Witch Hazel

Today's the day ……………………. to re-discover

Lots of things appearing in the garden here despite the cold weather - including this lovely witch hazel.  I'm particularly pleased to see it because I did leave one behind in the old garden that I had grown quite fond of.

Hamamelis  with its spicy fragrance and spidery flowers in yellow, orange and reds was introduced into gardens by the Quaker botanist, Peter Collinson (1694 - 1768). He was a Fellow of the Royal Society, an avid gardener, and the middleman for an international exchange of scientific ideas in 18th century London. He is best known for his horticultural friendship with the American botanist, John Bartram, also a Quaker.

Bartram (1699 - 1777) was instrumental in sending seeds from the New World to European gardeners, including Peter Collinson - and many North American trees and flowers were first introduced into cultivation in Europe by this route...........