthus angustifolius var. elongatus,

Napoleonaea … - Rose watering on the orchid tree in the Long Corridor (daily) Watering and damping down the Short Corridor; everything apart arid end, Aloe Vera and … Taking cutting of the old collections of succulents; all the parents plants will be disposed. The cuttings were prepared last week, so allowing the formation of a callous (usually 1-2 days are necessary for the development of a callous). I also prepare more cuttings to be potted up tomorrow. Plants I pot up this afternoon are: For all the succulent is used coir-perlite mix (50:50) and shallow pans. Mostly in the Crassulaceae: Pachyphytum oviferum, Kalanchoe tomentosa, Crassula muscosa, Dudleya hassei, Cotyledon tomentosa ssp. ladysmith, Echeveria harmsii, Tylecodon buchholzianus. Also Cheiridopsis vanzylii (Aizoaceae) and Senecio longiflorus (Compositae) Last job is to prick out Amborella trichopoda (7 seedlings). I use tropical mix with some ….

150

The Dosatron Cart


The Dosatron Cart


Observations: The news of the day is Amorphophallus titanum is going to flower (it will be in two weeks, when I’m away, unfortunately). One of our Amorphophallus titanum (Titan Arum) has an inflorescence, which is very unexpected. The tuber is a small one I need to check the weight so it will be a small inflorescence for the species, probably a metre to a metre and a half. I have met with Juliet, Alison and Pete and we reckon it is 10 days off opening. We will locate the pot in the central tropics, above the pump housing. Following discussions with Pete and Juliet we feel this offers the best viewing location for the public. I will place our second plant next to it which is currently in leaf. Juliet is working to set up a meeting between all parties on Wednesday just to discuss logistics and the potential for late night opening.

Also creating a dark box for getting iridescencecy from Begonia When potting cacti it’s a good idea to use agricultural gypsum Cacti mix is 1/3 sand, 1/3 fine pumice, 1/3 large pumice + agricultural gypsum

151

The Dosatron Cart


Tuesday 7th July Practical: Daily horticultural care of the Main and Wetland Tropics. Clearing under Guiacum officinale, Phylianthus angustifolius var. elongatus, Feeding aquatics More cuttings of succulents (see pic) Crassula quadrangolaris, Delosperma taylorii and Glottiphyllum ‘Schoenlandii’. Jet washing Placing Begonia … Observations: Wednesday 8th July Practical: Moving Amorphophallus titanum in the Palm House. Daily horticultural care of the Main and Wetland Tropics. Little spare time is left for extra jobs; clearing underneath Napoleonaea … Digging out and re-planting Phillodendron …. (large pumice is put in the planting hole for better drainage) Top-dressing with bark in the Palm House Studying a solution for putting the poles around the titan arum. Wiring …. (big foliage plant) With fishing string Pricking out Fittonia …

152

Thursday 9th July On-going care wetlands and main tropics + measuring and photographing titan arum Feeding Nelumbo + Victoria Thinning Victoria leaves Planting Justicia brasiliana (Acanthaceae) Off for the rest of the day

The Dosatron Cart

Friday On-going staff in the tropics + watering Continents Apart + interpretations, putting slab, poles and swaging + Friday tidy

153

GARDEN TOUR AT CUBG

The management of the lawns

Hi, welcome to everybody.

My name is Giulio Veronese, I’m horticultural trainee at CUBG and have been here for 11

months.

This tour will focus on the management of the lawns at CUBG.

The aim is to bring your attention back to one of the most important part of a garden; over

the last two days you have heard about …..

However, it shouldn’t be forgotten that all these wonderful plants and separate rooms of

the botanic garden are linked and … by the lawns.

What is the Gioconda without its frame? What about a sundial, or a Lutyens bench sitting on

concrete? What will be the exuberant planting of an herbaceous border without the

formality given by this platform? Lawns are the real matrix of the English Garden.

Our tour takes the first steps from THE MAIN LAWN.

This is a real business card of the gardens. During the big events, it’s here that people gather

and activities take place.

Despite these facts, the main lawn and its importance are sometimes overlooked.

I think it’s a shame there is no dedicated chapter on the official Guide of the garden.

The other first rate lawns we have are: Cory Lodge, and the lawns by the two entrances at

Station Road and Brookside, and Calocedrus.

