Gardeners Blog

30 April 2024

By Gardener Liv

April continues to unfold, hurtling its way towards May. Along the edges of sparkling ponds, the fronds of a Royal Fern unfurl one by one in silvery green elegance. Choppy waters cradle emerging water hawthorn, flowering rows of little white teeth. Bright bluebells spread across the grass, nurtured by dewy mornings, encouraged by the sun. Everywhere leaves hatch from buds still crumpled, like the wings of a butterfly fresh out of a cocoon - painful work, a necessary process. Busy bumble bees hum, shaken from a winter slumber, their earthy homes stirred by root and shoot activity. Though Easter is over, many treasures await in a garden and in the wild. The perfect green of a new tree is one of them.

The vibrant green of spring leaves stands as a sure sign of the season’s arrival. From lime green, to sage, to silver or chartreuse, the spectrum of spring leaf colour dazzles with its wondrous variety. Against the backdrop of still bare branches and tree trunks, these vibrant greens create a striking contrast, often accentuating tones of red, blue and even violet in the wood. These amazing greens are due to chemical processes in the leaves that mirror those occurring in autumn - these two seasons are in a way, cousins. Lower levels of chlorophyll in spring cause the light green of young leaves, which deepen in colour as the year progresses. 

Nowhere is the contrast between new growth and old more striking than in the foliage of evergreen conifer trees. It is fascinating to witness the way these trees steadily undergo each cycle of renewal while retaining their ageing foliage, at once embodying the wisdom of an old soul and the vigour of young growth. In spring, conifers reveal an incredible array of colours in the new leaves and in the young female cones, which is their version of a flower. Spruce cones, in particular, have wonderful patterns and colours that can flourish into the summer months.

Spruces (Picea) are members of the Pine family (Pinaceae), which comprises eleven different familiar species, including Larches (Larix), Cedars (Cedrus), Pines (Pinus) and True Fir (Abies). These all sit in a larger family of trees called Conifers, which simply means 'cone bearing' in Latin. Similarly to the wonderful Magnolia trees mentioned in a previous blog entry, Conifers belong to an ancient lineage of plants closely intertwined with Gingkos and Palms. They fall under the botanical category of gymnosperms, a term derived from Greek meaning ‘naked seed’. In essence, gymnosperm plants bear their seeds on exposed surfaces, such as leaves or, in the case of conifer trees, the scales of their cones, rather than encased within the fruit. The female cones of conifers serve a role akin to flowers, acting as receptacles for pollen. As the cones mature and dry, their scales unfurl, releasing the precious seeds to the ground.

Many coniferous trees have been introduced into the UK from other parts of the world for their invaluable contribution to commercial forestry, spruces being one of them. These are hardworking trees and tough ones. Thriving in the unforgiving landscapes of boreal forests, Earth's northernmost realms stretching from Alaska and Canada to northern Europe and Russia, they endure the harshest of conditions. These conifers are the elders of the forest's realm. One such venerable tree, known as 'Old Tijkko', resides in Sweden. This Norway spruce (Picea abies) boasts roots reaching back an astonishing 9550 years, with a trunk weathered by time, spanning over 600 years in age.

Among the thirty-three diverse species of spruce, none are indigenous to Britain. However, two have firmly rooted themselves in our soil since their introduction: the Sitka spruce (Picea sitchensis) and the Norway spruce (Picea abies). Both flourish at Sheffield Park, where a magnificent Picea abies 'Aurea' graces the path between Nyssa Grove and Birch Grove. In spring, its foliage is a shower of bright green tassels, dripping down from every branch. Another lovely spruce, nestled near the Cricket Pitch on the northwest side behind Queen’s Walk, catches the eye with its striking plum-coloured cones. Against the backdrop of modest green foliage, these cones appear almost unreal, contrasting the blue sky above. This remarkable specimen is a Picea wilsonii.

Numerous spruces also have delicate female cones that resemble little strawberries. One such species is Picea breweriana, aptly named Brewer’s weeping spruce for its graceful cascade of foliage. Each strand is garnished with cones showcasing delicate hues ranging from pink to bronze. A splendid specimen of this weeping conifer stands proudly along South Garden Walk, just before reaching the summer house nestled among the Camellias. Another gorgeous variety of spruce tree lives among our conifer collection, on the opposite side of the lake. Originating from Europe, it goes by the name Picea omorika, with 'omorika' signifying 'spruce tree' in Serbia, its homeland. The visual appearance of Picea omorika is as joyful as its name, with branches that reach skyward in a delightful flick. These are covered with tiny rose-coloured cones contrasting perfectly with the bluish undertones of the foliage.

From the delicate unfurling of fern fronds to the majestic presence of evergreen conifers, each element of our landscape tells its own story of renewal and endurance. While we admire the swift emergence of spring's bright new growth, we can also take a moment to appreciate the enduring grace of evergreen trees. Their steadfast presence serves as a poignant reminder of life's cyclical nature, where resilience meets timelessness in perfect harmony.

