29th August

FJ Williams Profile Picture
FJW 1955-2007
CH Williams Profile Picture
CHW 2015-
JC Williams Profile Picture
JCW 1897-1939
C Williams Profile Picture
CW 1940-1955

2023 – CHW

A long eared bat flying around by day.

long eared bat
long eared bat
This fungus is growing on an old sycamore stump near Tin Garden. Jaimie says it is Favolaschia calocera but I cannot find this in my fungi book.
Favolaschia calocera
Favolaschia calocera
Unformed seed clusters blown off the original Lithocarpus cleistocarpus by George’s Hut.
Lithocarpus cleistocarpus
Lithocarpus cleistocarpus
Much larger (but still not yet viable) seed clusters off the younger Lithocarpus cleistocarpus above Hovel Cart Road. Some here have been eaten by squirrels already.
Lithocarpus cleistocarpus
Lithocarpus cleistocarpus
Lithocarpus cleistocarpus
Lithocarpus cleistocarpus
The new Rookery clearing is now more or less complete.
Rookery clearing
Rookery clearing
Rookery clearing
Rookery clearing

2022 – CHW
A shriveled and rather pathetic display on Rhododendron ‘Polar Bear’ below
Slip Rail.
Rhododendron ‘Polar Bear’
Rhododendron ‘Polar Bear’
Staphylea pinnata turning colour prematurely.
Staphylea pinnata
Staphylea pinnata
Another drought casualty or severe die back on all the Acer negundo varieties.
Acer negundo varieties
Acer negundo varieties
Shrivelled flowers on a very young Hydrangea ‘Taube’ on the drive. At least the leaves are OK.
Hydrangea ‘Taube’
Hydrangea ‘Taube’
Window repairs for obvious reasons on all 3 windows on the main tower.
Window repairs
Window repairs
Window repairs
Window repairs

2021 – CHW
Seed heads well formed on Styrax obassia.

Styrax obassia
Styrax obassia
In our absence a salt laden gale has burnt off the leaves on the beech trees by Tin Garden. Some evidence of reshooting but basically a premature leaf drop.
beech trees
beech trees
beech trees
beech trees
Ketteleria davidiana has enjoyed a good growing season. It looked on its last legs in the spring.
Ketteleria davidiana
Ketteleria davidiana
Next year’s flower buds showing up now on many magnolias.
magnolias
magnolias

2020 – CHW
A young Idesia polycarpa blown open in the wind in Kennel close.
Idesia polycarpa
Idesia polycarpa
Seed capsules or bladders on Staphylea pinnata and Staphylea colchica are colouring up.
Staphylea
Staphylea
Staphylea
Staphylea
Some very expensive machines harvesting potatoes in Eastern Close viewed from Treberrick Farmhouse which is being renovated.
harvesting potatoes
harvesting potatoes
The steep bank opposite Harolds Yard has been cut by Bob in a feat of daring!
steep bank
steep bank
A building conversion project at Trevarrick which got the go ahead at the trustees meeting today – three new barn conversions to residential.
Trevarrick
Trevarrick
Trevarrick
Trevarrick
Another potential conversion project for six units at Rescassa.
Rescassa
Rescassa
Squirrel damage on a young sweet chestnut in Old Park.
sweet chestnut
sweet chestnut

2019 – CHW
A strange excitement at 7.20am this morning. As I sit letter writing in the study a large grey squirrel repeatedly jumps up at the glass on the window. I presume that since the glass is tinted it could see its reflection as it turned out to be a young travelling male looking for new territory. This often happens at harvest time when young squirrels living in hedgerows by cornfields move on when the corn is cut.

Anyway armed with dog and equipment I opened the front door. The squirrel ran right through my legs and up one of the granite pillars outside the front door. It got as far as the battlements where it found it could not get over the three granite protrusions just below. Amazing that it could grip onto the sheer granite but it will not be returning.

granite pillars
granite pillars

2018 – CHW
A huge benefit from a day’s light rain and plants are picking up all round the garden.The young rhododendrons in the frames are looking good.
young rhododendrons
young rhododendrons
young rhododendrons
young rhododendrons
Eucryphia lucida above the greenhouse. Late into full flower after the odd flower over the last month.
Eucryphia lucida
Eucryphia lucida
Eucryphia lucida
Eucryphia lucida
Schinus polygamus must be the dullest plant ever. Here it is 10-12ft high with no notable features!
Schinus polygamus
Schinus polygamus
A sucker from Sassafras albidum beside the path. The main trunk grows through a dense camellia clump so this is the first sucker I have seen here on this multi-stemmed tree.
Sassafras albidum
Sassafras albidum
Cornus kousa var. chinensis ‘Wisley Queen’ with now ripe fruits.
Cornus kousa var. chinensis ‘Wisley Queen’
Cornus kousa var. chinensis ‘Wisley Queen’

