8th 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

A rare visit to Burncoose at this time of year.

Hamamelis x intermedia ‘Harry’ very fine by the tills.

Hamamelis x intermedia ‘Harry’
Hamamelis x intermedia ‘Harry’
Hamamelis x intermedia ‘Harry’
Hamamelis x intermedia ‘Harry’
Hamamelis x intermedia ‘Firecracker’ a very good dark red.
Hamamelis x intermedia ‘Firecracker’
Hamamelis x intermedia ‘Firecracker’
Hamamelis x intermedia ‘Firecracker’
Hamamelis x intermedia ‘Firecracker’
Hamamelis mollis ‘Jermyn’s Gold’ a decent yellow but not that different really.
Hamamelis mollis ‘Jermyn’s Gold’
Hamamelis mollis ‘Jermyn’s Gold’
Hamamelis mollis ‘Jermyn’s Gold’
Hamamelis mollis ‘Jermyn’s Gold’
A tree order for a landscape customer in Dorset. We aim to plant in February.
tree order for a landscape customer
tree order for a landscape customer
Herbaceous plants in full growth. What will happen if we do get a sudden cold snap?
Herbaceous plants in full growth
Herbaceous plants in full growth
Herbaceous plants in full growth
Herbaceous plants in full growth
Out in flower today:-
Tiarella ‘Spring Symphony’
Tiarella ‘Spring Symphony’
Tiarella ‘Spring Symphony’
Potentilla nepalensis ‘Miss Willmott’
Potentilla nepalensis ‘Miss Willmott’
Potentilla nepalensis ‘Miss Willmott’
Omphalodes cappadocica ‘Cherry Ingram’
Omphalodes cappadocica ‘Cherry Ingram’
Omphalodes cappadocica ‘Cherry Ingram’
Geranium sanguineum ‘Striatum’.
Geranium sanguineum ‘Striatum’
Geranium sanguineum ‘Striatum’
Hesperantha coccinea ‘Sunrise’.
Hesperantha coccinea ‘Sunrise’
Hesperantha coccinea ‘Sunrise’
The gingers have still not died down.
gingers
gingers
Newly delivered are a few plants labelled Parakmeria lotungensis. I think this should now be named Magnolia lotungensis which is quite similar to Magnolia nitida when I saw it at Tregrehan.
Parakmeria lotungensis
Parakmeria lotungensis
Jasminum nudiflorum well out as you would expect.
Jasminum nudiflorum
Jasminum nudiflorum
Camellia ‘Drama Girl’ had a flower out last week at Caerhays by White Styles but here in a tunnel.
Camellia ‘Drama Girl’
Camellia ‘Drama Girl’
Camellia ‘Jingle Bells’ with its peculiar flowers and flower arrangement.
Camellia ‘Jingle Bells’
Camellia ‘Jingle Bells’
The excellent Camellia sasanqua ‘Sugar Dream’ now in propagation and for sale.
Camellia sasanqua ‘Sugar Dream’
Camellia sasanqua ‘Sugar Dream’
Last year’s camellia liners.
Last year’s camellia liners
Last year’s camellia liners
Better still is this huge array of young rhododendron plants from last year’s propagation.
young rhododendron plants
young rhododendron plants
Helleborus ‘Anna’s Red’ now coming into flower. A little later than usual I suspect.
Helleborus ‘Anna’s Red’
Helleborus ‘Anna’s Red’

2023 – CHW

A long suffering ‘Christmas Rose’ doing its stuff.

long suffering ‘Christmas Rose’
long suffering ‘Christmas Rose’
More of the wonders of Polyspora speciosa in the sun today.
Polyspora speciosa
Polyspora speciosa
Polyspora speciosa
Polyspora speciosa
Polyspora speciosa
Polyspora speciosa
Camellia japonica ‘Emperor of Russia’ which has irregular viral variegation in most of its flowers. This plant is growing in the former Charlie Michael’s Nursery and has the spreading habit of Camellia ‘Lady Clare’. Worth remembering in the cuttings season for Asia and Cressy.
Camellia japonica ‘Emperor of Russia’
Camellia japonica ‘Emperor of Russia’
Camellia japonica ‘Emperor of Russia’
Camellia japonica ‘Emperor of Russia’
Horrid squirrel damage on 15-20 year old beech trees in Kennel Close which have recently been trimmed up and thinned.
Horrid squirrel damage
Horrid squirrel damage
Horrid squirrel damage
Horrid squirrel damage
Lindera angustifolia with fine autumn colour in the sun. Lower down the leaves are still green. Semi-evergreen in Cornwall (as we have seen before) and one of the most vigorous and quick growing trees. Nice bark too.
Lindera angustifolia
Lindera angustifolia
Lindera angustifolia
Lindera angustifolia
Lindera angustifolia
Lindera angustifolia
Ripe and ripening berries on Ilex perado subsp. perado.
Ilex perado subsp. perado
Ilex perado subsp. perado
Camellia ‘Sugar Dream’ gets better and better!
Camellia ‘Sugar Dream’
Camellia ‘Sugar Dream’
Camellia ‘Sugar Dream’
Camellia ‘Sugar Dream’
A few very pale and poor flowers just out (but most others frosted) on Rhododendron ‘Christmas Cheer’.
Rhododendron ‘Christmas Cheer’
Rhododendron ‘Christmas Cheer’