1 April

by Gardener Liv

It is always surprising to me how the season of spring has gained such a reputation for being a gentle season. Easter is joyfully celebrated in pastel colours, with vases full of delicate branches festooned with soft feathers or painted eggs, meanwhile the saccharine imagery of rabbits or ducklings decorates shop windows and cafes everywhere. Yet, this time of year is far from tranquil and instead embodies a raw energy that often eludes us.

Think of Stravinsky’s musical piece, Rite of Spring – a memorable theme made famous by its accompaniment to the dinosaur scene in Fantasia – one would hardly describe it as docile. The piece perfectly captures the unpredictable, sometimes even violent, nature of the season, evoking it as a battleground for survival, where animals awaken, hungry, from hibernation, while others fiercely guard their young against menacing predators.

This season is anything but sweet. It is a force to be reckoned with, where life bursts forth into a flurry of activity. In our forests, the air is thick with the pungent scent of wild garlic, a potent herb known for its tonifying properties. Determined to live and thrive, leaves and flowers compete, pushing through earth and wood towards the light and out of their darkness. Still, though, the threat of a frost looms on the horizon.

As humans, we merely grasp the surface of this tumultuous time, only sensing its nuances more keenly in those moments when we are more attuned to our surroundings. Mostly, from our viewpoint as disruptors of nature, we observe from the sidelines, detached from the drama unfolding around us. We may catch a fragment of spring warmth and bask in the sun for a minute or two, delighted by the sight of blossom. Or revel in the sight of a Magnolia in bloom. Out of all the flowering trees, it is the latter that embodies the simultaneous vulnerability and strength of spring more than any other.

Magnolias are the essence of the delicateness of spring. The refined pink tulip shaped flowers of, for example, Magnolia soulangeana, are a common sight in urban areas and parks at this time of the year, as they grow well in most soil types. (There are several nestled in various locations at Sheffield Park and Garden, mostly along Big Tree Walk) Cradled within the petals hides a little cluster of spiky, hedgehog like stamen, which reveal themselves more as the flower passes and loses its petalled mantle. This is a first clue that this flower has a little more resilience than meets the eye.

Magnolias are, simply put, as fascinating as they are beautiful, Magnoliaceae being one of the oldest tree families in existence. They evolved on Earth earlier than bees, coexisting instead with the dinosaurs as far back as 95 million years ago during the Cretaceous period, so it is in fact beetles that pollinate the flowers. Because of this, the Magnolia’s carpels – the female reproductive part of a flower – are tougher than most flowers as they must withstand the damage caused by a beetle’s mandibles while it retrieves pollen.

The natural habitat of Magnolias ranges from North and Central America, and Asia, specifically in China, Japan, and Korea. The difference in blooming times between American species of Magnolia – of which there are eight in total – and the Asian ones, reflects the climates they habitually thrive in. Most American species – such as Magnolia grandiflora  - bloom later once the leaves have been produced and frosts have passed. Meanwhile, most Asian species bloom earlier, on bare branches, untethered by any competition with burgeoning leaves. These wonderfully paired back varieties are depicted in many Asian paintings and art, for example by Katsushika Hokusai or Kubo Shunman, and, as with Camellias, are part of a rich cultural web, spanning myth, science and art.

Other than their claim to fame as one of the oldest trees, Magnolias have been getting a bit of press lately for other reasons. One is their edibility - some species are favoured among modern foragers and chefs, falling neatly in line with the current trend for edible flowers. The other is their intolerance to climate change. As early as 2007, a report published by the BGCI (Botanic Gardens Conservation International) and Fauna and Flora International, found that from a total of 245 species worldwide, around 131 wild Magnolias were in danger of extinction – that is almost half of the Magnolia population. As such, many species are classified as being endangered and feature on the IUCN red list of threatened species.

And so, despite their incredible resilience and capacity to have survived on Earth for thousands of years, many species of Magnolia are also extremely vulnerable to sudden environmental changes. The early blooming varieties, programmed to break through their tough furry shells and flower in warmer conditions, often fall prey to unforeseen cold snaps. In the UK, many gardens are witnessing Magnolia trees flowering earlier, resulting in blooms being damaged by cold before reaching full maturity. However, later flowering varieties, like the grandiflora, show greater resistance to drought, offering a bit of hope amidst changing climates.  

Such is the character of a Magnolia, embodying strength, and frailty, at once, yet this duality takes nothing away from the magnificence of this ancient species of tree. And isn’t the real beauty of nature found, precisely, in such imperfections and contradictions? Or perhaps, at least, in our acceptance and our appreciation of them, for reminding us that change is an inevitable part of life's creative force. 

That is, after all, what the season of spring is really about.
 

