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© Andrea Jones

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The Millstream borders are ablaze! The royal fern

The Millstream borders are ablaze!
The royal fern (botanical name Osmunda regalis) is in full autumn colour. It is one of the most imposing of ferns native to the UK and Europe.
The name derives from 'Osmunder', the Saxon name for the god Thor.
It's a useful plant as the roots of the fern have been used to make a growing medium for orchids called osmunda fibre. It has a fine texture but doesn't break down quickly so it can last a couple of years. As it decomposes it also becomes a useful source of nutrients for the orchids and reduces the need for further feeding.
In our next newsletter, among other articles, one of our gardeners, David James, will be talking about soil health and investigating connections in the world we mostly just walk on. 👣 Some seriously good mulch for the mind !
To receive your free copy by email simply sign up to our website - next issue coming soon in good time for Christmas ! 🎄
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#ferns #compost #autumn #fall #december #orange #ablaze #autumncolour #osmundaregalis #osmunda #orchids #plants #plantworld #plantlovers #royalfern #royal #thor #gardenphotography © @andreajonesgardenphotography 📷

Why do certain trees have knees? According to som

Why do certain trees have knees? According to some scientists, 'knees' correctly known as ‘pneumataphores', are full of air channels which can pull oxygen down into a trees root system helping it to survive in particularly boggy ground.
At Melbourne Hall, there are great examples of this phenomenom around the edge of the Fountain Pool nearest to the Kitchen Garden. The large trees growing there are swamp cypress (botanical name Taxodium distichum) and although knees are not unique to this tree, swamp cypress are particularly well known for having them. They look particularly glorious at this time of year too with their foxy brown leaves.
Please note our next Melbourne Hall Gardens e-Newsletter will be out very soon. To receive yours (no charge) simply sign up to our website. ✒️
#didyouknow #swampcypress #nature #trees #knees #tree #taxodium #gardenphotography #derbyshire #inspiredbynature #photograph #autumn #fall #marginalplant #water #pool #pond #gardens #garden #arboretum #curiousfact
Photography © @andreajonesgardenphotography

Golden autumn sunlight gently shines through the l

Golden autumn sunlight gently shines through the leaves of one of our European oak trees, Quercus robur, So why is it we wondered that oak trees keep their leaves through much of winter ? It's a trait shared with beeches and hornbeam which are also flat-leaved species.
It is a process called marcescence which is the retention of dead plant matter that is usually shed. There are various theories as to why this happens and there doesn't seem to be a definitive answer. Most likely is that the leaves provide protection to the new buds from frost and cold. It could also be that the leaves deter animals such as deer, either by providing a bitter taste or by creating a rustling noise when all else is quiet. Perhaps a way of ensuring nutrients from the leaves when they finally fall are released close to their own tree’s roots. By retaining leaves until spring could be a means of slowing the decomposition which would rot much faster on the ground and that dropping them in spring delivers organic material, much like a good mulch, at a time when it is most needed by the growing tree.
Finally, marcescent trees do lose their leaves by springtime as the new plant parts push the old leaves off the branches. Whichever way you look at it, it's a means of self protection.
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#marcescence #marcescenceleaf #trees #oaks #quercus #trees #tree #garden #nature #leaves #quercusrobur #selfprotection #inspiredbynature
#photograph #gardenphotography @andreajonesgardenphotography

In remembrance. . . . #remembranceday #poppies #in

In remembrance.
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#remembranceday #poppies #inremembrance #lestweforget #remembranceday2022 #gardenphotography © @andreajonesgardenphotography

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