The MAINTENANCE is continuous, especially in summer time (during the grass growing

season). At least 3 hours are spent weekly for high profile lawns; this include only mowing,

with no further treatment and maintenance.

L&M, one of the seven horticultural sections is in charge for the lawns.

Every year the garden spends around £ 3000 in the maintenance of the lawns

(this includes 2500 fertiliser / 400 weed killer / 200 grass seed)

(plus the majority of 200 fuel a month the garden spends overall)

ACTIVITIES that are carried out now from the Landscape and Machinery Section are:

- mow as grow dictates

- lightly top dress

- always check and adjust mower blades

- irrigate if necessary

- aerate if conditions allow (no when too dry)

- apply feed + moss killer + weed killer

From the next months we’ll start raising the height of the cut; carry out more aeration;

brush lawns more stiffly in the morning before mowing (dew is a problem); finally, in

autumn, leaf collecting will be a major job (usually shared between the different teams)

154

EQUIPMENT consists in

4 pedestrian rotary mower

3 pedestrian cylinder mowers

Triple cylinder mower

Ride-on mower

36 inch cylinder mower (dated 1964)

PROBLEMS :All that maintenance is necessary in keeping the lawn healthy.

FAIRY RINGS Circular infections causing

circular rings, maily in late

summer / autumn

Re-soilin, and ten re-turfing or re-

seeding. Washing up has been used for

breaking the water-repellent properties

RED THREAT Most common fungal disease

Brown patches of turf,

especially in wet summers

Application of nitrogen; brushing in the

morning when dewi; improve drainage

and aeration

CHAFER GRUBS Combination of larvae and

birds that feed on them can

turn a lawn in a ploughed

field

Pathogenic nematodes exist

No chemical actions exist

THATCH Lightly scarify if soil is in suitable

conditions

Hand raking may be enough

RENOVATION of the LAWN - Move to the Magnolia Collection

Since my time here, I have seen some of the areas of the garden grassed down (healthy

herbie, and the Euonymus collection). Certain areas of the garden are kept with longer

grass, cut only once at the end of the season (arboretum, pineta ….).

Another solution is to establish a wildflower meadow.

Lawn from seed is generally preferred to lawn form turf.

Advantages are: lower cost, easy to to management, selection of species, quality of result.

The main disadvantage is a slower establishment to lawn from turf.

The seed mixtures are two: one first rate and one shade mix.

SUMMARY - Golden rules for success with your lawn at home:

- selection of correct grass species

- regular mowing program

- regular maintenance program

- irrigation when necessary

- looking out for weeds, pests and diseases

Eye contact with the whole group

Any questions? (then repeat the question, making sure that everybody has heard)

“that’s a good question! I’ll deal with it when we are all together” Keep the answers brief

If I don’t know: “if you give your contact at the end of the tour, I’ll find it out and get back to

you”

“I hope you enjoyed this tour and you can go back to your lawns with some new ideas.

I would like to take this opportunity to encourage you to support the garden”

155

Which mower ?

Which mower ?

156

Cylinder Mower

� Uses a continuous scissor action.

� The blades on the rotating cylinder

cut the grass against a fixed bottom

blade

� The grass is cut by a high-speed

cutting blade travelling parallel to the

ground

Rotary mower

Cylinder mower

advantages

Produces a smooth

cut

usually does no scalp

uneven ground

Good for closely mown

turf

Does not throw hard

objects

Disadvantages

Does not cut long or

wet grass

Needs special

maintenance

Rotary mower

Cuts tall grass easily

Easier to sharpen &

maintain

Hover types easier to

manoeuvre

Can collect leaves in

autumn

Petrol models are

noisier

Can scalp turf

Does not create a long

lasting finish on fine

157

WHAT NEEDS TO BE CONSIDERED?WHAT NEEDS TO BE CONSIDERED?

Lawn from seed Lawn from turf

Though cultivation care withsurface levels

Application of fertiliser Application offertiliser

Clean site Care in selection ofturf

Selection of seed {viability} Uniformity ofsods

Care in sowing {timing} After care

Drought (July 2006)Drought (July 2006)

Greater

Plantain

Plantago major

Dandelion

Taraxacum officinale

Creeping

Buttercup

Ranunculus repens

Daisy

bellis perennisWhite clover

Trifolium repens

Slender

speedwell

Veronica filiformis

Yarrow

Achillia milefolium

158

Horticultural Diary – Systematics 24th August – 4th September