12 March

by Gardener Liv

At last March has arrived, bringing with it a tangible sense of hope. February, despite being the shortest month, more often feels like the longest. This past February has also been one of the wettest seen in years, with levels of rainfall shattering records nationwide. In the southeast alone, rain levels surged by an astonishing 64% compared to the long-term average logged between 1961 and 1990. Every week, our news feeds have been inundated with images of flooded roads, fields, and streets. And while this winter has been wetter, it has also been notably milder, with frosty mornings becoming a rarity. Instead, the sky has unleashed multiple storms, even occasionally spat hail, onto the earth below— perhaps, I dare say, in a show of discontent about the way humans are currently handling the environmental issues of our planet.

At Sheffield Park and Garden, the sight of branches strewn across lawns and paths has become commonplace. The gentle autumn breeze only lightly stripped trees of their fading leaves, while harsh winter winds have arrived to clear away any remnants, clutching at leftovers and tearing down any weaker branches. During such heavy showers, Flint Road and Big Tree Walk quickly morph into earth-colored streams of rainwater trickling slowly around stony edges. Bright buds resembling roses float magically in puddles, their colours dancing under the shadow of a stormy sky above. One glance upward reveals the owner of these buds is none other than an elegant Camellia shrub, also sometimes aptly named the ‘rose of winter’.

Since their introduction to Europe in the 18th century, Camellias have been cherished in British gardens and parks for adding colour during the duller months, with many varieties flowering in winter or early spring. Initially deemed tender plants and confined to hothouses, it was later discovered that Camellias are quite hardy, requiring protection only from hard frosts and snow, which can damage buds and flowers. Aside from disliking subzero temperatures, Camellias also struggle with prolonged summer droughts and high winds like those we've recently experienced, making a sheltered spot in the garden preferable.

Native to Asia, Camellias' natural distribution extends from Japan in the northeast to Indonesia in the southwest. Like many of our garden belles, the history of how this evergreen shrub arrived in Great Britain and began to be cultivated is closely intertwined with imperialism and the expansion of British influence across Asia from the late 17th century onward. Specifically, the presence of Camellias in our gardens is linked to the historical production, exportation, and consumption of what is now considered a quintessentially British beverage: black tea. An everyday commodity most of us take for granted, tea comes from the leaves of Camellia sinensis, which has been enjoyed as an infusion in China for thousands of years—all the way back to 200 BC—before reaching our shores.

Today, Britons consume a staggering 100 million cups of tea daily, and the UK remains the largest importer of this culinary commodity globally. While Camellia sinensis is still grown extensively in China, most of our tea now comes from Kenya and India, where concerns about the effects of climate change on crop cultivation, including tea plants, are mounting. Extreme temperatures or erratic weather patterns, such as those we've been experiencing in the UK, pose a threat to drought intolerant species like Camellia sinensis, grown in large quantities for trade, prompting considerable efforts from plant scientists into developing more resilient plants.

The effects of our unpredictable weather are naturally visible in our national plant collections as well, including Sheffield Park and Garden, where we care for a large collection of purely ornamental Camellia species. The early flowering of trees, such as Camellias and Magnolias, may have become somewhat of a norm, but the ripple effects are considerable. Irregular blooming times have consequences for insects, birds, and other fauna that rely on certain plants for nourishment or shelter. Nevertheless, this doesn’t detract from appreciating the winter beauty of these flowering trees, exemplified by the wondrous Camellia japonica Contessa Lavinia, of which there is a wonderful example along Queen's Walk that admirers often liken to a strawberry swirl because of its white and pink striped petals.

Perhaps, considering its history, the Camellia, in all its delicate beauty, may inspire reflection on past and present patterns of global trade, the movement of people and goods across the world, culminating in the current impact of this trend on climate change. As an issue that concerns everyone, there remains hope, I believe, that it will bring humans from across the world together in unexpected ways to forge a new and bold path toward a more sustainable future.

22 February

by Gardener Liv

With the Spring Equinox just a month or so away, and the days lengthening once more, it feels like we're hurtling towards spring. Across Sheffield Park and Garden, the silvery green leaves of daffodils confidently adorn the lawn, while a pheasant treads cautiously among the still dormant giant rhubarb leaves, scurrying away across a puddle and disturbing its crisp reflection of a blue sky. Along Church Walk, soft clumps of lichen hang from the bare branches of an old Larch tree, like jade-colored clouds suspended in the air.

Call it fool’s spring or wishful thinking, but on the warmer days of February, it’s hard not to feel a sense of excitement for the blooms soon to burst into life. A Magnolia tree in bud, for instance, with its bold petals still cocooned in mossy sheaths, for me always signals the season’s arrival, when I spot it in a garden or park.

Sheffield Park and Garden, of course, boasts many flowering trees, including several Magnolias lining Grass Walk – the late spring flowering Magnolia Grandiflora, being one of them, and currently adorned with its velvety seed pods. But beyond the Grandiflora, there is another resident of the arboretum, which rivals any Camellia or Magnolia tree: I'm referring to the Pinus Montezuma, with its striking mass of frothy, blue-green foliage, at once robust and delicate.

