31st December

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

Exceptionally mild still and the garden is rushing on. So springlike that it could almost be the first week in March. Camellias everywhere and the garden could open on New Years Eve! Heavy showers through the day damp this expectation somewhat and a small storm again brews up.

The elderly Rhododendron mucronulatum is out now. I have seen it earlier. A darker colour than the one below the Fernery.

Rhododendron mucronulatum
Rhododendron mucronulatum
Rhododendron mucronulatum
Rhododendron mucronulatum
Spanish bluebells emerging strongly.
Spanish bluebells
Spanish bluebells
The wind has deflowered the record sized Camellia x williamsii (unnamed) outside the front gates but there is still a fine show above as you can see.
Camellia x williamsii
Camellia x williamsii
Camellia x williamsii
Camellia x williamsii
Camellia x williamsii
Camellia x williamsii
The first snowdrops are out in flower and definitely earlier than many years. I used to think that the cold vernalised snowdrops into springing into flower but we have had only 1 days frost (a month ago) this winter.
snowdrops
snowdrops
A primrose on Christmas Day and now, suddenly, loads of them all over the place!
primrose
primrose
The Camellia reticulata seedlings are starting into flower towards the 4-in-Hand.
Camellia reticulata
Camellia reticulata
All over the garden in fact.
The newly planted Correa lawrenceana is growing well but no flowers yet. It is 6 feet tall and has grown 18” this year.
Correa lawrenceana
Correa lawrenceana
A camellia blown off the wall in the Lower Rockery which I had not noticed before although it may or may not be that recent.
camellia blown off the wall
camellia blown off the wall

2022 – CHW
A pleasant surprise today. First flowering here of another very different but very splendid Polyspora collection from Crug Farm. This is Polyspora speciosa (KWJ 12204) but much better with very different leaves to out other older plant of the same name with a different collection number which first flowered a month ago. Look at the size of the flowers and leaves. Enormous!
Polyspora speciosa (KWJ 12204)
Polyspora speciosa (KWJ 12204)
Polyspora speciosa (KWJ 12204)
Polyspora speciosa (KWJ 12204)
Polyspora speciosa (KWJ 12204)
Polyspora speciosa (KWJ 12204)
Polyspora speciosa (KWJ 12204)
Polyspora speciosa (KWJ 12204)
Polyspora speciosa (KWJ 12204)
Polyspora speciosa (KWJ 12204)
Still a few leaves on a young Styrax officinalis which is unexpected in a windy spot.
Styrax officinalis
Styrax officinalis
Magnolia caveana (NJM 13.044) looks vigorous and healthy. Rather different in leaf to our other plants of this species from other collections.
Magnolia caveana (NJM 13.044)
Magnolia caveana (NJM 13.044)
Magnolia caveana (NJM 13.044)
Magnolia caveana (NJM 13.044)
Our young Adinandra looks well after the frost but in a sheltered spot (TH 4557).
Adinandra
Adinandra
Another Melicytus crassifolius but this one has no white berries at all, as yet, unlike the other one a similar size growing in full sun. This one is in more shade.
Melicytus crassifolius
Melicytus crassifolius

2021 – CHW
A New Year’s Eve gathering to christen Serena and Neil’s baby, Lamorna Edith Cross, on a reasonable day weather wise.
New Year’s Eve
New Year’s Eve
New Year’s Eve
New Year’s Eve
New Year’s Eve
New Year’s Eve
New Year’s Eve
New Year’s Eve
New Year’s Eve
New Year’s Eve
New Year’s Eve
New Year’s Eve
New Year’s Eve
New Year’s Eve

2020 – CHW
Still cold and frosty but a fine day on New Year’s Eve.Seed still on a young Sorbus dunnii which I do not know. A Roundabarrow nursery purchase.
Sorbus dunnii
Sorbus dunnii
And just a few berry remnants on Cornus drummondii ‘Sunshiny Drops’. I have missed the show if there was one.
Cornus drummondii ‘Sunshiny Drops’
Cornus drummondii ‘Sunshiny Drops’
A Camellia ‘Silver Anniversary’ with a good show. From a distance I thought it was another ‘Mary Costa’ but this is rather better. Completely unfrosted.
Camellia ‘Silver Anniversary’
Camellia ‘Silver Anniversary’
Camellia ‘Silver Anniversary’
Camellia ‘Silver Anniversary’
I had been expecting Rhododendron ‘Crossbill’ to show any day but nothing yet on the old plants on the Main Ride. Here a youngster is performing.
Rhododendron ‘Crossbill’
Rhododendron ‘Crossbill’
An unfrosted few out of season flowers on a hidden and unnoticed old clump of Rhododendron indicum was a surprise.
Rhododendron indicum
Rhododendron indicum
Rhododendron indicum
Rhododendron indicum
A good show on a very elderly Camellia japonica in a clump. This one with large reddish flowers.
Camellia japonica
Camellia japonica
Camellia japonica
Camellia japonica
A Camellia ‘Lady Clare’ at the edge of the old Charlie Michaels Nursery bed now full out with its drooping habit. Completely unfrosted.
Camellia ‘Lady Clare’
Camellia ‘Lady Clare’
Also here another ilex which I had forgotten in the earlier holly species hunt. Ilex x altaclarensis ‘Lawsoniana’ with contrasting leaf and red berries. 15-18ft tall now.
Ilex x altaclarensis ‘Lawsoniana’
Ilex x altaclarensis ‘Lawsoniana’
Cornwall now becomes Tier 3 from today. We can still shoot as an outdoor sport but no one living outside Devon, Cornwall and Dorset is allowed to travel here to do so. All meals outside on shooting days. We have gone from Tier 1 to Tier 3 in a week.

