#markshallarboretumn

[jillraggett]

Plant of the Day

Sunday 17 December 2017

A native British fern Pteridium aquilinum (bracken, brake fern) is found in woodlands and heathland. It is tolerant of a wide range of soils and climates and can be spread via spores and underground stems. This plant can be invasive and is not normally planted in gardens but it was catching the sunlight on the forest floor of Marks Hall Arboretum, Essex, where the students of Writtle University College Design Department and staff were given a tour by the curator. We finished with hot drinks and mince pies - thank you to all the team at Marks Hall ! 

Jill Raggett

[jillraggett]

Plant of the Day

Saturday 21 October 2017

The long, thin willow-like leaves of Quercus phellos (willow leaved oak) makes it difficult to recognise as an oak until you can see the typical acorns. This species has been in the UK since the mid 1700s but remains rare. The tree needs a free draining fertile soil with plenty of volume to spread its root system so it is not suitable for urban tree pits. 

Jill Raggett

[jillraggett]

Plant of the Day

Thursday 19 October 2017

Most of the spectacular red-purple coloured leaves have fallen from the Fraxinus angustifolia 'Raywood' (garnet ash). This vigorous medium-sized deciduous tree has a compact, elegant habit. Due to the disease Ash dieback having been found in the UK restrictions have been put in place (from 29 October 2012) regarding both the importation of ash from abroad and the movement of ash within the UK.

Jill Raggett

[jillraggett]

Plant of the Day

Friday 20 October 2017

The display of small, white everlasting flowers of Anaphalis triplinervis (triple-nerved pearly everlasting) contrast with the upright stems of Calamagrostis × acutiflora 'Karl Foerster' (feather reed-grass). Anaphalis is an herbaceous perennial with white-woolly stems bearing greyish-green leaves with white-felted beneath, it will thrive in moist, well drained soils but dislikes winter wet. 

 Jill Raggett

[jillraggett]

Plant of the Day

Monday 23 October 2017

Before the startling display of crimson winter stems Cornus alba 'Sibirica' (Siberian dogwood) puts on some eye catching autumn colour. This medium-sized deciduous shrub forms a thicket of slender red stems with small, cream flowers in a flat head for the summer and white berries in the autumn.

Jill Raggett