Gardens through the seasons
WINTER
Winter Gems in bark and stems
Some trees and shrubs are grown for their stunning coloured bark and stems, as they lose their leaves in winter this attribute becomes even more obvious. Birches are perhaps the trees most often grown for their superb bark. If you want to plant one in your own garden Betula pendula, one of our native species, is a beauty. Alternatively you could go for a more exotic species such as B. costata, B. utilis or B. jacquemontii. Some maples have ornamental bark too. Acer griseum is a particularly fine example, with its peeling orange-brown bark. Of the shrubs by far the best are the dogwoods (Cornus sp.), with their beautiful bright stems. Colours range from red, yellow, orange to vivid greens depending on species (cultivar?). To get the best colours, and keep the plants compact, Cornus bushes should be pruned hard with secateurs in spring, to 10cm/4in above the groundbe brutal you wont regret it!
December: Holly, Ilex aquifolium
Look out for: Most people recognise the shiny, spiny leaves and red berries characteristic of holly. Traditional in our Christmas decorations, holly has been used for celebrations for many centuries. Romans carried it in processions and adorned images of their gods with its striking leaves. (various locations including around the Oakfield)
January: Pampas Grass, Cortaderia sellowiana
Look out for: Big clumps of coarse grass with feather-like, silvery-white flower spikes up to 12 feet tall. Pampas grass comes from Brazil, Argentina and Chile. Its common name comes from the grassy plains of South America which are called the Pampas. It is a stunning garden plant. (Condor Cliffs, Penguins)
February: Snowdrop, Galanthus nivalis
Look out for: Snowdrops, also know as Fair-Maids-of-February, are often the first flowers of the year. They frequently emerge through frost and snow in late winter and early spring. The small white bell-shaped flowers hang downwards, and the petals are usually dabbed with green. (Rock garden beyond Oakfield lawn, and Cheetah lawn)
SPRING
March: Laurustinus, Viburnum tinus
Look out for: An evergreen bush with clusters of sweet smelling white or pale pink flowers. This hardy winter flowering shrub is very useful in the garden as it can bloom from November to April, and the flowers are not damaged by frost. Laurustinus grows wild in southern Europe, and has been cultivated in Britain since the 16th century. (In shrubbery behind the Flight sculpture, opposite the Zebras)
April: Chinese Magnolia, Saucer Magnolia, Magnolia x soulangiana
Look out for: A deciduous shrub or small tree with large, conspicuous white or pink tinged flowers that appear before the leaves in spring. This hybrid is the most widely cultivated of the magnolias. Have a look to see if you can spot the furry buds present before the flowers open. (Oakfield Lawn)
May: Chinese Hibiscus, Rose of China, Hibiscus rosa-sinensis
Look out for: beautiful trumpet-shaped flowers in shades of red and pink. This tropical shrub is one of the most attractive ornamental plants. The original plant comes from Asia but now grows wild in many tropical regions. There are many different cultivated varieties. Since these plants are not hardy you will find them in the Tropical Realm and Grow Zone.
SUMMER
June: Jerusalem Sage, Phlomis fruticosa
Look out for: a shrub with yellow flowers clustered around the stems, and felt-like grey leaves. Coming from the Mediterranean this plant enjoys hot dry summers like many of us! There are examples around the Europe on the Edge aviary and between the bridges near the Flight sculpture.
July: Common Lime tree, Tilia x europaea
Look out for: trees with heart-shaped leaves and small creamy coloured flowers hanging down amongst the leaves. When in full flower the scent of the flowers perfumes the whole neighbourhood. Aphids also like lime trees and can make the leaves and ground sticky with the honeydew they produce. (Avenue between Asian Plains and Monkey Islands)
August: White Water Lily, Nymphaea alba
Look out for: large flat floating leaves, and big showy white flowers on the water surface. The flowers open in the morning and then close again by mid day. These lilies need water at least a foot deep to grow properly, and can cope with depths to 8 feet! The white water lily is a vigorous plant that can take over in small ponds look out for smaller Nymphaea species for your garden pond . (Moat round Monkey Islands)
AUTUMN
When autumn comes many people think that the garden has little to offer, but this is not the case. A number of plants have colourful autumn foliage, which can last for many weeks if conditions are favourable. In the Zoo we grow a wide range of these including Maples (Acer), Maidenhair Tree (Ginkgo biloba), Sweet Gum (Liquidamber styraciflua), Stags Horn Sumach (Rhus typhina), Virginia creeper (Parthenocissus quinquefolia). There are also many plants that have colourful fruits and berries. These fruits are not produced purely for our pleasure but are a valuable source of food for birds, insects and animals. Such plants as Hawthorn, Holly, Hazel, Yew, Elder, and Cotoneaster produce beautiful fruits and berries that make colourful displays in the garden. But through the autumn and winter keep an eye out for Blackbirds, Thrushes, Robins and many other birds and animals feasting on this bountiful supply of food.
Look out for: Trachycarpus fortunei (Chusan palm, Chinese Windmill Palm) This palm is native to China where it grows in cold, mountainous regions. It is considered to be the most cold hardy palm in the world, and is well suited to the British climate. It is readily recognised by the fan-shaped leaves and slender trunk covered with persistent but loosely arranged dark brown fibre. In China, these fibres are used to make fine waterproof cloaks, brooms, brushes and door mats. It grows up to 10m tall and when mature produces large yellow drooping panicles of flowers that hang down amongst the leaves. In the Zoo you will see them planted in a number of locations including Sealion Beach, Spirit of the Jaguar, at the end of Islands in Danger, and by the Elephant enclosure close to the entrance. They certainly help to create a tropical feel to some of our animal exhibits.
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