2019 – CHW
Michelia doltsopa well budded up with striking orange-brown indumentum on its swelling flower buds. So far, despite the gales, no leaf loss in the crown at all.
Michelia doltsopa
Michelia doltsopa
Michelia doltsopa
Michelia doltsopa
The Tetrapanax papyrifera ‘Rex’ has thrown up two flower spikes on virtually (now) leafless stems of 8-10ft. We saw a Burncoose plant doing this two or so months ago. None are yet properly out.
Tetrapanax papyrifera ‘Rex’
Tetrapanax papyrifera ‘Rex’
Tetrapanax papyrifera ‘Rex’
Tetrapanax papyrifera ‘Rex’
The champion Cornish tree of Magnolia ‘Cecil Nice’, which toppled over about a year ago, has had a hard pruning. Some roots are clearly still in the ground as it leafed up and flowered last year. Hopefully it will now reshoot in a more upright manner so we can get it back to something like a half decent tree over time with careful pruning.
Magnolia ‘Cecil Nice’
Magnolia ‘Cecil Nice’
The seed heads on Pseudopanax laetus are purplish and a bit like purplish shaped snowflakes. They stand out well on the tree today.
Pseudopanax laetus
Pseudopanax laetus
Pseudopanax laetus
Pseudopanax laetus
Pseudopanax laetus
Pseudopanax laetus
Pseudopanax laetus
Pseudopanax laetus
Pseudopanax laetus
Pseudopanax laetus

2018 – CHW
First odd flowers on Camellia ‘Adelina Patti’. High up on the bush are two flowers of which one is a pure red sport. No sign of any pure white flowers yet. Quite early for Adelina I think.
Camellia ‘Adelina Patti’
Camellia ‘Adelina Patti’
Camellia ‘Adelina Patti’
Camellia ‘Adelina Patti’
First odd and high up flowers on Rhododendron ‘Crossbill’ about the same time as last year. ‘Bo Peep’ and ‘Crossbill’ are usually out in tandem.
Rhododendron ‘Crossbill’
Rhododendron ‘Crossbill’
Camellia x williamsii ‘Mary Jobson’ now full out and slightly scented today.
Camellia x williamsii ‘Mary Jobson’
Camellia x williamsii ‘Mary Jobson’
Camellia x williamsii ‘Mary Jobson’
Camellia x williamsii ‘Mary Jobson’
The paler form of Camellia saluenensis is now full out and perfect!
Camellia saluenensis
Camellia saluenensis
Camellia saluenensis
Camellia saluenensis
While the darker form is only just opening.
darker form
darker form

2017 – CHW
More storm damage. Here an ash branch by Rookery Gate. Not a big job to clear it up.
ash branch by Rookery Gate
ash branch by Rookery Gate
Crataegus austivalis still has plenty of leaf.
Crataegus austivalis
Crataegus austivalis
The cones on Abies pinsapo are now fully mature and have lost their lustrous colour which we saw in the summer when they set their first cones.
Abies pinsapo
Abies pinsapo
Abies pinsapo
Abies pinsapo
Abies pinsapo
Abies pinsapo
Abies pinsapo
Abies pinsapo
Similar situation with Abies delavayi. The cones will shortly shed their seeds and Asia needs to grab a cone or two from each of these. I went back and did it as Asia has a bad back.
Abies delavayi
Abies delavayi
Abies delavayi
Abies delavayi
Abies delavayi
Abies delavayi
Abies delavayi
Abies delavayi
Look how the emerging new growth on A. delavayi is shrouded in a white sappy indumentum presumably for protection from nibbling deer or rodents? I am probably wrong!
A. delavayi
A. delavayi
A. delavayi
A. delavayi

