Commemorative planting makes a strong statement for future generations. Queen
Victoria planted the first Chusan palm outside in England, at Osbourne House
back in 1851. It died at the respectable age of 150 in 2002. So our Queen
planted another to mark her Golden Jubilee, grown from seed from the same
batch.
Choosing which tree or rose to plant is difficult. Maybe go for a tried and
true plant such as Malus ‘Royal Beauty’, or one about to be debuted
such as the rose ‘Royal Jubilee’, a deep, powerful pink with large,
chalice-shaped, fragrant flowers. The petals curl in so much that you can
only just see the stamens. No doubt at Chelsea, there will be many stunning
introductions named for the Jubilee. Debs is going to plant a Red Windsor
apple tree in her garden : “This is a sport [a freak genetic occurrence]
which arose in Hereford in 1985 with Cox’s Orange Pippin parentage – tasty
and disease resistant. Also grown at a British nursery.”
Make a commemorative plaque, so later generations will know the history of the
plant . Make your own or have enthusiastic young relatives paint one. As for
cut flowers, Debs suggests peonies, Philadelphus, or Ceanothus:
“Anything that is home-grown, is looking good and sports the colours.”
Up the road from me, at Burghley House near Stamford, the head gardener, John
Burrows, is growing and planning decorations for the 10,000 people coming to
celebrate on 13 June along with their guest of honour, the Queen. John is
using slices of home-grown oak branches about 15cm in diameter and 10cm
deep, as table decorations. He is chiselling out a hole in the centre to
take a hidden vase, which he will fill with roses, alchemillas, euphorbias
and whatever looks vibrant in the gardens on the day. Estate carpenters have
carved two beautiful wooden spades and the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh
will plant two trees with them: a large-leaved lime and an Oriental plane.
So what is Debs going to be doing during the Jubilee celebrations? “I will be
sometimes with friends and family, but also at Highgrove with the people I
work for, to make it a very special time for them – it couldn’t be better
than that.”
Life readers can save 10 per cent when you buy roses (containerised,
bare root or bouquets) by mail order from David Austin Roses. Quote DTSP to
qualify. Order online at davidaustinroses.com,
call 01902 376300 or write to David Austin Roses, Bowling Green Lane,
Albrighton, Wolverhampton WV7 3HB.Offer valid until 31 July.
2012 Royal Jubilee roses can be advance ordered for despatch from November
2012 onwards. Each rose is £17.50, or three for £46.50, plus £5.95 p
p. Roses will be supplied as bare roots.
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