I love trees. Not surprisingly, many of my favourites are in my own garden, Glen Villa, and I wrote about some of them here. But in my travels, I’ve come across many other special trees, and they stand out in my memory for different reasons.
One I remember because of its size. The Angel Oak, still growing on John’s Island, South Carolina after some 400 years or more, is so large that I couldn’t capture it in a single photo. I simply couldn’t stand far enough away — the longest branch stretches 187 feet from the trunk. The shade beneath this southern live oak (Quercus virginiana) is dense and provided welcome relief on a hot day. A visitor walking in the shade gives you an idea of the size of the oak — gigantic.
Another tree is memorable because of its roots. The beech tree (Fagus grandifolia) standing on the aptly named Beech Terrace at Dumbarton Oaks in the Georgetown district of Washington, D.C. offers a fine introduction to this garden, designed by Beatrix Ferrand in the 1920s for Robert and Mildred Bliss. I’d love to see the tree in springtime, when the Crocus tomasinianus, Scilla siberica and Chionodoxa luciliae bloom among its roots, lighting up the ground in shades of blue, and calling even more attention to the beauty of the blue-grey trunk.
Writhing branches characterize a tree at Broughton Grange in England. I can’t identify the tree (can you?) but standing tall behind a laburnum allée it has become a smashing piece of sculpture. It’s tall — the laburnum tunnel must reach at least ten feet and the tree towers above it. Alongside this section of Broughton Grange’s extensive grounds is a walled garden designed by Tom Stuart-Smith. If he was the one who advised against removing the tree, I say bravo!
Age hasn’t withered an ancient olive tree at Villa Adriana, or Hadrian’s Villa, in Tivoli, near Rome — it’s producing olives even at a ripe old age. The Villa is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and the gnarled and twisted trees form a romantically evocative grove in the surrounding grounds. According to on-line information, it is hard to date the trees because the inner part of an olive tree rots while the tree keeps growing laterally.
Some trees stick in my mind because of the extraordinary way they’ve been distorted. The tree below is in the Bishopville, South Carolina garden of Pearl Fryar, a self-trained topiary artist. About 30 years ago, he began trimming the evergreens around his yard into unusual shapes, creating living sculptures that are as memorable as the man himself.
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Pearl Fryar’s trees made me smile. So did these two giant trees at Ascott, in Buckinghamshire, England. To my eyes they seem to be growing together, trying to form a single heart silhouetted against the sky. This vision may be fantasy on my part, but perhaps not: as I wrote in a review of the gardens a few years ago, Leopold de Rothschild had the gardens designed and gave them to his wife as a wedding present. Suitably, a sundial spells out his attachment in tightly clipped yew: “Light and shade by turn, but love always”. So why shouldn’t the trees continue to reflect his commitment?
Different trees arouse different emotions. This knobby old specimen at Stourhead, a National Trust property in Wiltshire, made me do a double-take. Was I really seeing an enormous owl at the base of the tree?
Other trees have made me sad. How could I fail to feel otherwise when I saw an Australian tree that seemed to be bleeding to death? Its name fits the picture — it’s called bloodwood. I felt better when I learned that Australian Aboriginals collect the sap, either when it is liquid or after it has crystallized, and apply it to sores or cuts as an antiseptic.
Sometimes the red gum hardens into funny shapes, like the mini-devil clinging to the side of the tree below. Proving, I suppose, that even sad things can bring a smile when the shape is right.
The bloodwood tree is creepy and fascinating, and I enjoyed seeing your other examples too. You’ve collected many beautiful trees on your journeys, Pat. www,penick.net
I have dozens of pictures of bloodwood trees — they are definitely creepy!
These are incredible trees!! I love them all.
Me, too!
I’m a tree geek, too. These are wonderful. I’ve been saving up tree pix to write about a presentation I heard tree guru Micheal Dirr give on what he called “noble trees” like these. Beautiful.
I’d like to hear M. Dirr — I bet he had lots of interesting things to share. Noble trees, indeed.
Wonderful choices, Patterson! I am so glad you included an ancient olive. They are so enduring and carved by the vicissitudes of time. Ila Cox
Only wish I had a better photo of the olive grove.
Wonderful Choices, Patterson! I am glad you included an ancient olive. They are often beautiful carved by the vicissitudes of time!
Yes, your descriptions give the necessary vision to appreciate these wonders! I noticed buds on the Magnolias this morning.
No buds at Glen Villa, only snow, then rain, then snow, then freezing rain, then…
I love the Bishopville, South Carolina ship! Really beautiful and strangely alive in a way topiary just usually isn’t (usually looks very static). Wonderful. And great to find a post from you this morning! Xxx
Pearl Fryar is quite a character. His whole suburban garden is full of strangely imagined shapes, many carved using plants he rescued from the garbage heap. I wrote about him a few years ago and should have included a link to that piece: http://glenvillaartgarden.com/pearl-fryars-topiary-garden/ Plus he has inspired some of his neighbours to do the same.
Was worth a second look (had forgotten!). So much topiary is just same old same old- good to see his work. Xxxx
xoxox
I remember the beech at Dumbarton Oaks. A tree of great character. And I do see the heart made by the two trees in Ascot. As for the bloodwood tree – yuck.
I remember you wrote about Dumbarton Oaks. I’d like to visit it again… I’ve only been once and a garden like that deserves more than one walk-around.
Amazing trees in your photos. I must start a folder of incredible trees that I have photographed too.
Make it a big folder, Steve — if your catalogue of photos is anywhere near as big as mine, you’ll need lots of space.
Bloodwood is well named. It looks gruesome and beautiful at the same time.
I agree, it does.