As a young tree, the Montezuma starts with a rather unremarkable conic shape, but with age, it develops its distinctive cloud-like crown. This regal conifer is allegedly named after the Emperor Moctezuma, evoking his feather headdress, due to the fan-like arrangement of the needles and its fluffy texture.

Native to Mexico and Guatemala, where it is known as Ocote, the Montezuma pine’s resin is highly flammable. For this reason, it is common in Mexico to use Ocote wood as a torch or fire starter, so timber is harvested on a large scale both in the wild and in cultivation. When burned, it emits a strong aroma and black smoke and has been used for hundreds of years in local ceremonies or rituals.. It is also used in traditional medicine.

While not threatened, Montezuma pines are rare in the UK, due to their size – they simply need a very large space to accommodate them! A Montezuma pine can grow up to about 35 m high and 80 cm in diameter. Our specimen at Sheffield Park – one of our Champion trees – stands over 18m tall and is recorded as one of the widest in the UK, along with two other specimens located in Devon and Dorset.

To reach our Montezuma pine, follow South Garden Walk along First Lake, then turn left up Grass Walk towards Flint Path. Visitors will notice that garden hoops are placed around the area. This is to protect the roots of this magnificent tree from too much compaction and preserve it better for future visitors to admire.

7 February

By Gardener Liv

February is upon us, bringing an unmistakeable sense of optimism as the first signs of new growth tentatively emerge from the ground, announcing the nearing of spring.

Delicate snowdrops seem to appear beneath trees out of nowhere, while the brightly coloured buds of winter flowering Camelias bloom early amongst the evergreens. Rows of trees dance, their leaves lacking, but laden instead with birds chattering busily amongst the branches.

The days are often wet and grey, but on a still morning, the air carries the peppery smell of decaying leaves, moss, and damp earth. At home, the sound of drizzle showering the windowpanes accompanies the tangy scent of homemade marmalade boiling on a stove.

Engaging our senses is crucial for our overall wellbeing because we are highly sentient creatures. Green spaces – gardens, parks, or wild areas – are vital for escaping the clutter and worry of everyday life and returning to the essence of what it means to walk and breathe on this earth. It is no surprise then that the practice of Forest bathing, for instance, has gained popularity in recent years for its ability to restore physical and psychological health by engaging the five senses through exposure to a forest environment.

While vision is often the most relied upon sense for perceiving the world around us, there is so much to discover beyond the visual. Recent research, for instance, has demonstrated how scents can more readily trigger specific memories, because of the way emotions and odour connect in the brain’s anatomy. Many plants have incredible scents, but none is more distinctive than the smell of a conifer tree.

Though conifers aren’t perhaps the most glamorous of trees – in truth, we often get a little tired of them once Christmas is over and other more colourful plants begin to flourish - they are a fantastic example of the incredible scents encountered when out walking in a forest or arboretum, in both winter and warmer months. Have you ever walked through a forest of pine trees on a balmy day and noticed a sweet, almost raspberry like scent? That is the smell of pine resin. In colder months, conifers emit a sharper, more citrussy odour that is uniquely refreshing and can instantly impact our wellbeing.

This smell results from various chemicals in the plants, with the main one being pinene, part of a larger family of organic compounds known as terpenes. These compounds, commonly produced by plants, are responsible for the blue haze sometimes visible over pine covered mountains, caused by aerosols that the terpenes form in the atmosphere, which scatter the sunlight. Though the most abundant, pinene is not the only terpene amongst the volatile compounds given off by conifer trees. There are also other minor constituents, such as one called limonene, also present in the peel of citrus fruits.

In the grounds at Sheffield Park and Garden, numerous conifer trees possess incredible scents, including Abies Grandis, the Grand Fir. The leaves release a strong smell reminiscent of grapefruit or, to some noses, marmalade.

Native to the lowland coastal areas of the Pacific Northwest and the northern Rocky Mountains, Abies Grandis was first introduced in Britain in the 19th century. In its native habitat, it can reach up to one hundred meters in height and is mostly grown for timber. It plays an important role in forest diversification in Britain, because of its being a fast-growing species overall resilient to drought.

There are a couple of Abies Grandis in the grounds of Sheffield Park and Garden, the easiest one to access grows to the left of Grass Walk, on the way up from South Garden Walk towards Flint Road. On the way there, why not take a moment or two to pause and become curious about other scents encountered around the arboretum.

Whether in the warmth of our own homes or the serenity of a forest, our diverse sensory experiences offer more than mere enjoyment—they provide a means to reconnect with ourselves and sense our surroundings in a deeper, more enriching way.

For additional information on where to experience Forest bathing, there is a helpful guide on the National Trust website that conveniently lists various locations across the UK – many are free to visit - where visitors can engage in this beneficial practice

29 January

By Gardener Liv

On cold days like those we've witnessed in recent weeks, there's nothing more heartening than working outdoors and hearing the familiar call of a Robin perched in a nearby tree. As smoky frost glides silently across the lakes in lazy clouds of ice, and our rhododendrons don a glittering layer on their leaves, shivering sunlight pours through bare branches and across the crunchy grass of a meadow.

