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Celebration Trees and Other Plants, January - April
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For an unusual way to celebrate a special
event - wedding,
birth, anniversary etc. or even as a memorial, little really beats a tree or
shrub planted especially for the event.
To go one step further, choose a plant that does
its "thing" at the time of the event. Here's a list of suggested trees,
shrubs and climbers that should be looking their best (or the best in the garden at that time in
the case of the winter months) for each of the months of the year. Those
suggested are chosen also because they are reasonably undemanding and grow to a
reasonable size for the average or small garden. Many fine larger trees are
available of course, but I am deliberately confining myself to smaller specimens
here.
Please bear in mind that the given months are approximate and
vary a little between different parts of the country and from year to year
depending on the climatic conditions.
This is one of the occasions where it may be an advantage to
go plant shopping in precisely the month you want the plant for, so that you can
see what it's doing.
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If you only have room for a single tree, fruit trees are an
excellent choice for shape, size, blossom and fruit. more
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T
- Tree C - Climber
S
- Shrub
January
Little active growth. Features that are most prominent at this time of year are evergreens, and plants
grown for their bark coloration. Try
winter interest
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Chaenomeles - Ornamental or Japanese quince. S
Masses of
beautiful red to pale pink flowers depending on variety borne on bare stems when
much of the rest of the garden is still dormant. Benefit from being grown up
against a wall or fence where they can be kept in control easily and cover a
large boring area. Unfussy about location, grow a Clematis or Nasturtiums through them in the summer months. 6 to 10ft high and wide, easily trimmed.
Zones 4 to 8
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 Hamemelis - witch hazel.
S/T
Large deciduous shrub with fragrant frost-resistant spidery flowers in winter
that are yellow or shades of orange depending on variety. Produces brilliant
golden yellow autumn foliage as well, which looks good if underplanted with
purple autumn crocuses, Colchicum speciosum (only available in late
summer and need to planted immediately). Best in full sun, not
keen on an exposed site. To 12ft high and wide, 5ft high and wide for Hamemelis
x intermedia pallida.
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February
Little active growth.
Features that are most prominent at this time of year are evergreens, and plants
grown for their bark coloration. winter interest
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Salix caprea "Kilmarnock" - Kilmarnock willow. T
A
small weeping willow tree that grows no higher than the graft union, usually at
around 5 or 6ft and then falls down from this spreading the same amount. Covered
in decorative catkins in February and much safer than the other drain-cracking
giants of the Genus.
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March
April
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Amelanchier:
lamarckii
- Shadbush, canadensis - serviceberry
S/ T
  Large shrub or small tree. Deciduous, leaves open bronze
against which there are masses of small white star shaped flowers. The leaves
turn darker green as the season progresses ending in an autumn show of fiery
reds and oranges. To 30ft x 30ft but easily kept in check and frequently seen in
small gardens. Unfussy about position.
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 Malus various - Crab-apples.
T
These can be planted for
spring or autumn interest as they have spring blossom that rivals ornamental
cherries followed ornamental fruit later in the year. Whether you see this fruit
as an advantage or disadvantage depends on your perspective, but I think they
are one of the best small trees available for any garden. The flowers are
usually single and large and frequently beautifully scented.
Recommended; "Golden Hornet", "John Downie",
"Red Jade", "Evereste", Malus x robusta "Red Sentinel". To 30ft x 30ft, they don't cast
a deep shade and so can easily be underplanted. M. toringo ssp. sargentii
is another excellent variety that only grows 12ft tall, spring blossom and then
cherry-like scarlet fruits in the autumn.
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Prunus
various. - Ornamental cherries. T
Masses of blossom in spring and some
have good autumn color too. If only planting one tree, I'd go for a Malus
(crabapple) instead, but there are those who see the lack of autumn fruit an
advantage of the ornamental cherry. Tend to be a bit hardier than Malus -
the crab-apples, but
rather short lived, 20 or 30 years.
Recommended; "Pandora", shell pink
flowers, "snowgoose" and "umineko",
white flowers. P. sargentii
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