In the center of the garden is this large specimen of Cupressus funebris, commonly called the chinese weeping cypress. Planted trees which are said to be 800 years old grow at Black Dragon Pool Mountain Temple near Kunming, Yunnan, China. It’s conservation status is listed as vulnerable to threatened. Cupressus funebris is generally regarded as the botanical source of Chinese cedarwood oil and is highly regarded for furniture makeing.
Early plant collectors in China observed it to be a noble looking fir-tree with weeping branches. It’s long and slender branches hanging down perpendicularly and giving the whole tree a weeping and graceful form.
It is reputed that the ‘willow pattern’ tableware we all know so well originates from this beautiful weeping cypress.
We have three Cupressus funebris growing at Summerhome, the largest is situated right in the middle of the garden. There have always been gardeners working in Summerhome garden and for many years they sat under the weeping cypress for their breaks.
Mr Seager was the main gardener when I was a child. My grandmother would make up a tray with teapot, small jug of milk, cup and saucer and a plate of food. I would be asked to take it down to Seager’s tree. I must admit that for many years I thought the cypress was called a ‘seagers tree. Or was it named after the Seager family who lived in Deptford England where Henry and Sarah Hopkins lived before they moved to Tasmania in 1822 .
The family also called this Cupressus funebris the ‘gardeners tree’. If you join a Summerhome house and garden tour you will see why the gardeners liked to sit there for their breaks. It’s a lovely sunny dry spot in the winter, cool and shady in the heat of summer.
{ 0 comments… add one now }