One challenging aspect of climate change is the potential loss of some of our beloved fauna and flora due to the drastic changes in weather conditions we increasingly experience. The gradual disappearance of certain animal or plant species, driven by factors such as loss of habitat, food sources, and other environmental incompatibilities, not only disrupts the delicate balance of our ecosystems but also affects living organisms, big or small, that rely on these resources for survival.

Beyond the ecological repercussions, there's an emotional dimension to climate change as well, exemplified by the simple joy of hearing the sound of a familiar bird on a cold, silent morning. We derive meaning from our surroundings and, since the dawn of humanity, have shaped our identities, even some of our beliefs, through our interactions with the outside world. Nature, in its myriad forms, is a source of comfort and connection. Caring for the environment transcends self-interest; it is an essential responsibility. What would we be without the diverse array of flora, fauna, and landscapes that surround us? How can we correctly interpret seasonal weather patterns if they no longer have any consistency

The impact of climate change on Sheffield Park and Garden’s tree collection varies from one species to another and reflects a broader challenge faced by scientists worldwide: how do we predict the ways individual plants may respond and adapt to environmental changes in the future? Many uncertainties in this area are still being unravelled. Our native Silver Birch, Betula pendula, exemplifies this. Despite being sensitive to drought in arid regions and therefore vulnerable to climate change, birches are still frequently used to restore forests, as their seed propagation is incredibly efficient. Birches are known as ‘pioneer’ species, due to their high capacity for establishing new woodlands, for example, after forest fires. Referred to as ‘nurse trees,’ they also provide shelter for slower-growing species like Oaks, which benefit from the presence of the deep root systems of the birch that help condition the soil.

Like the Robin, the Silver Birch is a familiar sight in our forests throughout the UK, with its distinctive white bark, black markings, and wispy branches. The Celts, keenly connected to nature, saw the Birch tree as a symbol of purification and renewal, and even today, it is still used to craft brooms or embellish wreaths. Sheffield Park boasts a variety of Birch species growing around the grounds, adding their unique charm to the landscape. In winter, stripped of all their leaves, many birches showcase an incredible array of unexpected patterns and colours in the bark, for example, Betula Ermanii in Birch Grove. Another species, Betula pendula Youngii, on South Garden Walk, has beautiful hanging branches that trail to the ground. And there is, of course, the Silver Birch, in pride of place near the Main Entrance.

From their graceful branches, unique patterns, and colours to their presence in our cultural heritage, birches contribute in their way to weaving the very fabric of our landscapes and our lives. As we take the time to appreciate the enduring beauty of these trees, we are also reminded of the challenges posed to scientists, gardeners, and nature conservationists alike, who are constantly working to strike a balance between preserving our landscapes for the future, adapting to changing conditions, and anticipating them.

9 January

by Gardener Liv

December has gone by as swiftly as it arrived and we now find ourselves in January. Our heads and hearts are filled with memories of glimmering candlelight and twinkling trees, of sparklers illuminating the night, etching names or shapes across the dark sky on New Year's Eve. As we take our first tentative steps into 2024, many of us look forward to beginning a fresh new year and wonder what it will bring. It is human nature to appreciate novelty, to yearn for change, meanwhile we are still creatures of habit—two seemingly contradictory traits that nevertheless coexist.

In the garden, too, our tastes can be fickle and we so often long for novelty and change, especially with the thought of Spring around the corner. As with anything else, plants are subject to our temporal notions of beauty, fashion, and modernity. Our preferences for Parks and Gardens evolve accordingly. Yet, in our pursuit of the new, a sideways glance sometimes allows us to rediscover what might be seen as commonplace plants, with a fresh perspective.

Enter the Mahonia. For my part, I never paid much attention to this shrub until I saw it arranged as a cut flower. Without any other foliage in the display, it appeared spectacular—a holly-like bush transformed into an elaborate sculpture. Similar to Acanthus, Mahonias are relatively easy to grow and often used as filler in neglected garden areas. You might spot Mahonias in car park borders or along roadsides, but they usually aren’t taking up centre stage. Nonetheless, they possess a unique beauty. From a distance, thick, lanky branches twirl like vines, tiered with sharp, dark leaves forming a collar around the stem. Above the foliage, conical clusters of minuscule lemon-yellow flowers emit a scent reminiscent of Lily of the Valley.

Mahonias are commonly known as the Oregon Grape, which likely refers to the dusty blue grape-like berries appearing later in the year, around autumn, depending on the species. It is native to Northern and Central America, the Himalayas, and Eastern Asia. The plant was first introduced into the UK in the 19th century. Aside from their lovely scent, the delicate clusters of yellow flowers provide an extra source of pollen and nectar for insects in the colder months, so Mahonias are also a wonderful plant to have in a garden for this reason.