2016 – CHW
Our newish clump of Rhododendron ‘Winter Intruder’ is just about out. These plants were layers moved from the Rookery. Quite a bright colour on an overcast day but, as yet, unblemished by wind or frost.
Rhododendron ‘Winter Intruder’
Rhododendron ‘Winter Intruder’
Rhododendron ‘Winter Intruder’
Rhododendron ‘Winter Intruder’
Rhododendron ‘Winter Intruder’
Rhododendron ‘Winter Intruder’
Alongside it Camellia ‘Winton’ is still just in bud despite our seeing ‘Cornish Snow’ out yesterday. This is the pink Hillier’s cross the other way around from JC’s creation which is pure white (Camellia cuspidata x Camellia saluenensis).
Camellia ‘Winton’
Camellia ‘Winton’
Camellia ‘Winton’
Camellia ‘Winton’
Rhododendron ‘Christmas Cheer’ is rather drab beside ‘Winter Intruder’. Not as good a form as the one by the Lodge at Burncoose and pretty insipid really. One would only grow it to have a rhodo out on Christmas Day and it was not quite this year!
Rhododendron ‘Christmas Cheer’
Rhododendron ‘Christmas Cheer’
Rhododendron ‘Christmas Cheer’
Rhododendron ‘Christmas Cheer’
Rhododendron ‘Christmas Cheer’
Rhododendron ‘Christmas Cheer’
The daffodils on the drive have grown several inches in the last week of mild, warm weather.
daffodils on the drive
daffodils on the drive
One poor flower is out at ground level on Camellia ‘Lady Clare’ by the front door. I think a little later than last year but need to check. No sign of colour on the two big plants under the two tallest Magnolia x veitchii.
Camellia ‘Lady Clare’
Camellia ‘Lady Clare’

2015 – CHW

New Years Eve – Heavy showers and rainbows but a chill in the air after lunch. Rhododendron ‘Chink’ was full out until the heave winds tore into it.

Rhododendron ‘Chink’
Rhododendron ‘Chink’

Strangely Rhododendron ‘Bo Peep’ is not showing colour and perhaps keeping to its normal early flowering season in late January or early February. Camellia x williamsii ‘George Blandford’ is coming out but the lower down flowers are small and poor.

Canellia x williamsii ‘George Blandford’
Camellia x williamsii ‘George Blandford’
Camellia x williamsii ‘George Blandford’
Camellia x williamsii ‘George Blandford’

Camellia x williamsii ‘Monica Dance’ is out at the top of the old plant in a similar fashion. Monica Dance grows outside the kitchen window at Burncoose and it is not that unusual for it to be in bloom by Christmas. Note the red flowered ‘sport’ on Monica.

Camellia Monica Dance
Camellia Monica Dance
Camellia Monica Dance
Camellia Monica Dance

Strange, is it not, that the camellias are sticking to their mild weather winter timetable but much else is not. Have they acclimatised to ‘climate change’ or is this the usual bollocks!The original Camellia x williamsii ‘Muskoka’ has one or two huge flowers below the Magnolia veitchii. My grandmother was born in Muskoka in northern Canada and my mother was evacuated there for the was which she hated.

Camellia x williamsii ‘Muskoka’
Camellia x williamsii ‘Muskoka’

A rush to get in before the next heavy shower. Early to bed and no alcohol!  Now back in full Christmas working mode.

2001 – FJW
Second night of hardish frost. Pond nearly completely frozen. Swans uncomfortable.

2000 – FJW
A very wet year ends with gale force winds and rain.

1999 – FJW
A very wet month.

1978 – FJW
Biggest amount of snow yet seen. No electricity, very cold – Caerhays cut off with a house full of DJW’s friends for New Year who eventually leave in a tractor and trailer through the snowdrifts for St Austell station.

1960 – FJW
Wettest year since 1877 and possibly 1852. Very fortunate in gale damage. Cam japonica Arijishi out in Greenhouse.

1958 – FJW
Very wet year. 40 year old rain record broken easily. Garden very much behind.

1945 – CW
Sent off to Munroes both white heath and Darleyense and some hundreds of single Camellias. J.C.W out also double white and a few other doubles out. Rho mucronulatum, Yellow Hammer, white double Azalea and bits of one yellow below Hovel road. Bits of Davidsonianum and Sutchuenense hybrids. No reds. Bits of Azalea Amoena and several Kurume.
1940 – CW
Cold spell began and this cut all flowers and probably fuchsias very badly.

1939 – JCW
No sign of any blood reds. I picked a quite perfect bud of Magnolia delavayi next to the Tin Garden but all fuchsias gone with frost. No Camellia single flower touched except whites. Half the big double white brown.

1926 – JCW
Hamamelis mollis at its best. Mucronulatum opening. A good few blood red hybrids. Camellia sasanqua never half as good before.

1924 – JCW
Hamamelis mollis. Cotoneaster salicifolia and frigida good fruiting. Erica darleyense V.G and a few Primula Forrestii just show flowers. Caucasicums fair. Dutch Pearl opening. Mucronulatum moderate.

1917 – JCW
Much as in 1910 excepting Keysii, but it is very cold and has been for a fortnight. We have just put about 200 fine Chinamen in the Rookery. A Sechuen S divide Fortunei, Sinogrande, R rhaibocarpum, Fulvum, 3 Sutchuenense hybrids, big bloods of each, and a very cold start for them, also some Cornish Loderi.

1910 – JCW
Some roses left. Rho keysii open, several say 20% of the daffs up, rather less of the one year olds. Several lapagerias. Erica hybrida good. Rho nobleanum nice.

1897 – JCW
R royali opening. Daffs above ground.