2017 – CHW
Sinowilsonia henryi has still not flowered in dappled shade on a hottish bank.
Sinowilsonia henryi
Sinowilsonia henryi
Sinowilsonia henryi
Sinowilsonia henryi
Jaimie has split the Hedychium gardnerianum clumps by the Playhouse and planted groups around and about in the garden. First flowers here.
Hedychium gardnerianum
Hedychium gardnerianum
Hedychium gardnerianum
Hedychium gardnerianum
Salix moupinensis is really a smaller version of Salix fargesii but the stems and buds are attractive. Growing in a damp place it has settled in well.
Salix moupinensis
Salix moupinensis
Salix moupinensis
Salix moupinensis
Salix moupinensis
Salix moupinensis
In my care article on cordyline for the website I referred to older branched forms shooting from the base. This is certainly true of this 35 year old clump by the front door.
cordyline
cordyline
cordyline
cordyline

2016 – CHW
Alison’s hanging basket begonias are a great Top Lodge welcome to Caerhays.
Alison’s hanging basket begonias
Alison’s hanging basket begonias
Alison’s hanging basket begonias
Alison’s hanging basket begonias
This was originally, in 1999, a clump of ten plants of Hydrangea paniculata ‘Pink Diamond’. They have done well and are a big impact today although no sign of a colour change to pink as yet. Taller growing than ‘White Lace’ too.
Hydrangea paniculata ‘Pink Diamond’
Hydrangea paniculata ‘Pink Diamond’
We looked at Hydrangea ‘Hobella’ in its prime six to eight weeks ago when it was a delicate pink. Now it has turned to a shade of light blue with some outer florets turning green while others exhibit red/purple blotches on the fading whitish flowers. As advertised this variety genuinely does change colour three times during the flowering season. Wonderful for dried flowers but at what colour stage do you dry them? There are new multicolour ‘noblesse’ hydrangeas being marketed hard by the Dutch today which have mixed colours and colour changes but I find them vulgar in comparison to ‘Hobella’ which Burncoose first sold in the early 1990s.
Hydrangea ‘Hobella’
Hydrangea ‘Hobella’
Hydrangea ‘Hobella’
Hydrangea ‘Hobella’
2015 – CHW
Decided to look further in Kennel Close with more time:Mespilus germanica (2011 planting) now has lots of fruit.

Mespilus germanica
Mespilus germanica
Mespilus germanica
Mespilus germanica

Juglans ailanthifolia (2014 planting) has a wonderful leaf structure if the roe deer will leave it alone.

Juglans ailanthifolia
Juglans ailanthifolia
Juglans ailanthifolia
Juglans ailanthifolia

Prunus serrula ‘Thibetica’ has little peeling bark yet on the main stem but the newer branches are peeling nicely.

Prunus serrula ‘Thibetica’
Prunus serrula ‘Thibetica’
Prunus serrula ‘Thibetica’
Prunus serrula ‘Thibetica’

Acer campbellii ‘Frangipanense’ has secondary new growth and, despite die back from the top, is now well away with a bit more shelter from the laurel hedge.

Acer campbellii ‘Frangipanense’
Acer campbellii ‘Frangipanense’

Cornus alternifolia, a seedling from our original plant, has made huge growth in four years and is now producing white berries turning black in huge clusters.

Cornus alternifolia
Cornus alternifolia
Cornus alternifolia
Cornus alternifolia

Aesculus glabra (2011) also has peculiar shaped conkers (four only) for the first time.

Aesculus glabra
Aesculus glabra

Sorbus thompsonii (2011) has massive grey leaves with whiter undersides and is growing on nicely now that its lower branches have been pruned off to reinvigorate the main stem.

Sorbus thompsonii
Sorbus thompsonii
Sorbus thompsonii
Sorbus thompsonii
Sorbus thompsonii
Sorbus thompsonii

1990 – FJW
Roads running after a good shower.

 

1987 – FJW
Harvest finished – summer good for garden, farm and tourists.

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