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15-01-2007, 12:17 PM
|  | Commander of the Wild Empire | | Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: East Kent
Posts: 1,498
| | | One very small holly tree!
Went into the kitchen to make tea. I have a sweet little holly tree outside the kitchen window, only 6 or 7 feet high, in which I have hung a niger feeder, a seed feeder, a peanut feeder, a hollow log full of fat,and two block holders, with two different types of fat block, plus two half coconut shells I fill with fat and seeds on the adjacent wrought iron gate. Busy in the tree were dunnocks, goldfinches, blue tits, great tits, male and female black-caps, long-tailed tits, and a robin. (They obviously hadn't invited the green finch.) And that is just putting out food from last October and making sure it's always full. (When we moved in we had only dunnocks and blue tits, and the occasional great tit, not that I'm decrying them!)
Isn't that great?
So anyone with a small garden, how about one or two tiny holly trees? I wish I'd realised when I had a small concrete square! I'd have had one in a tub!
And I've taken my laptop into the sunroom, and they are all outside these windows too, winter jasmine in flower, some sort of bush honeysuckle coming into flower, sunshine, blue sky, white doves circling around the valley below, a cup of tea, and a plate of watercress, tomatoes, oatmeal bicuits, double gloucester cheese, date chutney! Dog asleep at my feet! Smashing!
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If a man does not keep pace with his companions, perhaps it is because he hears a different drummer. |
15-01-2007, 12:22 PM
|  | Commander of the Wild Empire | | Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Kent
Posts: 1,526
| | | Re: One very small holly tree!
I am packing my cases to move in with Badger.. her place sounds like wildlife heaven.. make up me bed be there soon ..lol  |
15-01-2007, 12:35 PM
| | Commander of the Wild Empire | | Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: East Kent
Posts: 1,498
| | | Re: One very small holly tree!
Kettle's on, Kym! 
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If a man does not keep pace with his companions, perhaps it is because he hears a different drummer. |
15-01-2007, 12:45 PM
|  | Commander of the Wild Empire | | Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Lincolnshire/Cambs/Norfolk border right on The Wash
Posts: 2,177
| | | Re: One very small holly tree!
make that two teas and two beds BW.. I am on me way. Earl Grey Green tea.. black.. half spoon sweetener please.
jaki
PS.. what BW doesnt say is that the holly tree was 10ft tall before she put all the feeders on it.
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15-01-2007, 01:02 PM
|  | Officer of the Wild Empire | | Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Gloucestershire
Posts: 688
| | | Re: One very small holly tree!
Sounds blissful badgerwatcher
Coincidentally Andy's mum gave me three little Holly seedlings just yesterday. They popped up next to the Mother tree which is a glorious sight; covered in bright red berries, teeming with little birds and alive with chirrups.
I'm saving one of the for my friend Saxonraven. Just gotta wait for mine to grow now. |
15-01-2007, 01:04 PM
|  | Active Member | | Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Gloucestershire
Posts: 48
| |  Re: One very small holly tree!
Sounds idyllic.
Strangely enough Owl Light has offered me a small holly tree sapling for my garden. I've always wanted one, so who knows!!??** I can't wait to plant it in the ground and watch it grow.
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15-01-2007, 01:22 PM
| | Commander of the Wild Empire | | Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: East Kent
Posts: 1,498
| | | Re: One very small holly tree!
The black caps are greatly enjoying the berries. It's a lovely little tree. I have quite a few seedling ones coming up all over the garden. They've earned themselves permanent residency!
Got plenty of green tea, Garden carpet.
I'll bake a raspberry meringue cheescake! 
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If a man does not keep pace with his companions, perhaps it is because he hears a different drummer. |
15-01-2007, 01:32 PM
| | Commander of the Wild Empire | | Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Lincolnshire/Cambs/Norfolk border right on The Wash
Posts: 2,177
| | | Re: One very small holly tree!
Quote:
Originally Posted by badgerwatcher  The black caps are greatly enjoying the berries. It's a lovely little tree. I have quite a few seedling ones coming up all over the garden. They've earned themselves permanent residency!
