You will know from previous posts that we are "tree huggers" at Struan Farm. Sometimes quite literally-- John has been known to take visiting children out to hug the big oak tree in the Pet Paddock.
The property has quite a number of special, feature trees planted over 60 years by my father-in-law Maurie, along with stands of native bush protected in perpetuity via the QEII Trust scheme.
As a result, our Struan Farm farmstay logo (and signage, etc.) features a skeleton tree:
Maurie passed his love of trees on to his children, they're all passionate about trees. While I've been busy acquiring and planting heirloom fruit trees in our orchard, John is planting what he hopes to be the next generation of feature trees around the Homestead as part of our re-landscaping and also around the new house site. This past weekend he planted three, FAGUS sylvatica "Dawyck Purple," COTINUS "Grace," and PYRUS calleryana Pendula.
FAGUS sylvatica is a variety of beech that was raised in Rotterdam. It won the Award of Garden Merit in 1973 and again in 2002. It is considered a superb rare specimen, a great choice for planting where dramatic contrast is desired, and when planted as a focal point and on the perimeter.
COTINUS "Grace" is a cross of the European smoth bush (C. coggygria) and the American smoke tree (C. obovatus). It is thought to be a garden "gem" due to its multi-season interest, with iridescent spring foliage followed by pink clouds of blooms in summer and then brilliant red-orange foliage in autumn.
PYRUS calleryana is a species of pear native to China and Vietnam. It flowers abundantly in spring, but I've just learned that the flowers have an unpleasant odor (oops John, I'm sure it will be fine..?). Two out of three ain't bad.
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