Monday 29 July 2019

July Tree, July Flower

Last Thursday the University Botanic Garden in Cambridge recorded the highest-ever temperature for the UK, 38.7 C (that's 101.66 F for anyone still using the old money). I was there a few days before that when it was just pleasantly warm and these were the tree and flower that attracted my attention.


Silver Lime - tilia tomentosa (Chelsea Sentinel)



Towering over the scented garden is this Silver Lime tree, known as a Silver Linden in the USA. This specimen is derived from a now fallen tree which once stood in the grounds of the Royal Hospital in Chelsea. This particular tree, Chelsea Sentinel, is known for its habit of growing to form a tall slender tree with a nicely rounded crown.



It's not merely by chance that it finds itself growing next to the scented garden; at this time of year, when it's in flower, it adds its own powerful fragrance to the mix of plants in the garden below.



To fully appreciate its scent and graceful lines it's worth walking around to the tree, pushing through the overhanging branches and entering that special intimate space directly under the canopy.



It gets its name Silver Lime from it's habit, in hot or dry spells of weather, of turning its outer leaves to reveal their whitish underside, which cuts down the amount of water it loses. I really should have been there on Thursday to witness this phenomenon!



It comes originally from the Balkans but it's by no means a rare tree to find in British parks and gardens. Our flower for this month is also frequently grown in gardens, adding it's own brand of spicy hot colour even in our usual more temperate summers.


Crocosmia or Montbretia



Although they are grown as garden plants over most of the world Crocosmia is a small genus of flowers coming exclusively from Africa and Madagascar. 



They are considered an invasive species in the British countryside, though it doesn't seem to grow wild anywhere around here. I have seen it growing in a valley on Exmoor and presumably it does grow wild elsewhere too. I suppose you could also say it grew wild in my mother's garden - we planted some in the 1960's when we moved in and it was still there 50 years later without any care from us.



In the Botanic Garden it's mainly found around the new research labs and Corey Lodge, which used to be the residence of the Director of the Garden. It has the effect of unifying the disparate architecture of the two buildings.



There are also a few examples of the orange variety growing close to the glasshouses.



I've always admired the precise symmetry of the buds before they begin to flower.



And now I'd better click on "Publish" or it'll be August before we know it!


Take care.







16 comments:

  1. Great tree, and flowers! Thanks. Keep cool!

    ReplyDelete
  2. Crocosmia--thank you for giving a name to this plant that I see often in public gardens here in the US. I like it, especially if it likes little care and dry soil. The recipe for success in my gardens. The tree is lovely too, not one I've seen before.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Those kinds of temperatures are potentially lethal for plants and humans alike. We can walk into an air conditioned library or community centre but the vegetation has no such luxury. I am sure you were grateful that you were there a couple of days before the inferno.

    ReplyDelete
  4. I’d never seen these plants. Gorgeous!

    ReplyDelete
  5. The Silver Lime tree is pretty impressive, it does stand out. The flowers are gorgeous, so many different ones that I've never seen.

    ReplyDelete
  6. Wow - too hot! Your shots are gorgeous!

    ReplyDelete
  7. Interesting that the linden tree has a scent. I've walked past the same spot in Saltaire several times over the past few hot days and noticed a very strong, pleasant fragrance but I couldn't see what it might be emanating from. I never thought to check the surrounding trees. Must go back....

    ReplyDelete
  8. Leaves which adapt to environment are jaw dropping in their beauty!

    ReplyDelete
  9. Oh, I so love that Crocosmia...it is so different and so beautiful.

    ReplyDelete
  10. The Lime tree is delightful and I ave always liked crocosmia which are also considered invasive here.

    ReplyDelete
  11. We've always loved the Crocosmia, bot red and orange. Even the buds are striking. We have some here, but they're not in bloom yet.

    ReplyDelete
  12. What a beautiful tree and a clever one too. You take great photos. The flowers are pretty too but I think I prefer the buds.

    ReplyDelete
  13. So beautiful!

    101 degrees? Wow!

    ReplyDelete
  14. Such beautiful photos. Love those buds. Sure hope those temps cool down soon. Yikes.

    ReplyDelete
  15. Some really fine plants, beautifully photographed as always. It is HOT everywhere.

    ReplyDelete

Thanks for taking the time to comment. I'll try to answer any questions via a comment or e-mail within the next day or two (no hard questions, please!).