2022 – CHW
The wettest, foulest day imaginable to be out in. Howling westerly and 2in of rain during the day. Change of clothes at lunchtime.Hamamelis x intermedia ‘Ruby Glow’ just out.
Hamamelis x intermedia ‘Ruby Glow’
Hamamelis x intermedia ‘Ruby Glow’
First flower on Camellia x williamsii ‘Celebration’.
Camellia x williamsii ‘Celebration’
Camellia x williamsii ‘Celebration’
And also, very high up as last year, the first flower on an ancient Camellia x williamisi ‘Donation’.
Camellia x williamisi ‘Donation’
Camellia x williamisi ‘Donation’
A newly planted out Daphne bholua ‘Garden House Ghost’ above the greenhouse.
Daphne bholua ‘Garden House Ghost’
Daphne bholua ‘Garden House Ghost’
Daphne bholua ‘Garden House Ghost’
Daphne bholua ‘Garden House Ghost’
A Camellia reticulata above the Auklandii Garden now almost full out.
Camellia reticulata
Camellia reticulata

2021 – CHW
Some rain overnight has turned the place into a skating rink outside. The drive and yard are treacherous.Clear frosting on Rhododendron ‘Cornish Red’.
Rhododendron ‘Cornish Red’
Rhododendron ‘Cornish Red’
Rhododendron ‘Winter Intruder’ has fared better in the freeze but most flowers are falling.
Rhododendron ‘Winter Intruder’
Rhododendron ‘Winter Intruder’
Rhododendron ‘Winter Intruder’
Rhododendron ‘Winter Intruder’
In John Marston’s latest garden video he shows Leujocum aestivum ‘Summer Snowflake’ in flower in January. Our bulbs are well into their foliage but no flowers yet.
Leujocum aestivum ‘Summer Snowflake’
Leujocum aestivum ‘Summer Snowflake’
Camellia ‘Desire’ is now properly out.
Camellia ‘Desire’
Camellia ‘Desire’
Camellia ‘Mary Phoebe Taylor’ nearly out.
Camellia ‘Mary Phoebe Taylor’
Camellia ‘Mary Phoebe Taylor’
Camellia lutchuensis hybrid whose name I cannot remember just starting. ‘Fragrant Pink’ I think but no scent yet (Camellia japonica var. rusticana ‘Yoshida’ x Camellia lutchuensis).
Camellia lutchuensis hybrid
Camellia lutchuensis hybrid
A fine show of Camellia x williamsii (unnamed) on the drive despite the cold.
Camellia x williamsii
Camellia x williamsii
The first lowdown flower on Camellia ‘Drama Girl’ has been pecked by pheasants.
Camellia ‘Drama Girl’
Camellia ‘Drama Girl’
Plenty of ice on the lake. More in fact than I have seen since March 2018.
ice on the lake
ice on the lake
The fallen sycamore in the cuttings was cleared up yesterday. It came down a month ago.
fallen sycamore
fallen sycamore

2020 – CHW
On the way to the greenhouse I come across a young Camellia ‘Bokuhan’. The old plant growing by the front gate was dug out this year having died of old age and starvation in the ground and tarmac. A variety known in Japan from 1719.
Camellia ‘Bokuhan’
Camellia ‘Bokuhan’
Camellia ‘Bokuhan’
Camellia ‘Bokuhan’
The mist benches in the greenhouse are filled with healthy looking rooted and rooting rhododendron cuttings. Outstanding!
rhododendron cuttings
rhododendron cuttings
rhododendron cuttings
rhododendron cuttings
A good selection of new (to us) camellia species which Asia has grown from cuttings collected at Tregrehan on 1st October 2018.
camellia species
camellia species
camellia species
camellia species
A nice batch of rare Illicium oligandrum liners.
Illicium oligandrum
Illicium oligandrum
A flower on a Camellia yushienensis liner also from a Tregrehan cutting. Odd shape.
Camellia yushienensis
Camellia yushienensis
A cutting from the original Camellia saluenensis being grown for the new RCMG camellia species collection at Harlow Carr gardens.
Camellia saluenensis
Camellia saluenensis
These look like potted camellia seedlings from one of the outdoor cold frames.
camellia seedlings
camellia seedlings
A good trayfull of Araujia sericifera seedlings.
Araujia sericifera
Araujia sericifera
Very impressive all round – I am like a child (or adult) at Christmas with a box of Quality Street!

