Memorial Plants: Part 1 - Trees
Part 2 - Roses | Part 3 - Memorial Plants and Planting Plan | May 2010 Update
In 2008 it was agreed that, as part of the churchyard restoration, it would be of interest to plant trees and shrubs that would have been growing in England in the early centuries of the church's existence. After a year of clearing we are now just about ready for planting. None of the species selected are British natives, but they have been brought in by various groups, such as occupiers (the Romans), travellers (the Crusaders) or royal marriages (Eleanor of Castile), and they have quite fascinating histories.
Documentary evidence of plant imports 500 to 1000 years ago is rather sparse, but I've tried to ensure that the following snippets of information are from reliable sources.
Bay (Laurus nobilis)
The laurel of classical wreaths - it may well have been brought in by the Romans, but the earliest mention is in a list of "Herbs, branches and flowers for windows and pots" in a gardening treatise of 1562. The Bay was obviously fairly common by that time and it features in the Queen Eleanor medieval garden reconstruction in Winchester.
Glastonbury Thorn (Crataegus monogyna 'Biflora')
This is a hawthorn that sometimes comes into leaf and flower in winter before the main flush in May. It is said to have originated when Joseph of Arimathea struck his staff into the ground at Glastonbury on the site of the first church, on Christmas Day in front of a crowd of heathens. Its listed date is 1770, but again it is included in the Queen Eleanor garden.
Laburnum (Laburnum anagyroides) (Picture of laburnum tree Courtesy of "Micromoth")
This very popular and showy tree is a native of central and southern Europe and was brought to England in 1560. It is a member of the pea family and its seeds, like others in the family (including Sweet Peas), are poisonous.
Medlar (Mespilus germanica)
A member of the rose family, similar to the hawthorn. It has a spreading habit, large white flowers, russet leaf colour in autumn and brown fruit with a rather unpleasant looking calyx. (The French vernacular name is 'Cul-de-chien' - which will not be translated for readers of The Beacon!).
The fruit is only edible after 'bletting' (Chaucer's description) - leaving it for several weeks after harvest to get over-ripe. Medlar jelly is claimed to be good for runny tummies.
Mulberry (Morus nigra)
Probably introduced by the Romans, for it is included in a list of 995AD, but a growing specimen was first documented in an account of the murder of Thomas Becket at Canterbury Cathedral in 1170. The knights discarded their cloaks and put on their armour under a mulberry tree.
Other early plantings include Shakespeare's garden in 1609 and Drapers Hall, London in 1364. Of relevance today, the mulberry is a symbol of prudence.
Also rather topical, the mulberry led to a 17th Century royal gaffe. James I was rather fond of silk so he decided to breed silkworms in England. Unfortunately, he imported Black Mulberry trees, instead of the White Mulberry which is the staple food of the silkworms.
Quince (Cydonia oblonga)
This is the true fruiting quince, not the shrubby Chaen omeles (Japonica) grown for its flowers. It was introduced by Eleanor of Castile when she married (at the age of 10) Edward I in 1254, probably because she liked marmalada (quince jam - which is a precursor of our citrus fruit marmalade) from her native Spain.
It was featured in classical mythology and Arabic literature "... it has the fragrance of a loved woman and the same hardness of heart." In the 17th Century, the down from the skin mixed with wax was claimed to prevent and correct baldness. I can't wait!
Sour Cherry (Prunus cerasus 'Rhexis')
This species is a small, bushy cherry and 'Rhexis' is known from the 16th Century, although the species goes back to Roman times. It is doubtful whether the fruit is either edible or palatable, but Prunus cerasus is a distant relative of many currently grown varieties, including the black morello cherry.
John Gilbert
From The Beacon, February 2009
Pictures showing the location of the memorial trees can be seen here.
