Edition January | 2008
Nieuwsbrief in het NEDERLANDS |
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Did you know? |
> PLANTCOL makes plant collections digitally accessible  Belgium has a rich tradition in the areas of botany and horticulture. An area measuring just over 30,000 square km is densely packed with botanical gardens, arboreta and private plant collections, each with their own unique identity, profile and specialisation. The Vereniging voor Botanische Tuinen en Arboreta (Belgian Association of Botanical Gardens and Arboreta) took the initiative to digitally unlock these unique plant collections and make them available worldwide via the internet.
The PLANTCOL project throws light on the unique and dazzling splendour of our Belgian plant collections and presents this information to a global audience. The collections contain plants with unique stories, and plant species which are under extreme threat or almost extinct in the natural environment. It gives us great pleasure to introduce our Belgian plantness to the world in an innovative manner. > Is there something strange about Hamamelis seeds? The fruit of the Hamamelis is a woody capsule in two parts, round to oval, approximately one centimetre in size. They ripen in approximately eight to nine months after the plant blooms, and burst open with explosive force. Two jet-black seeds are thrown out and can travel up to ten metres away from the plant! Each compartment of the fruit contains a single, five millimetre, black, shiny seed. The seeds are broader and more rounded at the top, narrower and pointed at the bottom. The seeds of the witch-hazel are contained upside down in the capsule. We wondered why this might be. It may have something to do with aerodynamics. Do you think there might be another reason? Feel free to e-mail your suggestions to our educational department.
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Hamamelis Festival 2008 |
> Hamamelis Festival 2008 To celebrate the flowering of winter-blooming plants, Arboretum Kalmthout will open from 14 January to 17 February 2008. Visitors are welcome every day from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Among the best known in the world are the witch-hazels, which will always blossom, come cold or snow. The Arboretum is home to the largest collection in Europe. Come and see for yourself, and experience the uniqueness of a winter garden full of flowers, scents and colours. A special Hamamelis lane has been marked out through the 12-hectare arboretum garden and takes you past all the witch-hazels and other highpoints of the winter season. Of course, you are also free to follow your own path through the grounds.
Every Sunday after 11 a.m., there are continual guided walks (in Dutch), which you can freely join. Guided walks can be reserved on other days of the week.
> Promotional material for the Hamamelis festival 2008 Would anyone like to lend a hand in promoting the 2008 Hamamelis festival? Everyone knows of a few places where lots of people gather and where they can leave out leaflets or put up a poster. Is there anyone who would like to drop by on our behalf? Send us a note and tell us how many leaflet packs and posters you would like. Thank you very much in advance!
> Red blooming witch-hazels in the spotlight  We put the winter ladies, witch-hazels with female names, in the spotlight in the last edition of the Hamamelis festivals. This time we turn our attention to the red blooming varieties. The large plants have been growing in the arboretum garden for years, but what is their history, where do they get their names, what are their special characteristics, etc.? You will find a unique plant passport beside every red bloomer.
> Miss Hamamelis 2008 On Sunday, 27 January, we will be selecting Miss Hamamelis 2008 at Arboretum Kalmthout. As is the case every year, you are cordially invited to bring along a blossoming branch of witch-hazel from your own garden. These branches will be put on display and judged by two panels: one panel made up of members of the public and another of professionals. Prizes will be awarded in five categories: best yellow, best orange, best red, best scent and best of all. This year the Miss Hamamelis 2008 will be awarded an Yves Rocher witch-hazel beauty care pack.
> International Helleborus Show In keeping with tradition, Arboretum Kalmthout will again be organising a glorious and exceptional exhibition of blossoming Helleborus. From 7 February to 10 February 2008, the salons of the historical Vangeertenhof will provide the backdrop for the most beautiful parent plants and the latest selections by the master breeders from Belgium and the Netherlands. This plant show is the only one of its kind in the Benelux and is highly recommended!
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Let me introduce you to … |
> Hamamelis mollis Hamamelis mollis grows naturally on wooded hills in Central and Southwest China. It is the most common and best-known variety. Some people believe this Chinese witch-hazel to be the most beautiful of all.
It bears magnificent, large, yellow blossoms with a gloriously sweet scent. The flowers are made up of four linear, uncurled petals. On the older, thick, dark branches, the many thick, whimsical and tightly packed flowers bloom in the axils of the leaves, where they hang down.
The leaves of this witch-hazel are larger than those of other varieties. They are oval and have the typical dense, grey hairs on the underside. The autumn colouring is an eye-catching yellow, which turns to reddish brown.
The characteristic shape is ascending, to a height of three metres. This variety usually flowers in January, but in mild winters, it can start flowering as early as December.
This witch-hazel prefers a sunny or slightly shaded spot in a humus-rich but permeable soil, neutral towards acidic, but a little sheltered. Hamamelis mollis is the only variety that will tolerate a slightly limey soil.
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Spectacular poster |
> Spectacular poster In association with the Hainaut Développement Guidance de l’environnement, Arboretum Kalmthout has developed two educational posters on witch-hazels. One with the theme From Flower to Fruit and the other with the main cultivars. The detailed photos give you an understanding of the biology, morphology and appearance of Hamamelis. These posters are available in Dutch and French and can be ordered by mail.
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Colofon |
International Registrar: Ir. Abraham Rammeloo BNT | Redaction: Ellen Lutgen, Abraham Rammeloo | Editor in chief: Abraham Rammeloo | Pictures: Abraham Rammeloo, Willy Heuysdens, … | Previous issues in the archive on the website | Free subscription by e-mail | Heuvel 2, B-2920 Kalmthout, Belgium | T +32 (0)3/666.67.41 | F +32 (0)3/666.33.96 | info@arboretumkalmthout.be |
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