2019 – CHW
The very last flowers on the last of the elderly Camellia sasanquas to come into flower. This one by the arch has been out for three months.
Camellia sasanquas
Camellia sasanquas
First flowers on the pure Camellia japonicas in Old Park which we grow for foliage for sale at Covent Garden. Most have smaller red flowers than this seedling but the foliage is perfect for flower arranging.
Camellia japonicas
Camellia japonicas
Camellia japonicas
Camellia japonicas
A fallen tree above the Gunnera bed at the top of Old Park.
fallen tree
fallen tree
Still some green leaves on the Gunnera manicata which proves how little frost we have had thus far. The huge rhizomes look as though the new leaves are not far away either.
Gunnera manicata
Gunnera manicata
Gunnera manicata
Gunnera manicata
A magnolia has split in half on the top path preventing me proceeding to inspect the squirrel traps. Some rather dodgy reversing then needed.
A magnolia has split in half
A magnolia has split in half

2018 – CHW
Bitterly cold east wind today and a trip to Burncoose forgetting my gloves. The pictures will be as cold as I felt but, as always, a few missing photographs for the website jumped out and a few new things to look at.Camellia ‘Tregye’ out early. A Tregrehan hybrid which I had forgotten together with its location in the garden.
Camellia ‘Tregye’
Camellia ‘Tregye’
Camellia ‘Tregye’
Camellia ‘Tregye’
Camellia ‘Tregye’
Camellia ‘Tregye’
Camellia ‘Sundae’ is new to the 2018 catalogue. Rather like Camellia ‘Bokuhen’ I think? Even Camellia ‘Amemoniflora’ but darker? A Trehane introduction I suspect?
Camellia ‘Sundae’
Camellia ‘Sundae’
First rather poor flowers on the young plants (first year grafts) in the nursery of Hamamelis x intermedia ‘Aurora’ with yellow flowers at first turning bronzy-yellow. Larger plants still to show colour.
Hamamelis x intermedia ‘Aurora’
Hamamelis x intermedia ‘Aurora’
Hamamelis x intermedia ‘Aurora’
Hamamelis x intermedia ‘Aurora’
A nice new batch of plants labelled as Eriobotrya ‘Coppertone’ without any sign of the coppery new growth yet. Now properly classified as x Raphiobotrya ‘Coppertone’ since it is a US cross between eriobotrya and raphiolepsis. The plant at Caerhays has more rounded flatter leaves as you would expect but is semi-mature. In fact I do not see much raphiolepsis in these plants at all? I wonder if this is simply an eriobotrya with red new growth and not the x raphiobotrya cross at all? Eriobotrya deflexa in fact? Need to keep an eye on these plants – the jury is out!
Eriobotrya ‘Coppertone’
Eriobotrya ‘Coppertone’
Eriobotrya ‘Coppertone’
Eriobotrya ‘Coppertone’
Mahonia nitens ‘Cabaret’ with a few blue seeds left. I have missed the flowers but the leaf structure is pleasant.
Mahonia nitens ‘Cabaret’
Mahonia nitens ‘Cabaret’
Mahonia nitens ‘Cabaret’
Mahonia nitens ‘Cabaret’
Mahonia gracilipes. These are seedlings and a bit variable as can be seen from the leaf colours. Some have a purple hue while others remain green. A good new plant which will become popular once it is better known.
Mahonia gracilipes
Mahonia gracilipes
Mahonia gracilipes
Mahonia gracilipes

2017 – CHW
Camellia japonica ‘Alba plena’ with first flower out at Donkey Shoe.
Camellia japonica ‘Alba plena’
Camellia japonica ‘Alba plena’
Rhododendron moorii in bud and just coming out. The pink tinge suggests it may be a slight hybrid but it is part of a large clump of which the remainder are white (with dark blotching in the trumpets). This is very premature but only the pink ones are yet breaking bud.
Rhododendron moorii
Rhododendron moorii
Rhododendron moorii
Rhododendron moorii
Rhododendron moorii
Rhododendron moorii

2016 – CHW

I find some damage in the Top Garden.

Rhododendron ‘Penvose’, a Caerhays hybrid, is half uprooted but can probably be saved if cut back hard (again) and reembedded in the soil.

Rhododendron ‘Penvose’
Rhododendron ‘Penvose’

A small Nothofagus has gone over thus proving yet again how badly this genus performs in the wind. This was a young tree planted in 1991 of about 15 to 20 feet in height. They are surface and shallow rooted trees. Probably a Nothofagus alpina.

small Nothofagus
small Nothofagus

Camellia ‘Mary Costa’ is well out by the big Acer griseum.

Camellia ‘Mary Costa’
Camellia ‘Mary Costa’

1991 – FJW
Very wet, very mild and stormy since New Years day. Front door White Camellia well out. Flower on Magnolia delavayi.

1971 – FJW
Frost stopped on 4th – November Pink fully out again on this date. J.C.W starting.

1967 – FJW
Family all went to church for first time. Minor interruptions.

1911 – JCW
I saw Aconite and several snowdrops.

1899 – JCW
Picked the first minimus flowers, minor just in sight, many of the Caerhays also, no M de Graaf but G mundii is in some places, some Coums open.

1898 – JCW
Charles saw first minor above ground.

1897 – JCW
Several flowers of yellow crocus out, Frome, Madam de G, Weardale all break soil.