Trees on driveway to North Lodge Cornbury

Tue 11 Aug 2015, 23:28

The bees in the hive next to the drive did look very happy last friday!

Tue 11 Aug 2015, 11:24

The trees are Tilia tomentosa 'Petiolaris' and there are many other varieties of limes in the park; they grow very well on the light Cotswold soil. It's believed that some varieties are a narcotic to bees and humans.
More info on these trees can be found here: www.kew.org/visit-kew-gardens/explore/attractions/weeping-silver-lime

Mon 10 Aug 2015, 21:26

They smelt wonderful we all thought when walking home from wilderness late each night...

Sat 8 Aug 2015, 11:09

I agree with Stephen on the type of lime tree - they are weeping limes. Not all limes are toxic to bees, but apparently these ones are. The website www.buzzaboutbees.net/Which-Lime-Trees-Are-Toxic-For-Bees.html explains which are and which aren't. Presumably the lime honeys and teas come from other varieties.

Sat 8 Aug 2015, 09:47 (last edited on Sat 8 Aug 2015, 09:51)

I think they are Tilia petiolaris DC. They have larger and more yellow flowers than other limes with 3-7 in a cluster, so that is why they have a stronger scent.

Sat 8 Aug 2015, 09:14 (last edited on Sat 8 Aug 2015, 16:19)

Quite, Liz. And we (and the French) drink lime blossom 'tea' all the time. Or does Simon mean this species of lime, rather than just this species of tree?

Sat 8 Aug 2015, 08:53

Really? How come you can buy lime blossom honey?

Fri 7 Aug 2015, 21:30

Fragrant? Pungent might be closer to the mark! Unfortunately, the flower pollen of this species is either narcotic or toxic to bees, so if you see some bees behaving bizarrely down there, that may be the reason.

And if you look on the trunks of the two trees closest to the road, there are little plaques attached that say that they were planted ten or 12 years ago - the protective metal frames around them were removed earlier this year.

Fri 7 Aug 2015, 19:25

Thanks - they are particularly fragrant right now.

Fri 7 Aug 2015, 19:11

We were told by Lord Rotherwick that they are weeping limes.

Fri 7 Aug 2015, 19:11

Lime trees. The blossom is used to make the French tea "tilleul".

Fri 7 Aug 2015, 18:59

Can anyone tell me what the trees that were planted a couple of years ago are? The ones just off the public highway, down to the railway bridge?