27th January

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

2024 – CHW

Warm and mild with a SE wind.

Camellia japonica ‘Miss Charleston’ just out.

Camellia japonica ‘Miss Charleston’
Camellia japonica ‘Miss Charleston’
A young Camellia transnokoensis with its first flowers. We lost a large established plant of this species in the 2018 Beast from the East.
Camellia transnokoensis
Camellia transnokoensis
Turpinia formosana with frost damage on its new growth.
Turpinia formosana
Turpinia formosana
Camellia yunnanensis (17099 – seedling grown by us from RMCG seed list) flowering for perhaps the second time.
Camellia yunnanensis
Camellia yunnanensis
A young Fatsia polycarpa with its first flower.
Fatsia polycarpa
Fatsia polycarpa
Another good clump of Rhododendron ririei.
Rhododendron ririei
Rhododendron ririei
The trunk and flower on a mature Fatsia polycarpa with chubbier leaves.
Fatsia polycarpa
Fatsia polycarpa
Fatsia polycarpa
Fatsia polycarpa
A roe deer lay down here beside the Fatsia in the last 24 hours.
roe deer
roe deer

2023 – CHW
A warmer week and more camellias begin to show.Camellia ‘Lulu Belle’.

Camellia ‘Lulu Belle'
Camellia ‘Lulu Belle’
Camellia japonica ‘Kick Off’. Jaimie grew this plant from a cutting 26 years ago.
Camellia japonica ‘Kick Off’
Camellia japonica ‘Kick Off’
Camellia japonica ‘Kick Off’
Camellia japonica ‘Kick Off’
Camellia japonica ‘Mary Costa’.
Camellia japonica ‘Mary Costa’
Camellia japonica ‘Mary Costa’
Camellia japonica ‘Silver Chalice’ – a much newer introduction.
Camellia japonica ‘Silver Chalice’
Camellia japonica ‘Silver Chalice’

2022 – CHW
Overcast but still mild with a hint of drizzle as for several days.Camellia ‘Contessa Lavinia Maggi’ with its first flower. One of the old original japonicas on the wall by the arch. An Italian bred variety introduced to the UK from Belgium in 1858. Arrived here around 1903.
Camellia ‘Contessa Lavinia Maggi’
Camellia ‘Contessa Lavinia Maggi’
Another stretch of laurel well cut back below the Main Ride. The clump of Rhododendron chapmanii now has more light.
laurel
laurel
A few flowers on dad’s hybrid (unnamed) azalea clump above the tree fern. A muddy colour!
azalea
azalea
First flowers out on Rhododendron moupinense.
Rhododendron moupinense
Rhododendron moupinense
And on Rhododendron Golden Oriole Group (moupinense x sulphureum) raised here.
Rhododendron Golden Oriole Group
Rhododendron Golden Oriole Group
A few more flowers now out on Magnolia campbellii ‘Strybing White’. It has not been rushing which may mean cold weather is coming.
Magnolia campbellii ‘Strybing White’
Magnolia campbellii ‘Strybing White’
A newly bought in Camellia x williamsii ‘Red Dahlia’ with its first flower.
Camellia x williamsii ‘Red Dahlia’
Camellia x williamsii ‘Red Dahlia’

