Towards the end of autumn

A blaze of rich autumn colour on Acer palmatum 'Coonara Pygmy' - an excellent compact form of the Japanese Maple.




Tree team member Sean Lewis flail collecting. This is done each year towards the end of autumn to encourage the growth of wild flowers.




Bedgebury Pinetum is the holder of the NCCCPG Yew Collection. This tree (Taxus baccata 'Fructo Lutea') is the golden-fruited form of our native yew.




Pedro Leo Lobos, curator of the National Seed Bank in Chile, standing alongside a young Fitzroya cupressoides (Alerce). Pedro was in charge of our expedition to Chile, so it was great to be able to show him some of the conservation work we undertake at Bedgebury.




Autumn colour in Dallimore Valley





Male cones on the Deodar (Cedrus deodara) releasing the pollen that will fertilise next year's cones.





A good crop of holly berries. These will provide a valuable food source for many of Bedgebury's feathered friends over the winter months.





A fantastic range of colours produced by the leaves of the Sweet Gum (Liquidambar styraciflua) which is often confused with the maple tree. It differes in having corky bark and the branches are alternate rather than opposite. Also, unlike maples, it doesn't have winged fruits.





A lovely specimen of the Sweet Gum (Liquidambar styraciflua) in full autumn colour in Dallimore Valley (just down from the Wellingtonias).





The golden yellow Ginkgo leaves are looking amazing at the moment. The Ginkgo originates in China, but we don't know whether it still occurs in the wild. On our trip to China in 2008 we saw some fantastic specimens planted in the grounds of monestaries. It is one of the most pollution-tolerant trees, commonly planted as a street tree around the world. These are almost always male trees, however, as the fruits on the female trees smell absolutely disgusting!!! Ginkgo can grow to a massive size, but there are now dwarf and slow-growing varieties ideal for the garden.




One of the young Ginkgos growing in Dallimore Valley. The largest specimens we have are growing in the area between the dwarf conifer collection and the Glory Hole.



Witch hazel (Hamamelis virginiana) flowers in winter.

Autumn at Bedgebury

The leaves are starting to turn as Autumn puts on its beautiful display in the National Pinetum over the next few weeks.

Conifers provide a perfect green backdrop for the spectacular autumn colour. Look out for the bumper crop of berries and cones. The cold winter and lack of spring frost has resulted in a 'mast' year (contrary to popular belief, an abundance of berries doesn't necessarily mean a hard winter to come). While natural regeneration happens all the time, we generally get the best results if we propagate from collected seed, as we carefully document its origin and ensure wherever possible that we use seeds from different locations and habitats in order to create a broad gene pool.

Late summer

11th June

The superb spring continues into early summer. The late flowering Rhododendrons are starting to tail off, but the baton has been picked up by many others trying to outdo each other. Starting on the bank opposite the visitor centre, you cant fail to miss the deep purple red of the Smoke Bush (Cotinus ‘Grace). Just up behind them are a small group of Cornus kousa (Japanese Strawberry Tree) covered in white flowers (some pinky). Also look out for them in Autumn as they turn a fantastic rich crimson. If we are lucky they might fruit as well, producing strawberry-like fruit (hence the common name). These were only planted in 2006 - there are some slightly older specimens also covered in flower on the left-hand side of the big Leyland hedge.



Carrying on down Dallimore Valley on the bank to the right of the Leyland hedge (just by the turning towards Marshalls Lake) there are three Horse Chestnuts in flower (Aesculus x dallimorei). These are the first plants I grafted (back in 2003). The original plant material came from a grafted tree in Kent prior to 1956, but it is the name that's of particular interest - it's named in honour of William Dallimore, the first curator of the Pinetum. He laid out the original collection in 1925. Dallimore was also the first arborist at Kew Gardens and has written some very important books on pruning, conifers and hollies (and had a valley named after him at Bedgebury!). There is also a recently cultivar of Ash named by Kew Fraxinus ‘William Dallimore - a selection with fantastic deep purple Autumn colour. We have a small example on the top of the bank opposite the visitor centre.

Carry on around Marshalls lake passing the last of the Rhododendrons in flower over the bridge. Around to the right along the edge of the stream are the Mountain Laurel (Kalmia latifolia) from eastern North America. Clusters of pink flowers are covering the plants at the moment. Before they are fully open they look like iced gems.