Visitors can take a moment to reconsider this unique plant by walking up from the Shant and turning right onto Flint Road, where three tall Mahonias - Mahonia 'Charity' - grace a clearing. Remarkably delicate yet robust, this winter plant may evoke images of an Elizabethan ruff or the tail end of a firework. Either way, the New Year invites us to reassess how we perceive the most ordinary plants in our surroundings and perhaps take the time to consider them in a new light.

20 December

By Gardener Liv

December. Cold temperatures prickle on exposed skin. Thick layers of coats, scarves and jumpers hinder our movements. During endless days of heavy rainfall, our feet drag slowly through the mud, heavy and cumbersome. Winter, by its very nature, compels the world to slow down, forcing even the swiftest of us, to take a step back surrender to one of the fallow periods of the year. We mourn the loss of colour in our plants. We are saddened by the absence of kaleidoscopic blooms, fervent green leaves and the sweet perfume of budding flowers filling the air.

Everything seems to fade back into greys, blacks and browns. Until at last, a day of sunlight comes along, revealing droplets of icy water clinging to mossy branches, glinting in the morning sunlight like tiny aqueous baubles.

As with everything in life, we tend to find what we seek. There is colour in winter, too, along with a kind of detailed beauty. It merely requires us to slow down a little and observe more patiently, at a measured pace. The season almost grants us permission to that within ourselves.  

It is when we adopt this approach that we start to notice and appreciate the unique patterns in the bark of a birch tree once its leaves are gone, the unexpected scarlet tint of a wild rosehip during a woodland stroll or the perfect intricacy of a pink Euonymous berry, with its shiny interior, pithy and orange as a clementine.

The Euonymous – commonly known as a Spindle tree - is a rather understated inhabitant of our forests and gardens. The species native to the UK – Euonymous europeaus – bears fruit in late autumn and winter. From a distance, it may not appear very remarkable. Up close, however, one can revel in the complex shape of its brightly coloured, popcorn shaped berries. The seeds are consumed by frugivorous birds and dispersed in their droppings, but all parts of the plants are poisonous to humans if ingested. Small, indeed, but powerful. It is quite fitting, then, that the Euonymous tree shares its name with one of the children of Gaia, the personification of Earth in Greek mythology. Coincidentally, ‘Euonymous’ also happens to mean ‘good name’ in Greek.

Euonymous is a genus of plants native to Europe, Asia and North America. At Sheffield Park and Garden, we showcase a beautiful example native to Japan and East and Central China – the Euonymous kiautschovicus – nestled just around the corner from point 7 on the visitor’s map, where Woodland Walk curves away from Middle Lake towards Big Tree Walk. This variety of Euonymous has either light pink or white berries, which encase its distinctive bright orange seeds. These fruits may not be as noticeable as the bright pink ones of the Euonymous europeaus, but it is worth pausing for a moment or two to admire the graceful droplet like berries hanging off this tree.

Slowing down is all it takes to foster more connection with our surroundings. Even in the quiet of winter, nature is full of gifts. All we need to do is open our senses to discover the treasures hidden amongst our landscapes and gardens, silently awaiting our appreciation.

23 November

by Gardener Liv

We are now more than half way through November and a month away from the Winter Solstice - the shortest day and longest night of the year. In the Northern Hemisphere, the transition from autumn into winter signals the beginning of withdrawal and hibernation. The months leading up to our Solstice have given us time to prepare, slow down and take shelter as grumbling storms rage. Soon, the cold will tighten its clasp on nature and the daylight hours will fold even earlier into the night.

Despite the gloomy clouds that often characterise the month of November, there have been days of reprieve where some truly spectacular autumn colour has been on display. First and foremost in our beloved trees - as illustrated by our incredible collection at Sheffield Park and Garden - but also in our skylines. Indeed, there is nothing more perfect than the sight of amber coloured light spilling across our landscapes at sunset, engulfing every blade of grass and carving out the shadows of oak trees like crisp papercut shapes skimming the horizon. Autumn and winter may be the bearers of darker days, but they certainly deliver as many breathtaking sunsets as the warmer seasons do. 

This characteristic vibrancy of colour during colder seasons, is caused, in part, by the angle of the sun, which varies over the course of the year and determines seasonal variations. In summer, the sun hits the earth from a higher angle. As we get closer to our Winter Solstice, however, the sun rises and sets at a shallower angle. This means that the light from the sun has further distance to travel before it reaches us, which influences our perception of its overall colour. In a nutshell, what we observe are the colours with the longest wavelengths in the light spectrum—specifically reds and oranges. On the other hand, colours with shorter wavelengths, such as blues, yellows, and greens, are scattered and deflected by particles in the atmosphere before reaching our eyes.

Of course, the phenomenon of red skies occurs all year round - shepherds can be delighted and warned in spring and summer, too. However, there is another factor that contributes to intensifying the vividness of sunset colours in the colder months — the humidity levels. In late autumn or winter, when the air is cold and holds less moisture, especially after storms and rainfall, clear days provide ideal conditions for a radiant display of red and orange hues in the sky. Furthermore, because of the way the sun is angled, the length of a sunset is stretched, which means we can enjoy them for a longer amount of time, too.