2021 – CHW
Last night the RHS announced that Chelsea 2021 is to be moved from late May to late September. Not a great time of the year for delphiniums, lupins, iris, bedding, tulips, herbaceous or woody plants which are mainly spring/summer flowering and the mainstays of the floral marque and, either forced, or held back. Salvia, dahlia, asters and fruit will be “great for a change” they say but it is a bit early for autumn colour. The RHS used to have a Great Autumn Show in Vincent Square in October but, apart from those selling dry spring bulbs, there was never that much to see. Since the RHS never got beyond allocating us a notional space at Chelsea last October with reduced attendances and an extra show day I wonder what the threat or bribe will be now? I cannot see it will be worth our while financially or that we could mount a decent stand of any sort of size in late September. That is production time on the nursery and not show selling time. I do not blame them for trying but I suspect many longstanding exhibitors will take a similar view to ours. Their show tunnels, like ours, will be stocked with May flowering plants. Will the public get a raw deal? I see tickets are transferable but at the original high prices.Separately, the RHS President, Mr Weed, has demanded more ‘diversity’ in show judges. Judging used to be based on knowledge, experience and a collective committee vote by recognised experts in individual plant sectors. More recently a ‘fairer’ (?) and simplistic points system with less judges, many of whom are not experts in certain plant specialities, has been adopted. Now, I suppose, we are to have a ‘woke’ judging system based on diversity, ‘fairness’ (ie bias) and BLM rather than plant knowledge. All judges have to be ‘trained’ and you can guess what in. Roy Lancaster was invited to be trained as a judge when aged nearly 80. He said he had been doing it for 40 years and did not need much plant training so would decline their offer! What are Mr Weed’s gardening credentials and pedigree? Might the RHS be following the National Trust in trying to make a change to their traditions, purpose and approach in response to a minority opinion set against that of their older, loyal members who dislike any ‘change’ on principle? The old guard of lifetime Chelsea exhibitors will have a view but the RHS will not care unless it further hurts their bottom line which it may.The first ‘wild’ daffodil is out at the Four in Hand.
daffodil
daffodil
The central flower is Camellia x williamsii ‘Beatrice Michael’ and the two either side are ‘JC Williams’.
Our largest Neolitsea sericea looks sick and has defoliated a lot. However, the new growth shoots and buds are still evident. No rot at the base but perhaps a forthcoming honey fungus casualty?
Neolitsea sericea
Neolitsea sericea
Neolitsea sericea
Neolitsea sericea
Camellia ‘Cornish Spring’ a bit frosted but plenty of buds to come. A Tregrehan hybrid of great merit.
Camellia ‘Cornish Spring’
Camellia ‘Cornish Spring’
Camellia ‘Cornish Spring’
Camellia ‘Cornish Spring’
Camellia ‘Cornish Spring’
Camellia ‘Cornish Spring’
Camellia ‘Spring Mist’ with flowers coming.
Camellia ‘Spring Mist’
Camellia ‘Spring Mist’
The first flowers on the Magnolia ‘Lanarth’ have been frosted on Monday/Tuesday nights which were more severe than I realised.
Magnolia ‘Lanarth’
Magnolia ‘Lanarth’
Camellia ‘California Sunset’ just coming out.
Camellia ‘California Sunset’
Camellia ‘California Sunset’
Camellia ‘California Sunset’
Camellia ‘California Sunset’
Rhododendron ‘Christmas Cheer’ half frosted.
Rhododendron ‘Christmas Cheer’
Rhododendron ‘Christmas Cheer’
A carpet of frosted flowers below Camellia x williamsii ‘Rosemary Williams’ but plenty fairly untouched at the top of the plant.
Camellia x williamsii ‘Rosemary Williams’
Camellia x williamsii ‘Rosemary Williams’
Camellia x williamsii ‘Rosemary Williams’
Camellia x williamsii ‘Rosemary Williams’

2020 – CHW
Plenty of new growth on the evergreen Carpinus kawakamii.
Carpinus kawakamii
Carpinus kawakamii
Carpinus kawakamii
Carpinus kawakamii
The buds on Michelia doltsopa are swelling furiously.
Michelia doltsopa
Michelia doltsopa
First flowers on a young Rhododendron ririei.
Rhododendron ririei
Rhododendron ririei
Still a few leaves left on Rehderodendron indochinense.
Rehderodendron indochinense
Rehderodendron indochinense
Camellia x williamsii ‘Debbie’ just coming out.
Camellia x williamsii ‘Debbie’
Camellia x williamsii ‘Debbie’
Camellia x williamsii ‘Debbie’
Camellia x williamsii ‘Debbie’
Camellia x williamsii ‘Caerhays’ just now out as well on Burns Bank.
Camellia x williamsii ‘Caerhays’
Camellia x williamsii ‘Caerhays’
Still many yellow berries left on Ilex aquifolium ‘Bacciflava’.
Ilex aquifolium ‘Bacciflava’
Ilex aquifolium ‘Bacciflava’

