I am a Dutch family doctor living and working in North Wales, United Kingdom. I have been a keen gardener for a while. Until 1997 our family (my wife, who is a trauma specialist, our children Tim and Emma, and I) lived in the centre of Amsterdam, the Netherlands, where he had a small cosy garden. In July 1997 our work brought us to North Wales. We live in a beautiful rural area at the foot of the Snowdonia Mountain range. The climate at the west coast of the British Isles is rather wet, but the Gulf Stream makes it quite mild at the same time. These conditions allow us to grow a wide variety of plants, including exotics. Our garden of 1.6 acres has acid soil thanks to the leaf mould, produced by the abundance of trees around our house. We have many rhododendrons in our garden and they truly thrive here. Two years ago we unexpectedly acquired 60 acres of beautiful fields and woodlands around our house. It was then that I embarked on what has become my cherished project: to create an arboretum accessible to the public. There are already a large number of huge sessile oaks, ash and birch in the arboretum. To this I began to add trees and shrubs. In two years I have so far planted about 300 specimen trees (broadleafs, conifers and tropical trees). The coastal redwoods and sequoidendrons (of which I have planted 48) thrive and the pinetum is taking shape. So does my orchard. I am growing apple, pear, gage, plum, cherry and peach trees. My favourite apple variety is Belle de Boskoop, an old Dutch apple, which is lovely to eat and makes perfect apple sauce. I do not use pesticides on my fruit trees, but try to use natural means of protection (like applying tree grease against winter moth and enlist the help from friendly insects like ladybirds, red mason bees and ear wigs against aphids). I have just started an aceretum. I love the Japanese maples and they will look beautiful in a woodland setting. In a small old granite quarry, once used to get building material for houses and shaded by hughes oaks, I have started a fernery. There are already indigenous ferns growing there (Wales has lots of them!) and I have now begun adding more: a Dicksonia antarctica tree fern and a Woodwardia unigemmata. My aim in the arboretum is simple: to grow trees and shrubs from all over the world. Close to the aceretum there is a nice sunny area, protected from cold winds, where I have planted my first two palm trees: Phoenix canariensis (Canary date palm) and Butia capitata (Jelly palm from Brazil). Together with Musa bashoo, a hardy banana and Xanthorhoea australis (Australian grass tree) the area is getting a distinctive exotic appearance. I protect my palms and Musa basho with hessian against winter exposure, but in general winters are mild here due to the proximity to the coast. I get most of my trees from specialist nurseries in the UK. I also grow trees (espially pines) from seed. I buy the seeds online in France and New Zealand. On my travels abroad I collect trees as well. I often work as a medical volunteer in the Middle East. From the mountains of North Lebanon I brought home saplings of Cedrus libani and from the Occupied Territories (Palestine) saplings of olive trees. The olive trees will have to grow under glass for a while, but eventually they will be hardened enough to withstand the wet Welsh weather (I hope). I constantly research trees and shrubs on the world wide web and while doing this I came across this site. I think it is a terrific idea to create a forum for plant lovers. Although I have some experience now, I am still very much an amateur, but one keen to learn from professionals and other amateurs. I hope to be able to contribute on this site. I have also quite a few digital photographs of my arboretum and garden and I hope to publish some of them on this site. Regards, Ben
Welcome to the forums Dr. Alofs. I agree with Paul, we look forward to hearing more about your progress and hopefully seeing some images. Sounds like quite a project. Where do you get the energy?
Seed sources I buy seeds online from Sandeman Seeds and Semences du Puy. Both are located in France. I found them with my Google search engine. Sandeman Seeds offers seeds of around 3000 species! To grow trees from seeds can be extremely satisfying, but you need a bit of patience of course. With the packs of seeds comes advice on how to prepare and grow them. You can find seeds of rare plants. I have tried in vain for some time to get hold of Taiwania cryptomerioides, a graceful conifer tree, from UK nurseries. I have now found that Sandeman Seeds does offer seeds of Taiwania cryptomerioides and lots of rare trees. Both French websites have english versions for those who do not speak/read french. Regards, Ben
Thanks Dr. Ben, I will check out their sites and look for a catalogue to browse. Its time to get ready for next Spring's crop starts..
