Big Yew
This photo of a huge Yew tree was taken on one of my cycle rides around my previous village last Autumn.
Little Yew
The little Yew was something I picked up a couple of years ago from a stall during a village art event. The idea was to keep it in a pot until it was big enough to add to the trees on the meadow - I had no plans to move back then. It's grown quite a lot since but still less than a foot tall and has just spent 9 weeks stored at BiL's garden before he brought it here. Now I'm not sure what to do with it. It's not really suitable for a small garden that will have children playing. All parts of Yew trees are poisonous and the garden here is too small
for something that gets quite big and can live for 100's of years, so it
will need a new home.
But look what's between my front garden and next doors - a Huge thick Yew hedge. I would like to find out if it's mine, theirs or belongs to both of us. I need to get all the paperwork back from the solicitor........... as I only ever saw the downloads on emails...... to find out.
If it's mine it may well go to be replaced by something that isn't quite so overpowering.
Are there any redeeming features to a Yew tree - pretty blossom/berries, a pleasant smell perhaps? And do animals instinctively avoid them? I don't think I've ever seen one here in New Zealand, but probably I just haven't looked with my eyes open!! Has the local produce you bought been tasty?
ReplyDeleteThe local tomatoes were very good, although not as flavourful as home grown.
DeleteYew trees are often in church yards and live for 100's of years, The wood was once used for long-bows. Other than that not a lot to recommend them.I doubt they are planted much nowadays.
Just about the biggest redeeming feature of yew is the fact that that the clippings from it are used to produce a drug called tamoxafem.
ReplyDeleteI didn't know about that use - so thank you. I looked up Tamoxafem and see it is used to help prevent the recurrence of breast cancer - so a very important drug
DeleteThey usually say there is always a Yew Tree in a church yard.
ReplyDeleteThe little tree would look nice decorated at Christmas outside the front door.
The sun is out today after a very bad storm yesterday I do hope know nobody was hurt.
Hazel 🌈🌈
Hail here yesterday and a thunderstorm in the distance and plenty more rain!
DeleteSteady on. You don't want to be pulling out a hedge the minute you move in. Grandchildren grow up and don't generally eat hedges.
ReplyDeleteIt's HUGE and ugly and you are right there's no rush but it's not a choice I would ever make for a boundary
DeleteIt gives privacy and for me that would be good. Live with it and embrace.
DeleteThe birds will love that hedge. At least it isn't prickly for trimming, and will last a lifetime without rotting and needing endless maintenance.
ReplyDeleteAs a country kid myself we were taught early not to put any berries in our mouths, then taught later about the edibles.
It's so dense and huge and ugly and will need regular cutting. But if it is mine there is no rush
DeleteYour yew hedge is probably a very effective wind-break. I'd love one. Far easier to maintain than a fence.
ReplyDeleteI adore yew, the smell of them and their berries. We too were taught very early on not to touch them let alone their berries. I have 3 self sown yews in my front garden, which I am keeping well trimmed and shaped. The female develops berries but only if in the vicinity of a male. They flower in February apparently so you won't know if its a male until berries potentially arrive. Birds love them for nesting.
ReplyDeleteI think it would be a shame to rip out a well-grown yew hedge. We had a big tree in my previous garden and my daughter was never tempted to eat any of it. Children have to be told not to eat many other plants, e.g. laburnum, foxgloves, deadly nightshade.
ReplyDeleteIf you don't want the tree putting it out labelled with it's name and a 'Free to a Good Home' label will soon find it a suitable place to live. As for the hedge it would be such a shame to take it out, think of the wildlife it will be supporting. For the price of a gardener to give it a good yearly trim (or a tasty homecooked meal and a few cups of tea for your BiL) you have an almost maintenance free divider between you and next door.
ReplyDeleteThat yew hedge looks like a good wind break. Maybe, if it is yours, give it a year to see how you like it. When we moved here, we inherited a 30ft Leylandii hedge. Now, THAT did have to go! xx
ReplyDeleteHedges are very good noise insulators.
ReplyDeleteJust a thought!
Before you remove it makw certain which way the prevailing wind blows. I have a thick hedge innmy front garden but it grown North to South and it really shelters my drive when there is a prevailing West Wind.
ReplyDeleteThat is a huge yew. My city property has a yew on one border. The yew is green externally but internally it is all wood (no green). The yew makes the garden very private which is appreciated. Regular trimming is required.
ReplyDeleteI rather like that hedge and I expect the birds do too. Could you (or someone else) clip it into a different shape - let it grow a bit and do some cloud pruning or topiary?
ReplyDelete