2019 – CHW
The clump of taller growing snowdrops beside the drive is suddenly full out.Rhododendron siderophyllum, the pinker form, is full out beyond the Rockery. The white forms seem some way off coming out yet.
Rhododendron siderophyllum
Rhododendron siderophyllum
Rhododendron siderophyllum
Rhododendron siderophyllum
A seedling of Rhododendron ‘Mrs Butler’ is full out and well worth its place this early despite its colour. Pink fading to white.
Rhododendron ‘Mrs Butler’
Rhododendron ‘Mrs Butler’
Rhododendron ‘Mrs Butler’
Rhododendron ‘Mrs Butler’

2018 – CHW

Jaimie finds the old plant of Illicium anisatum full out above Crinodendron Hedge. We have seen young plants in flower before in February but never quite this early I think.

Illicium anisatum
Illicium anisatum
Illicium anisatum
Illicium anisatum

2017 – CHW
Despite a few nights of mild frost the echiums remain untouched and ready to flower in the summer. Several leaves blown off in the recent east winds though. Still cold, wet and windy most of today.

echiums
echiums
echiums
echiums

2016 – CHW
Arum italicum (lords and ladies) a good eight inches into growth already. Rivalling the bluebells. It does not seem long since the seed pods were visible here outside the front arch with their prominent orange seeds.

Arum italicum
Arum italicum

1993 – FJW
Very warm – flower on Michelia – sycamore seed germinating in the Big Quarry. At least 20 Rhodo’s full out and Williamsii Camellias at their best.

1981 – FJW
Davids first appearance on television ( ¼ second).

1975 – FJW
Philip picked Magnolia mollicomata x by steep steps.

1959 – FJW
Burnt the Downs.

1934 – JCW
Camellia speciosa is the best thing we have. There is a C speciosa x japonica 2 ½ years old with 14 buds on it. Moupinense is good, H mollis wanes, it has been very good.

1932 – JCW
Some Barbatum open, moupinense good, parvifolium long over. Arboreum x Thomsonii open. Camellia speciosa has been good for 3 weeks.

1924 – JCW
R barbatum, strigillosum, mucronulatum, moupinense, scabrifolium, parvifolium, lutescens and dahuricum and a few red arb’ms x Thompsonii now in flower. Bobs heath is very nice. Leucojum vernum, C coum, wild snowdrops and Aconites open also Camellia speciosa.

1921 – JCW
Rhodoⁿ species showing colour about 20, E darleyense is the best thing, Crocus open and snowdrops. A few aconites about 3 days ago.

1919 – JCW
Much as in 1911, lutescens is quite nice, not near 1912 in species. Motor plough engine rolled the drive for the first time.

1912 – JCW
R praecox, ciliatum, arboreum, lutescens, dahuricum, argenteum, scarlet hybrid (arbo x Thomsonii), barbatum are all opening, various daffs, Camellia Lady Clare, Clematis armandii, snowdrops and Coums nice.

1911 – JCW
R praecox shows colour, the first trumpet opening in the top garden, snowdrops good, several Thompsonii Arboreum x show big in the bud, one or two show colour, Barbatums coming out, a Soleil d’or or two.

1907 – JCW
Picked the first daffodill ( not open) in the Tin Garden, lately had hard frost, one Camellia open scarcely any of the above but snowdrops and aconite.

1906 – JCW
At least a dozen trumpets out mostly Min and Cyclamineus x. The rest as above except R praecox which is at its best, several seedling Ciliatums open, a mild early season so far. Crocus such as there are well on. C imperati over.

1901 – JCW
R praecox just one flower open. I picked three seedling trumpets breaking bud these are the first. Coum, Snowdrops, Aconites are at their best, Anenome blanda one or two, several Camellias.