July Specimen of the month.
Every month we are going to feature two blogs written by volunteers, one will describe an object in the Palace and one a plant from the Garden. It is great way for us all to learn more about the Palace, if you would like to contribute there is no set format so send us your ideas!
My name is Ronnie Bendall. I have been a garden volunteer at Fulham Palace for five years. The many beautiful Palace trees give pleasure to us all. My favourite is the stately Ginkgo biloba which stands guard outside the Walled Garden entrance.
I follow this tree’s progress from early bud in spring, to the miraculous bright yellow carpet which appears after its sudden autumn leaf fall. In the summer the Ginkgo offers a lovely bright green, leafy canopy over the visitors’ bench.
Botanist author Peter Crane calls the Ginkgo “The tree that time forgot”. Ginkgos were around with the dinosaurs. They are known to be our planet’s most durable trees. Nowadays they grace parks, gardens and city streets worldwide.
The wonderful fan shaped leaves are continually fascinating to me. These leaves are manufactured into an important medical extract to aid memory. In striking contrast the female trees drop their stinking fruit in autumn. The brave will find inside an edible kernel - a much beloved delicacy which appears in Japanese bento boxes.
Take a look at my photographs and I hope I have encouraged you all to have a look at ‘my’ Ginkgo when you next pass through the gate to the walled Garden!
Ronnie Bendall - Garden Volunteer
Please send your ideas for blogs to commsvolunteer@fulhampalace.org If you would like some help, let us know.