There is no better place to admire the beautiful seasonal sunlight than on a clear day across the Parkland at Sheffield Park and Garden. It is the perfect end to a visit to the gardens, where there are still a few splashes of autumn colour left to be enjoyed.

11 November

by Gardener Liv

As the last embers from bonfire night rest on the ground in grey puddles of ash, November rain and wind increasingly pepper our gardens with leaves. While some trees have lost a good part of their foliage, autumn isn’t over just yet. Shades of orange, amber and deep red continue to warm the landscape at Sheffield Park and Garden.

Luminous yellow gingko leaves brush against bark darkened by rain, while many of our maples, such as the Acer palmatum 'Suminagashi', are still clothed in their distinctive red mantle, contrasting beautifully with the lichen covered branches of some of the older trees in our collection. Near Cascade Bridge, the tips of Cornus alba spring from the ground, creating their own firework like display of burgundy clusters.

With the colour orange in mind, I’d like to focus my attention this week on a particular tree that regularly captures the attention of passers-by, due to its surprising colour: the dawn redwood, Metasequoia glyptostroboides. There’s no need for extensive searching to find this tree; it is unmissable, standing proudly along first lake, its reflection a copper coloured mass contrasting blue skies on sunnier days.

The foliage of the dawn redwood is a distinctive feature that sets this species of sequoia apart from others. Not only is it of a remarkable colour, but unlike its relatives - the giant sequoia, Sequoiadendron giganteum, and the coast redwood, Sequoia sempervivens - the dawn redwood is also deciduous. This means that rather than remaining evergreen, it sheds its leaves in the autumn and welcomes new shoots in spring. It is also smaller than the other two redwood and, until its rediscovery by a forester in China in 1944, was thought to be extinct. Until that point, the dawn redwood was only known from fossil evidence dating back 100 million years, hence its being described as a “living fossil” among horticulturists.

To see the dawn redwood before it sheds all its leaves for the winter, visitors should turn left from Main Entrance around a curved path that leads downward towards Ten Foot Pond. The path joins South Garden Walk, past a big patch of giant rhubarb (Gunnera tinctora) and a large blue cedar (Cedrus atlantica glauca) both on the right-hand side near the water edge. The area around the dawn redwood is decorated with large quantities of its delicate copper needles that have already collected on the floor.

6 November 2023

by Gardener Liv

November has arrived, swept in by strong winds that toss and turn our trees and hasten the transformational process of Fall. For those of us living in the Northern Hemisphere, we now find ourselves in the last segment of our journey through this colourful season. November brings with it a marked sense of retreat. The clocks go back and we too, sense a distinctive need to slow down, while nature continues to unravel itself and crawl into hibernation.

While the Autumn hues continue to burn brightly, the heavier rainfall and wind has begun to tear larger quantities of leaves from their branches. The fallen foliage of Nyssas, birches and maples, collects in colourful clusters around the waterlilies in our ponds, undulating on the wind rippled surfaces of the water. Thick carpets of feathery leaves weave their way over the grass, each one adorned with unique details resembling the plumage of a pretty bird.

This brings me to one of our much cherished trees at Sheffield Park and Garden - the Parrotia persica, also known as the Persian Ironwood. Clothed in fairly unremarkable green foliage in spring and summer, it is in autumn that Parrotia comes into its own, as the leaves burst into an ornate sequence of reds, oranges and yellows, each motif as unique as the feathers of a bird. The name ‘Parrotia’, however, does not actually come from the word ‘parrot’, but from the name of a German Naturalist, Friedrich Parrot, who was the first European to reach the summit of Mount Ararat, in eastern Turkey.

The Parrotia persica itself originates from the forests south of the Caspian Sea, specifically from the region of the Alborz mountains in Iran and Azerbaijan. Though it is not currently endangered, there are concerns around the conservation of the tree, due to the deforestation and industry that encroach onto its habitat. It is also a member of the Hamamelidaceae family, the witch hazel, of which visitors will find several other examples at Sheffield Park and Garden. 

To catch a glimpse of a Parrotia (before it spreads its wings and flies away!) visitors can head to the Coach House Café, where they will find a stunning example growing in the yard. Other locations to spot the tree include half way down Church Walk and on the right hand side when walking from 1st Bridge to 2nd Bridge. 

27 October

By Gardener Liv

It is always intriguing how, while the sun sets earlier each day and the darkness creeps in, nature simultaneously puts on its most fiery display, as if to offer warmth amid cooling temperatures. The transformation of leaves changing colour is, of course, all down to science (see previous blog post on October 14) and how our eyes perceive colour. Nevertheless, I prefer to think of nature as a clever storyteller, mirroring our own lives and the changes we experience as winter approaches.
 

The brilliance of golden and yellow colours in the trees, illuminating our forests and gardens from dawn to dusk, is particularly captivating for this reason. Even on the rainiest of autumn days, like those we have witnessed over the past week, these bold golden and yellow shades serve as a torch on the darker, gloomier days.