The native plants are doing equally well. The last of the bluebells have now gone and it is the turn of the orchids to take centre stage. Odd spikes of pink/white and purple can be seen in the longer grass areas around the site. These are the Common Spotted Orchid (Dactylorhiza fuscsii), named for the spots on the leaves. If you take a close look at the spikes you can see the are made up of many tiny beautiful flowers. If you are really lucky you might spot a Bee Orchid (Ophrys apifera). In and around the ponds the Yellow Iris (Iris pseudacorus) are also looking really good.

Bedgebury in Bloom

Thursday 14th May 2009


The National Pinetum team is dedicated but small. We are therefore very grateful to the Friends of Bedgebury volunteers who do stirling work every second Sunday of the month between September and May. If you are interested in helping give Friends Secretary Malcolm Dove a call on 01580 879842.



Bedgebury Friends volunteers clearing Rhododendron ponticum. Why? Because it's in danger of smothering important specimens in the collection and clearing it releases space for other plantings.


The Glory Hole - stunning display by the Rhododendrons

The spruce has got his hat on

A young Picea likiangensis cone

Newly-formed female Larix laricina cone

Heavily-scented Rhododendron luteum

Rhododendron luteum in flower

Following on from the success of my Chilean blog, I have decided to continue blogging, so that I can keep you informed of all the exciting things to see around the year at Bedgebury. The National Pinetum is not just a world-class conifer collection - there are many hidden gems and surprises at Bedgebury. I will use this blog to point you in their direction.

Cones

When people think of conifers the first things that spring to mind are Leyland Cypress, Christmas trees or uniformly green and non-flowering trees. However, at this time of year, they produce cones in many shapes, sizes and colours. I would like to point out some of the best of these young cones and hopefully change your mind. Check out the Tamarack larches (Larix laracina) on the bank across the lake from the visitor centre. There is a small group planted in the last few years that even at this early age a producing their beautiful small burgundy-coloured cones (the inspiration for the Bedgebury logo and corporate colour scheme).



As you walk down Dallimore valley from the visitor centre talk a few minutes to cross over to the Spruce (Picea sp) bank over to the right. At the moment many of the trees are laden with young cones varying in colour from pink and red through to purple and blue, depending on their species.

Young Douglas fir cones

The Douglas Firs (Pseudotsuga menziesii var. glauca) at the far end of the Leyland cypress hedge are covered in pinky red hedgehog-like cones. Keep an eye out for the various Fir Trees (Abies sp) around the Pinetum. Many are loaded with candle-shaped cones in various colours.

Abies cones

Blossom

Last winter temperatures dropped as low as minus 14 degrees centigrade (we have censors all round the Pinetum which automatically record temperatures every fifteen minutes). Despite this, we are witnessing some of the best blossom ever this spring and early summer, in particular the cherries, flowering crab apples and rhododendrons. The later flowering Rhododendrons around Marshalls Lake are well worth a look.

Some of my personal favourites at the moment are the Horse Chesnuts or Conker trees (Japanese horse chestnut Aesculus turbinata, red horse chestnut Aesculus x carnea, sweet buckeye Aeand, of course, the common chestnut) and also the Crab Apples (Malus sp.) in Dallimore Valley. But the crowning glory is the magnificent display of colour in the Glory Hole - currently at its peak. The heavy scent that you can smell all round the top end of the Pinetum is from the yellow trumpet-shaped flowers of Rhododendron luteum from Northen Turkey and Eastern Europe.

Wild flowers

Bedgebury is not all about exotic trees and shrubs. The Pinetum also provides a sanctuary rich in native flora and fauna. Wild flowers, animals, reptiles and insects thrive here due to a balanced and sympathetic approach to the management of the site. The star of the show at the moment is the common Bluebell, with its gently nodding lavender blue flowers forming a carpet at the feet of the trees. It is estimated that 70% of all the worlds Common Bluebells are found in the UK - look out for pink and white ones too.

Bluebells in Dallimore Valley

We do request that you enjoy this unique place responsibly and don't pick any of the cones and wild flowers so that others can enjoy them too.

I hope this blog will help to make your trip to Bedgebury all the more interesting and enjoyable. I will update it regularly to keep you posted on the best things to see all round the year.