I could not resist the urge to sit at this inviting perch presented by the diverging trunk of this magnificent almost luminous orangey tree. Bibha and I were visiting Greys Court, a stately home in Oxfordshire, looked after by National Trust.
This rather modest house is set in an idyllic expanse of green countryside. The manor has existed in one or the other form since 11th century and is listed in the Domesday Book as to be held by a Norman knight Anchetil de Greye. Its large garden was renovated and redesigned by the last occupier of the house Dorothea Elizabeth Irving, Lady Brunner in mid-20th century.
We had a
guided tour of the house and then wandered off to the walled garden just next
to the house. it was tastefully laid leading a visitor to various separate
areas or rooms as they are called. Each area is designed differently with
different types of plants and trees brought to United Kingdom from various
corners of the world. The flowers were spectacular, and trees were magnificent.
The last room was an orchard full of fig, apple, pear and plum trees of
different varieties. The apples and pears trees were laden with fruits. One of
the gardeners, working nearby allowed us to pick a few.
Outside the
walled garden is a huge garden and an arboretum. By the time we walked into the
surrounding woodland we had done a few miles. We felt a bit tired. I started
looking for a bench to give a little rest to our legs. I can sit on the ground,
no problem, but getting up is a bit difficult to put it mildly. There was none
in sight. We marched on.
We sat on one
of the stout thick trunks which had an almost horizontal perch. A good place to
enjoy our freshly picked apples! I
wondered what the name of the tree was. While taking my photo Bibha pointed to the
tiny label sticking behind my legs. Arbutus andrachnoides. It did not make any
sense to me; I thought to google it at my
phone but changed my mind. I would do it at home. Here, just enjoy the nature.
While tracing
our steps back to the car we came across the same gardener who had allowed us
to take the fruits. I described the tree to him. he immediately said it was his
most favourite tree too. And he went on to describe a lot of fascinating stuff
about this tree in a very animated and amusing way over the next ten minutes. Here I am just putting the basic summary and I must apologise for not being able to reproduce his wonderful style.
The parentage
of this tree is remarkably interesting, it is a naturally occurring cross
(hybrid) between two species of Arbutus – Arbutus
unedo and Arbutus andrachne. These trees are native to
Mediterranean and Middle East. The scientific name is professionally written
with a cross in the middle Arbutus × andrachnoides.
Apart from its striking colour the tree has many other equally amazing features. It has beautiful white flowers with a tinge of red and they are fragrant too. The fruits mimic strawberries and hence its common name Strawberry Tree! the fruits are edible and do have antioxidant properties. What's more, It is evergreen, so looks equally stunning even in the dark desolate winter months. No wonder it gained the Royal Horticulture Society's Award of Garden Merit!
But as the Biblical saying goes, there is a fly in the ointment. This tree is infertile, it does not produce viable seeds. Well, all nice and beautiful things do have a little bit of flaws, don’t they!
1 comment:
A heritage tree which has stood the misgivings of the nature deserved your yearning attention. You have described this tree in its full scope while providing a historical backstop.
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