Got plenty of green tea, Garden carpet. I'll bake a raspberry meringue cheescake! | That almost sounds better than seeing the birds and the Badgers BW
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15-01-2007, 02:22 PM
|  | Commander of the Wild Empire | | Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Sheffield, FPRSY
Posts: 4,959
| | | Re: One very small holly tree!
Quote:
Originally Posted by Owl-Light Coincidentally Andy's mum gave me three little Holly seedlings just yesterday. They popped up next to the Mother tree which is a glorious sight; covered in bright red berries, ............ Just gotta wait for mine to grow now. | Yes, it's as well to grow two or three - not all of them will necessarily produce berries in profusion: it's a very variable species in this regard. Good luck .... |
15-01-2007, 02:39 PM
|  | Commander of the Wild Empire | | Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Letchworth Garden City
Posts: 1,333
| | | Re: One very small holly tree!
Holly berries grow on female trees only. Though it's said that some female trees will produce berries on their own without pollination, the majority will not. They are more likely to do so, and to fruit more generously, if they are pollinated by a male tree nearby.
It's fairly easy to know when you have a sapling from a fruiting female tree, but how you can tell a male from a non-fruiting female is beyond my botanical knowledge, I'm afraid. Someone else may know. |
15-01-2007, 02:59 PM
| | Officer of the Wild Empire | | Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Gloucestershire
Posts: 688
| | | Re: One very small holly tree!
Paul and Smartie thank you for the info there, I didn't realise that. Jan (Andy's mum) tells me there are quite a few more popping up and I'm welcome to them so I'll ask her for a couple more for both Saxonraven and myself. I'll grow mine on in pots then until I know which ones to plant out. These little ones are only about 4 inches tall right now.
Does anyone know how many years it is before they fruit for the first time? |
15-01-2007, 03:45 PM
| | Commander of the Wild Empire | | Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Sheffield, FPRSY
Posts: 4,959
| | | Re: One very small holly tree!
Quote:
Originally Posted by smartie Holly berries grow on female trees only. Though it's said that some female trees will produce berries on their own without pollination, the majority will not. They are more likely to do so, and to fruit more generously, if they are pollinated by a male tree nearby.
It's fairly easy to know when you have a sapling from a fruiting female tree, but how you can tell a male from a non-fruiting female is beyond my botanical knowledge, I'm afraid. Someone else may know. | No idea - plantspeople propagate especially good stock from cuttings. This isn't too difficult - I've never tried it intentionally but every other twig I stick in the ground (for pea support) seems to take root. |
15-01-2007, 04:29 PM
|  | Knight Commander of the Wild Empire | | Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: N.E.SOMERSET
Posts: 6,449
| | | Re: One very small holly tree!
"I'll bake a raspberry meringue cheescake"
Make up another bed
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15-01-2007, 05:24 PM
| | Commander of the Wild Empire | | Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: East Kent
Posts: 1,498
| | | Re: One very small holly tree!
Shall we start a Cake forum?
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If a man does not keep pace with his companions, perhaps it is because he hears a different drummer. |
15-01-2007, 06:04 PM
| | Commander of the Wild Empire | | Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Lincolnshire/Cambs/Norfolk border right on The Wash
Posts: 2,177
| | | Re: One very small holly tree!
nope.. BW you have to start a B,B&B and serve Rasberry Meringue Cheescake for breakfast I will be your first customer.
( Badgers, bed and breakfast)
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15-01-2007, 06:13 PM
| | Commander of the Wild Empire | | Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: East Kent
Posts: 1,498
| | | Re: One very small holly tree!
I could make little aprons for the Badgers!
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If a man does not keep pace with his companions, perhaps it is because he hears a different drummer. |
15-01-2007, 06:19 PM
| | Commander of the Wild Empire | | Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Lincolnshire/Cambs/Norfolk border right on The Wash
Posts: 2,177
| | | Re: One very small holly tree!
Quote:
Originally Posted by badgerwatcher I could make little aprons for the Badgers! | NO! That would be animal exploitation. Dont you have menfolk who can wear the pinnies?
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too many books... not enough money!!!!!!!!!! |
15-01-2007, 06:38 PM
| | Commander of the Wild Empire | | Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Kent
Posts: 1,526
| | | Re: One very small holly tree!
