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28 November 2024

As I write this blog, I have just returned to the office having spent many hours clearing leaves. Even before I could get into the office this morning, I had to fight with the oriental plane tree leaves that had fallen over a very blustery weekend. The leaves were at least six inches deep and as far as the eye could see in the garden yards. It certainly wakes you up at that time in the morning. I typically arrive at work at 6:30am to plan my day.

The next step of the day involves a site tree survey. After a blustery weekend (gusts up to 60mph), it is essential to check the trees for damage and make sure that there are no dangerous limbs hanging. As much as this is an essential task, it is always a great excuse to stop and really look at our amazing collection of trees. The Emmanuel grounds are blessed to have so many wonderful trees. The beautiful autumn colours looked fantastic in the bright sunshine.

I often use this period when we are looking at trees to educate my staff at this time of year. Those who have been working with me for a while already have been taught, but there are the newer members of the team, the students we have working here.

As a Head Gardener, a lifetime of experience has drawn me ever closer to the fantastic nature of trees. I am a full on dendrophile. A dendrophile is a person who loves trees. A passionate dendrophile talks about the characteristics of different trees as if describing people. That’s me. A dendrophile.

It is so easy to set a task to the team of clearing leaves, but how many really think about it? I like to stop and teach the team about identification, characteristics, form and structure, botany and plant science and open discussions about tree management and the role that it plays in securing the future of our planet. Never in the history of the world have trees been more important.

At Emmanuel, there are many leaves to pick up. Day, after day, after day. For months on end. Weirdly, my team genuinely does not mind it. Yes, it is relentless, monotonous, and very much like ground hog day, but as gardeners we understand. We understand that you do not get the good bits without the collection. The by-product of beauty. We understand that teamwork will get us through. We share the passion for the trees, and we do this on behalf of all of you all, but also for ourselves.

The Ginko biloba (Maiden Hair Tree) has looked amazing this year. The sunlight hits perfectly to show off its radiant glow of gold. The fruits, however, are not so pleasant. They really do smell when they fall to the ground. The Ginko biloba seeds are protected by the fleshy sarcotesta. The sarcotesta is full of foul-smelling butyric acid, which also forms when butter goes rancid. Spare a thought for all our garden team as they clear the Ginko seeds along with the golden carpet that is the under canopy of the Ginko. 

Best wishes.

Brendon Sims, Head Gardener

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