Talking Plants

A little over three months ago (23 May 2024), I was reacquainting myself with a few of my favourite oaks in London. My wife Lynda and I were at the tail end of leading an  ASA  'Spring Garden Masterpieces of England and the RHS Chelsea Flower Show' tour, culminating with a morning tour of Kew Gardens by Australian expat, Richard Barley.  I had got to know quite a few of Kew's trees from my time working there in 2011 and 2012, particularly this one which was - if I detoured slightly - on the way from our home near Kew Palace to my office in the Museum opposite the Palm House. It's called Turner’s Oak, or more simply, Turner Oak ( Quercus × turneri ), a cross between an English oak ... English oak ( Quercus robur ) ... and a holly oak ( Quercus ilex ).  holly oak ( Quercus ilex ) Resulting in a tree with only slightly lobed leaves (here, still light green in late spring) ... Turner oak ( Quercus  × turneri ) An unlikely hybrid this one, between species in two different s