It was on one of these soggy autumn afternoons that a rather beautiful species of birch tree, ablaze with yellow leaves the colour of the sun, caught my attention. Commonly known as the Virginia round-leaf birch, Betula uber is a rare species of birch and an endangered species of tree in North America. Though it is not located in a particularly obvious location in Sheffield Park and Garden – slightly away from the main path – it is unmissable, framed by the deep purple leaves of an Acer palmatum of the Amoenum group, surrounded by a carpet of golden leaves.

To get this remarkable tree from the main entrance, it is a short walk down Aucklandii Way, then a right turn onto Coke Road. The Betula uber is on the left hand bank of Coke Road, amongst our collection of conifer trees. On the way there, visitors will also catch sight of another golden splendour: the Carya cordiformis, or bitternut hickory tree, just opposite main entrance.

19 October

by Gardener Liv

As October meanders closer to November, we are starting to see more of a nuanced palette of yellows, oranges and reds weaving an intricate canvas of colour throughout the greenery at Sheffield Park and Garden.

Autumn’s hues, often described as a beautiful, almost magical phenomenon, stem from a particular scientific process, which is the degradation of chlorophyll in the leaves of trees. 

Chlorophyll is the chemical in leaves that helps them absorb energy from the sun and create their own food by photosynthesis. It is also what gives them their green colour, which is why when the levels of chlorophyll weaken, we are left with other pigments – yellows, reds, oranges – already in the leaves but masked during the warmer months.

Furthermore, the depth of the colours is influenced by the weather, so if the summer and autumn have been dry, we will see darker, deeper colours, particularly the reds which are due to a higher concentration in sugar (glucose) in the leaves. 

Nowhere is this latter idea more vividly illustrated than with the Cercidiphyllum japonicum, also known as the ‘Candy Floss’ tree, of which there is a small group located off Conifer Walk, near the intersection with Concrete Path and Nyssa Grove. Passers by may notice in this area a faint smell of burnt sugar or toffee apples as they walk by. This is particularly heightened on a damp day, or by picking up a handful of brown leaves from the floor and crunching them in one hand. The characteristic scent of the ‘Candy Floss’ tree is due to the release of another organic compound via the leaves of the as they begin to turn colour and the sugars in their leaves break down. This compound is called maltol and is also found in larch trees and pine needles.

It takes a short walk down Church Walk from first bridge, via a small grass path on the right across to Conifer Walk, to reach the ‘Candy Floss’ tree.

On the way, visitors will pass several varieties of maples already donning hues of bright and deep reds. Acer palmatum amoenum and Acer palmatum 'Dissectum Ornatum' - with its light feathery leaves now turning golden yellow - are two of my favourites. If it’s a rainy day, why not take a moment to pause in a nearby summer house on Conifer Walk, perhaps with a hot cocoa or a cup of tea in hand.

14 October

By Gardener Liv

Caught in between the end of summer and onset of winter, the autumn is a season that can sometimes carry with it a sense of sadness. Many of us dread the shortening of days, the night that creeps in earlier and earlier in the afternoon. Despite this, it is my favourite time of the year, because one of the remarkable features of the autumn is the change in the light. 

At this time of the year, the sun begins to travel through a lower path in the sky and so the quality of light is softer and has that golden quality to it that we associate with this time of the year.

In the garden, the longer shadows stretch across the paths in pretty patterns, etched from the leaves of the beech and maple trees. 

An early morning walk is the best time to enjoy this special autumn light, so I recommend you come along at 9am for our early openings. One of my favourite spots is Nyssa Grove, which visitors can reach by walking from the main entrance, down Aucklandii Walk and Conifer Walk. 

Nyssas are originally from North America and Sheffield Park and Garden holds the largest collection in the UK. Many were grown from seed by Arthur Soames, who liked them because of their variability in shape and size. The older tree is particularly notable for its appearance – the branches hang down low to the ground, like long graceful arms. It is easy to see why the tree was named ‘Nyssa’ which refers to a Greek water nymph. At this time of the year, there is also something quite magical about the way the light trickles through the leaf canopies of Nyssas. 

Nyssa Grove continues from here along the lake, winding through a grove of birches, then across Cascade Bridge, up towards the Cricket Pitch. Amongst a meadow laced with dewy spiderwebs, this is also a wonderful area to sit and take in the autumn morning and watch the sun making its slow ascent into the sky.
 

8 October 2023

by Assistant Head Gardener Chris

As we head in to early October, we are watching the garden carefully each day to see how autumn is progressing. 

We watch the forecast eagerly and await cold nights with anticipation as they bring the quickest change, by speeding up the process of colour change (more about the science of this in a later blog!)
 
We’ve just experienced the warmest September ever and October is still unseasonably warm, so this is slowing the transformation down but we can finally see the colours starting to emerge, with some early interest across the entire garden, particularly in our maples, nyssa and beech trees.

We are on the cusp of our autumn spectacle, so check back in for weekly updates.