Goodbye Natalie aka Ms Tree Year 2011 – I’d have liked to contribute to the meme but only found it halfway through last year so I’m picking up the baton and continuing by example, with a month by month record of my chosen tree for 2012. 1
(clockwise L to R: Black Poplar, winter 2010; winter 2011; mid-autumn foliage;)
In 2011 I’d focused on the Black Poplar of Russell Square and therefore it was distressing to see it one summers day pollarded massacred back to full nudity. Since it is protected under the London Biodiversity Action plan, I’m astounded that contractors, who only know one end of a chainsaw from the other, were let loose on this precious specimen – or in fact, any of our urban trees. I could write volumes about this but enough to say that despite the amputations, the Black Poplar leafed up again by Autumn. We nod to each other as I jog around the square but it’s a disarming sight to see the tree now, without its archery accoutrements.
“Bring me my Bow of burning gold;
Bring me my Arrows of desire:
Bring me my Spear: O clouds unfold!
Bring me my Chariot of fire!”
And with the forward-looking face of Janus, a very different tree has fallen under the arborphile’s gaze – a weeping beauty which recently caught my eye. One of triplets in Old St Pancras churchyard but without a label for reference, I was mystified. Having some resemblance to Mulberry and Whitebeam and clearly not either. Even an internet search of this historic spot gave no reference to the intriguing trees and then a similar specimen in Gordon Square with ID seems to have solved the mystery: Ulmus glabra ‘Camperdownii’ .
It’s a weeping Wych Elm cultivar where ‘Wych’ refers to the suppleness of twigs rather than the more occult connotations. Although the twisted, sculpted limbs of a Camperdown elm produce such fabulous contortions that eyes, limbs and skulls can easily be discerned by a gothic horror imagination.
One might even surmise that Frankenstein was spawned here when the teenage Mary Godwin and her lover Shelley courted over the nearby grave of her mother, Mary Wollstonecraft. Nevertheless history is more prosaic than fiction for the ‘Camperdownii’ Wych Elm was not in existence until a few years later and only became a popular small tree for parks and gardens in the latter half of the Victorian era. 2
Despite its weeping habit, the Camperdown elm is not to be confused with Ulmus glabra ‘Horizontalis’, another pendulous cultivar discovered in a Perth nursery circa 1816. 3 Smaller, more compact and with a flattened head, ‘Camperdownii’ is most distinctly “the Umbrella Elm” and I look forward to a year of discovery with this particular Wych.
Dedication: Speaking to one of the contractors sweeping leaves in Old St Pancras churchyard, I found a fellow arborophile. ‘Patrick’ tried to help identify the trees but even his Amenity/ Horticulture/Landscaping knowledge was stretched here. Although he has City & Guilds qualifications he is paid no more than the contractors who are certified to operate the equipment. In short our public parks and gardens are tended by machine operatives and so they get the treatment our councils and ultimately we, are prepared to pay for.
Dear Laura, Topping trees seems to be a world-wide malady. Our master gardener education program seems to fall on deaf ears. Home gardeners here actually pay for the (dis)service. Laura, your knowledge of trees is awesome! P x
Pam’s English Garden read my post..Birds and Berries for GBBD
Hi Laura,
Trees, one of my favourite subjects. There is always something to learn.
I love the images, so mystical. but then they surely are. They would have so much to tell, if only they could speak
I hate to see a tree butchered. Sadly, I see much of it in the countryside
Your post has given me food for thought – I’ve grown up surrounded by pollarded trees. I thought it was OK because they produce fresh leaves in the spring which seems to rejuvenate them and they don’t get weighed down by heavy branches.
b-a-g read my post..Grass (17 JAN 2012)
In our town, all the trees on telephone side of the roads, get mown. So we have a left stunted London plane, and a right exuberant London plane. Hurts to see.
Elephant’s Eye read my post..January garden walk
I shall watch the monthly progress of the Wych elm with interest, as I don’t think I know of one near me. A minefield of a topic, pollarding. I am actually deeply fond of pollarded willows and hazels…it’s the pollarding that keeps them eternal and useful, and therefore, present. But I know you know that, and it is a whole other procedure, frequently done with skill and understanding, unlike the butchery town trees are subjected to.
That last image is absolutely gorgeous! I am becoming quite enamored with weeping trees, and vow to have one soon!
HolleyGarden read my post..Winning
I like the idea of twelve months of a tree very much and shall join in if I may. Now I need to decide which tree. I would like to do one on our own land to make me look at it properly and am torn between an apple and one of the big trees, perhaps an ash.
welshhillsagain read my post..Time
- expertise is expensive Pam. Am doing lots of homework on getting to know trees
- am surprised Cheryl,thought it was just urban trees that suffered from ignorance
- pollarding is good for most trees b-a-g but not mid-summer and neither is it just a hack back
- that sounds familiar Diana,so it’s an international disease!
- one of our ancient natives is the Wych Elm, Judith and worthy of your paints
- this is an ideal weeper for the medium to larger garden Holley
- do join me Elizabeth, it will be fun to track and trace one tree through each month
I’m glad you’ve decided to continue with the year of the tree. I too came to the meme late, in October in fact but loved the idea so much I posted about the crab apple in my garden. I think I will probably continue the meme as I am a treehugger and I think trees often get a raw deal and overlooked. I was in London today and saw a very sorry sight of a tree in an alleyway with buildings that had sprung up all around it along with a lot of detritus of city life – massive rubbish bins, a skip etc. It made me feel so sad that this tree had been accorded such little respect.
wellywoman read my post..Super Seaweed
I have never felt comfortable with pollarded trees but I am sure there is a differences between doing it sympathetically and lopping branches off any old way. Then again the conversation with Patrick probably gives a clue as to why we are left with so many massacred trees.
easygardener read my post..Wordless Wednesday – Catmint and Cat
All throughout the US trees are butchered by city, county, towns and other gov agencies who cut them and prune them horribly. Most times because a homeowner planted the tree to close to the power lines. Between the hackers and homeowners the poor trees are losing.
Donna@Gardens Eye View read my post..Exploring Color-Orange on GBBD
Glad to hear that will be following your tree throughout 2012 Laura. It’s a fine specimen. I imagine that you have probably come across Thomas Pakenham’s book ‘Meetings With Remarkable Trees’. If not I am sure that you would greatly enjoy it
Pruning of so many trees is badly done and they lose their natural shape. I.m impressed with your ability to identify trees, Laura. I can only recognize the common ones. I have a tree book which i should take with me along with the camera, binoculars, glovesetc,etc.
I’m looking forward to following a year in the life of your tree.
I remember seeing a very beautiful specimen of this tree on the Longwood Gardens grounds years ago—lovely form.
Carolyn @ Carolyns Shade Gardens read my post..New Snowdrops for 2012
- following your crab apple, WW
- yes EG, pollarding is an art not guesswork
- chainsaw massacre worldwide then Donna
- I know only to repeat what I learn in order to try and remember it Janet. Your camera is as good as a book for reference judging by recent images, Janet
- they became very popular in the States, Carolyn