The Sequoia as it stood just two weeks ago over 130ft tall.
Last weekend (13th-15th) we, together with the rest of the UK, braced ourselves for the first of the severe winter gales. And with it came the most surprising of bad news. On Saturday morning I recieved the message that there was no damage in the garden appart from the top 30ft of one of our largest Sequoias blowing out. Suddenly my greenhouse ending up on the other side of the garden seemed rather insignificant! But on reflection this is not the only Sequoia in the garden where the top has broken out. I know of two others that have recovered well, producing new leaders and carrying on as normal.
And this is the top of the Sequoia now, at 100ft.
On a more positive note our champion Macedonian Pine (Pinus peuce) has been proved to be as healthy as ever! Concern was rife when the fungi Phaeolus that has co-exsisted with the Pine for 15yrs or so appeared more prolific than ever this autumn. We had to find out the structural strength of the decay which we thought was advanced. Ha! The Pine once more defies our understanding and ‘experience’ and says it’s going to outlive us all! I didn’t know whether to cry with relief or laugh at how little we really know about trees and fungi.
Thanks, Em.
The colour and light displays in the autumn always attracts photographers, both
Swamp Cypress on Monday 3rd.
amateurs like me as well as professionals. It’s a tripod invasion! This week the Swamp Cypresses are fully bronzed and the Dawn Redwoods are starting to change. The Liquidambars on Oak Patch are bright red to purple, and the beech trees still have all the colours of a hot flame.
Stouhead’s Top Trees is doing well, an introduction to the tree collection for families. Pick up a set of ID cards at the entrance kiosk and hunt for 5 trees in the collection using the easy to understand key. It’s free but please hand them back for others to use!
Take care in the autumn weather and enjoy! Em.
Pinetum Nursery soon filled up.
After three hard working voluntary groups we have finally cleared enough space to start planting up the Pinetum, the brambles and bracken will make place for trees from all over the world. Many of these trees are grown from seeds collected in the wild where populations are threatened or endangered making ex-situ conservation necessary. The Pinetum Nursery is designed for smaller plants that need support from each other and protection from animals; the site also provides optimal growing conditions for trees. There will also be trees planted in their final positions to join the individuals planted in 2006.
Come and see for yourselves! Thanks, Emily.
Phaeolus schweinitzii
After a short stint of dry late summer weather it’s feeling distinctly autumnal as the wind picks up and lights are being switched on mid-day. Most travel to Stourhead for the autumn colour but a few come to look at fungi! Or more precisely fungus fruiting bodies. The main body of fungi is a network of underground mycelium, a fluffy substanse not unlike the stuff that grows on forgotten food in the fridge. What we call mushrooms are in fact the reproductive stage of the fungi life. Most fungi sporulate in the autumn as wet and windy conditions are favourable for fungi spores to sucessfully spread.
Thanks, Em. (aka Mrs Fungus)
Best View in the House
I have so much to tell you I can hardly contain my excitement. Firstly the press launch for the Wessex plant recording was monumental in how much prep. work was needed, I’m still working on some of the interpretation! We could not have hoped for a wider audience than what we achieved on bbc news. The crowd stopper Tree Frog Climbing Adventures (right) drew attention as always and featured in many a news paper in the week following. And with their appearance at the Oak Fair I think all parties have enjoyed good publicity for all the right reasons!
We’ve also completed and published the new tree list, which has been really well received. And to finalise the project staff and volunteers were invited to Westonbirt to look at how they interpret their collections.
View news clip at: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sci/tech/8196615.stm
Thanks, Em.
Leaf Detail
Fellow bloggers I’ve been away for too long! But I have good reason… Wednesday is the date for the press launch announcing Wessex Plant Recprding Programme. In the garden we plan to have various information points where visitors can read about what the programme means nationally, regionally and for us at Stourhead. All day Wednesday we’ll have Tree Frog in the garden showing how modern day plant collectors get seed from high up in the canopy of trees. Alan and I will be on hand for most of the day talking to anyone who will listen about our collection and the importance of its conservation.
Phacelia - Green Manure
Green Manure is a fairly new concept, I first came across it visiting an organic farm down in Cornwall about 5 years ago. Basically, in the past fields were fertilised then left fallow in between crop seasons. We then became aware of leaching, where nutrients wash out of the soil as there are no roots to bind them. Another issue with ground laying fallow is weeds establishing and erosion, both increasingly hot topics. The answer is growing a short lived crop that covers the soil. Thus preventing weeds establishing, whilst roots bind the soil and prevents nutrients from being leached out. The crop is simply dug into the soil and left to rot down for a short while before the new crop is started. Genius. For green manure suggestions don’t hesitate – just ask!
The time has come for me to have a short break from my work, so if you’ll excuse me, I’m putting my feet up for two whole weeks! I’ll gladly answer any questions upon my safe return! Take care, Em.
Giant Oak-apple
I saw this oak apple in the garden the other day and had to take a picture. It goes to show the diversity of wildlife we can sustain and find in the garden – right next to the path. I wonder how many others have spotted it. Have you? /Em
Blanket Weed and Algae makes the Water Green.
As we enjoy the warmer weather the algae and blanket weed do the same flourishing and blooming making the lakes at Stouhead un-sightly. This is due to over-fertilisation in the past both from sewage being pumped into the main lake and also run-off from surrounding land. The nutrients are held and gradually released from the silt making the problem difficult to resolve. Although pollution from run-off has stopped as we work with our tennants to improve water quality, it doesn’t solve the issue immediately. Our plan is to de-silt the arms of the lake where fertile ‘goo’ collects due to stagnant water and to pump water into the arms to prevent stagnation in the future. So until John Deere develop an amphibious mower able to mow blanket weed, we shall have to be patient and continue our efforts towards clear, healthy water!
Last weekend, especially Saturday night, was rough and the wind direction took some of the plants by surprise. Oaks drop live branches in the summer, known as summer limb drop, and it can happen anytime – which is why you shouldn’t picnic under oaks in the summer! But other trees lost limbs including the Macedonian Pine, a Western Hemlock and half an Acer tree (Maple) broke out!
Flower Detail: Group of flowering dogwoods.
There is good news… the flowering dog woods (Cornus kousa and C. florida) are looking unusually splendid and the roses in the village borders are showing off too!
Take care, and no more wind!
