An autumn walk with…
Well, the colours are progressing nicely here at Westonbirt and I have been out on more than a few mad dashes in the last few days capturing what I can and will highlight just a snippet of what has been catching my eye (and nose!).
Starting in Silk Wood and up Willesley Drive, glimpsing into Sand Earth is a fantastic view of a young Cercidiphyllum japonicum, the Katsura tree from Japan and China, really doing its thing. But hurry, this one has a tendency to lose its leaves at rather short notice!
Further along the marvellous scent of candy floss (or similar – you decide!) wafts its way down the path as you near a more a more mature example of this fantastic species!
Moving onto Broad Drive and to a group of Carya species on both sides of the path, with the foliage at slightly different stages of turning their characteristic butter yellow colour. If your lucky you might catch sight of the fruit of this species, which if you can get your nose up to, is well worth a good sniff! Again, I’ll let you decide what these smell like – everyone’s sense of smell is slightly different after all!! Let us know what you think!
Heading down The Link and aswell as some of the maples, the North American birch species are starting to turn. Betula alleghaniensis and Betula lenta both turn a good yellow and the metallic bark of the former - a good identification characteristic used to differentiate between the two - looks just stunning caught in the autumnal sunlight, though I might leave this one to the real photographers to capture!
Well, as I am sure everybody is aware, it is a great year for fruits! Three of my favourites this year belong to the genus Sorbus and can be seen along Palmer Ride. Close to the bottom of The Link are fine examples of Chinese species S. glabriuscula (40.0039), with white fruits, and those of S. olivacea (40.0238) showing a good pink – stunning!
Heading down Palmer Ride towards Waste Drive, two examples of S. scalaris, another Chinese species, are absolutely laden with fruits, to the point that you almost wonder if the branches will succumb under the weight. This could all change once the birds come across them, though I am expecting the foliage to provide a good show slightly later on also. A great tree for the garden I would say!
Into the Old Arboretum and you won’t want to miss the purple(ish!) fruit of another member of the Rosaceae, Crataegus schraderiana, a hawthorn species native to areas in the south east of Europe and appreciative of the summer heat we enjoyed this year.
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I won’t say too much about Acer Glade other than it is well worth wandering through, as always!! But do take your time! Here and the adjacent Colour Circle are coming on nicely and at the entrance to the latter, a few flowers can still be seen on the late flowering seven son flower, Heptacodium miconioides. Another Chinese species, the flowers are pleasantly fragrant, and are worth a whiff!
Moving back round Loop Walk and the Enkianthus perulatus is also beginning to show some good colour. One of a genus in the Ericaceae more known for its bell-shaped flowers in spring, its autumn colour is also there to be appreciated!
And finally for now, and as mentioned in Mark’s blog entry earlier this month, the Symplocos paniculata are really coming into their own now. An abundance of fruit on three plants growing side by side along Circular Drive are looking just stunning with their sapphire blue berries really standing out in the crowds.
Just as well these may be around for a little while yet, as they (as with all else, I might add!) are well worth multiple visits for admiration!
