Trees in parks and gardens 2010

[Maren]

Hi,
this is most interesting, never seen anything like this before. I have been to tea plantations on hillsides in Thailand where the tea grew on small trees and were hand picked only.

Just one small worry, it this a public road we can see in the last picture? if so, how do the manufacturers deal with the pollution residue from cars that must cling to the tea bushes next to it? are the leaves washed before they are dried?

[Paddy Tobin]

YT,

A set of wonderfully interesting photographs, something we can never see here in western Europe.

Many thanks, Paddy

[Casalima]

A set of wonderfully interesting photographs, something we can never see here in western Europe.

In fact you can find them in a Europe even further west than you, Paddy 

http://www.flickr.com/photos/14333842@N07/2468026349

Great photos, Tatsuo!

[Paddy Tobin]

I will have to broaden my education and travel further.

Very interesting.

Paddy

[Pascal B]

Just one small worry, it this a public road we can see in the last picture? if so, how do the manufacturers deal with the pollution residue from cars that must cling to the tea bushes next to it? are the leaves washed before they are dried?

Maren, I don't know how organic the culture in Japan is but in most of S India it is not, you regularly see men with spraycans walking in amongst the rows. After several pickings the shrubs are pruned hard back and particularly in the period after that and before the first real picking they spray. The number of organic tea plantations is rising but roads next to plantations in Japan wouldn't be much of a problem I think. The cars are cleaner (read: newer) in Japan than the ones in third world countries where most tea comes from. But the hills covered with tea plants is still a great view, too bad it is also the most important cause of habitat loss throughout S India and Sri Lanka at higher elevations....

[Stephenb]

I will have to broaden my education and travel further.

Very interesting.

Paddy

You don't have to travel that far, Paddy, as there's a tea plantation in Cornwall: http://www.tregothnan.co.uk/tea/p_302/

Wonder if the plants were affected by last winter's cold weather.

[Stephenb]

Here's a few pictures of Tea plants grown outside at the Eden Project in Cornwall with an information sign:

[Lvandelft]

Luit, these are power cable for defroster fans set up at top of poles. These fans prevent delicate (and most precious) first flushes from damages caused by late frosts.

Tatsuo, thanks for the information. Here in our and neighbour countries these late frosts are mostly prevented by sprinkling water.

[David Nicholson]

On your nesxt visit to Cornwall Paddy-

http://www.tregothnan.co.uk/about-tregothnan-estate-cornwall---botanic-garden-and-tea-plantation/p_182/

[Paddy Tobin]

David,

I've had a look through the website and it's a place which certainly seems worth a visit. Next time!

Many thanks, Paddy

[Lvandelft]

When in October at Hillier's Arboretum I saw some nice trees/shrubs.
The first picture shows a Crataegus where I did not have noticed the name and   
and which probably is Crataegus arnoldiana.
If anyone means my photo's have the wrong name I would very much like to hear this?
                         
Crataegus [arnoldiana] + fruits

[Lvandelft]

The next interesting small tree was Zanthoxylum simulans with nice red berries and
a prickly stem.        

Zanthoxylum simulans

a few more later

[Onion]

Luit,

see the other pictures of Hillier in the General Forum, reminds me to visit these place again. Thanks for the pictures of this wonderful place.

[TheOnionMan]

The next interesting small tree was Zanthoxylum simulans with nice red berries and
a prickly stem.        

Zanthoxylum simulans

a few more later

Luit, Zanthoxylum simulans looks very interesting, the trunk looks more "bumpy" than dangerously thorny, but a rather distinctive tree.

[TheOnionMan]

Acer griseum continues to please me year round; I planted a tree next to my old deck about 18 years ago.  I chose Acer griseum to be planted near my deck because of its very slow growth (so that it wouldn't overtake the deck), yet after some years finally provide some shade, for its fine small scale foliage in spring and summer, glorious fall color, and the beautiful peeling bark and picturesque twiggy branching in winter.

In this series of photos, all taken in November over a period of seven years, you can get a sense of its scale.  In 2003, I tore down our dilapidated deck and rebuilt it.

1     The new stairs under construction coming out at a 45 degree angle, with Acer griseum tucked into that geometry (actually, the deck and stair designed "around" the tree placement).

2     A view from the deck in 2005, given a sense of scale to the tree canopy, still small but getting there and filling in after being planted 13 years prior. 

3-4  Acer griseum in 2009, 17 yrs old, not needing to be pruned yet other than "limbing up" weak branches under the canopy. 

5     Eye-level view from my deck of the burning fall color. 

6     Close up showing small leaflets, turning color. 

7     View taken recently, the deck stair flanked on the other side with Euonymus alatus in fall color.  The "burning bush" was a house-warming present from friends 23 years ago... my wife likes it, so it must stay, but I cut it back 3'-4' (60-120 cm) yearly to keep this vigorous beast (the burning bush) in check.