Ahemmmmmmmmm carpet I am first in Queue for bed at Badgers so get ya self behind me.. But i aint baking no Cake!!! I dont do cooking have a man to do that for me
next door to me have a big Holly tree that over hangs my garden maybe i can hang feeders on that!.. Cant wait to get top area of my garden into my Little wildlife haven |
15-01-2007, 06:43 PM
| | Commander of the Wild Empire | | Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Lincolnshire/Cambs/Norfolk border right on The Wash
Posts: 2,177
| | | Re: One very small holly tree!
Quote:
Originally Posted by Kymba Ahemmmmmmmmm carpet I am first in Queue for bed at Badgers so get ya self behind me.. But i aint baking no Cake!!! I dont do cooking have a man to do that for me
next door to me have a big Holly tree that over hangs my garden maybe i can hang feeders on that!.. Cant wait to get top area of my garden into my Little wildlife haven | Sounds like a plan Kymba... will they mind.. guess you will ask them first tho wont you.
jaki
PS... thats ok.. you can get there first.. I dont mind.. I have already booked the best room
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16-01-2007, 08:07 AM
| | Officer of the Wild Empire | | Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Gloucestershire
Posts: 688
| | | Re: One very small holly tree!
Quote:
Originally Posted by Paul mabbott No idea - plantspeople propagate especially good stock from cuttings. This isn't too difficult - I've never tried it intentionally but every other twig I stick in the ground (for pea support) seems to take root. | Aha Greeen Fingers - wish I could say the same. I love plants but I'm better with animals on the whole.
Thats how Andy's folks got their great big Holly tree in the first place actually. Andy just stuck a cutting in the ground as a kid and now its a great big tree. I guess it does have the great advantage of knowing whether it will be a male or female tree too. |
16-01-2007, 09:23 AM
| | Commander of the Wild Empire | | Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Sheffield, FPRSY
Posts: 4,959
| | | Re: One very small holly tree!
Quote:
Originally Posted by Owl-Light Aha Greeen Fingers - wish I could say the same. I love plants but I'm better with animals on the whole. | Far from it - if we want anything propagated that way, the wife does it - I only deal with seeds! However, I do get a lot of accidental propagations of various trees/shrubs: I put a lot in to support peas during March-April and a good many of them root: as well as holly, and, of course, Buddleja and willows, I get the occasional Hydrangea, hazel and hawthorn. It helps that the soil around here never dries up! |
16-01-2007, 09:44 AM
| | Officer of the Wild Empire | | Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Gloucestershire
Posts: 688
| | | Re: One very small holly tree!
Quote:
Originally Posted by Paul mabbott Far from it - if we want anything propagated that way, the wife does it - I only deal with seeds! However, I do get a lot of accidental propagations of various trees/shrubs: I put a lot in to support peas during March-April and a good many of them root: as well as holly, and, of course, Buddleja and willows, I get the occasional Hydrangea, hazel and hawthorn. It helps that the soil around here never dries up! | The soil is very clay based around here, not the best. |
16-01-2007, 10:40 AM
| | Commander of the Wild Empire | | Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: East Kent
Posts: 1,498
| | | Re: One very small holly tree!
That's interesting! I've never thought of using living twigs as supports! But then you have nothing to lose, do you, and a bonus if some of them take. I'll give it a go!
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16-01-2007, 10:58 AM
| | New Member | | Join Date: Jan 2007
Posts: 24
| | | Re: One very small holly tree!
Quote:
Originally Posted by smartie It's fairly easy to know when you have a sapling from a fruiting female tree, but how you can tell a male from a non-fruiting female is beyond my botanical knowledge, I'm afraid. Someone else may know. | Unfortunately the standard native plants can't be distinguished by foliage. The small flowers in spring will sex the trees, female flowers have a large green ovaries (which become berries), male flowers have small ovaries but obvious stamens bearing pollen.
If you have a known cultivar you can look it up as all plants of that cultivar will be the same sex since they are propagated vegetatively - in the same way, if you have grown a cutting it will be the same sex as the parent. Seedlings are pot-luck. | |
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