How did the cherry tree get to Japan?

Our very select and important guest speaker on 24th April was Linda Fennell, a Senlac Rotarian and one- time guardian of very special trees. Everyone loves the cherry tree that embraces Spring with its pink and white blossom, first on the tree and then carpeting the ground, But did you know there a very special one, the Taihaku? Linda related the history and significance of this tree which grew in the garden of the Grange, Benenden, her home where she took in adults with challenging behavioural problems.

A previous owner of the house, Captain Collingwood Ingram, developed an obsession with cherry trees after his service in World War 1. He travelled the world, collected, planted and nourished many different species of cherry trees in an eight acre garden by the Grange. He became known as Capt. “Cherry” Ingram for this obsession and wrote a hugely successful book in 1948, “Ornamental Cherries. Such was the interest in the garden that it was written about by Vita Sackville West who became a very close friend and he developed associations with people such as Christopher Lloyd and the Queen Mother. The collection was of such national importance that it was listed as an Historic Garden.

Linda told several stories about the garden which has sadly been neglected over the years. On one of his trips to Japan he visited “The fountainhead of cherry lore” an elderly Japanese man who was lamenting the loss of an important species of cherry in Japan. Unable to find it anywhere in the country he considered it extinct; told by Cherry Ingram that he had such species growing in his Kent garden he was very sceptical. But Cherry did his utmost to reintroduce the species back into Japan. After many failed attempts to ship cuttings he came upon the idea to put the cuttings into halved potatoes and this worked. The Thaihaku was back in Japan but sadly the old man had died by that time.

One April 1st a house occupant had collapsed and Linda was waiting for the ambulance when the doorbell rang. “I’m from the BBC”, the man said. “Go away, I know it’s April Fool’s Day” replied Linda. It transpired that he was from the BBC and there to film the garden for a Gardeners World programme. On another occasion she received a call from Royal Parks and Gardens; the Queen Mother, an avid cherry tree admirer, wanted to donate 150 cherry trees to the Grange’s collection! Duly collected and planted!

Thanks Linda for stepping (standing) in for the original speaker. You gave us a truly interesting and fascinating talk.