Discover Late Summer in the Arboretum

As summer continues, the prolonged warm weather has left the arboretum looking particularly dry and in need of rain. Despite the challenging conditions, there is still plenty to discover, from a wonderful variety of late-summer flowers to the first colourful berries beginning to ripen.

A Haven for Butterflies and Hummingbird Hawkmoths

As you make your way along Her Ladyship’s Walk on a sunny day, take a moment to enjoy the last of the Buddleja davidii flowers, commonly known as the Butterfly Bush. The warm weather has suited these late-summer favourites, and they have been attracting an abundance of butterflies.

Look closely and you may even be lucky enough to spot a Hummingbird Hawkmoth hovering among the flowers. These fascinating visitors are particularly impressive to watch as they feed on the nectar-rich blooms.

Hydrangeas Take Centre Stage

Hydrangeas are the stars of the season, with a wonderful variety of forms and colours coming into their own across the arboretum.

The Hydrangea paniculata cultivars are particularly impressive, with ‘Phantom’, ‘Early Sensation’ and ‘Great Star’ each offering their own distinctive flower shapes and styles. Look out too for the lacecap varieties Hydrangea macrophylla ‘Lanarth White’ and ‘Juno’, producing elegant white and pink flowers respectively.

Alongside the hydrangeas, Hydrangea serrata is also in flower, while the bright yellow blooms of Telekia speciosa (Yellow Oxeye) provide a striking contrast. Both can be found beside the stream, where the Telekia is proving particularly popular with butterflies.

Roses and Ripening Rose Hips

The final blooms of the shrub roses dotted throughout the arboretum are still worth seeking out, while their developing rose hips are beginning to provide a glimpse of the changing season ahead.

Look out for Rosa moyesii ‘Geranium’, Rosa sericea and Rosa rugosa, whose hips will gradually deepen to richer shades of red as summer progresses.

The Scent of Summer

The lime trees may not always command attention for their flowers, but their fragrance is impossible to miss. Even as the flowering season draws to a close, the remaining blooms fill the air with an intensely sweet scent and attract a multitude of insects.

In Seven Leys, the small Tilia japonica (Japanese Lime) is a wonderful example of just how much wildlife a single tree can support. Take a moment to pause nearby and you may notice the constant activity of insects among its flowers.

Flowers and Berries to Look Out For

Just below Rockery Bridge, look out for Poliothyrsis sinensis, commonly known as the Chinese Pearl-bloom Tree. By mid-August, this unusual tree should be covered in white buds, which open to reveal tiny, fragrant greenish-white flowers arranged in distinctive conical clusters.

The warm summer has also encouraged the early ripening of Sorbus berries. In Seven Leys, look behind the seating area for two smaller trees that are particularly easy to admire. Sorbus commixta is beginning to produce vibrant red berries, while Sorbus ulleungensis displays clusters of warm orange fruits.

 

From the delicate scent of lime trees and colourful hydrangea displays to buzzing pollinators and the first signs of autumn colour, there is still plenty to discover on a late-summer walk through Batsford Arboretum.