13th July

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 trip to Thompson’s Garden Centre which also appeared to have had an excellent spring. Not much stock left at all.

Alcea ‘Celebrities Carmine Rose’ and two other double flowered holyhocks. Lizzie is keen for a purchase for her garden but the plants I saw were far too pot bound to be planted successfully now.

Alcea ‘Celebrities Carmine Rose’
Alcea ‘Celebrities Carmine Rose’
Alcea ‘Celebrities Carmine Rose’
Alcea ‘Celebrities Carmine Rose’
Alcea ‘Celebrities Carmine Rose’
Alcea ‘Celebrities Carmine Rose’
Potentilla fruticosa ‘Bellissima’ – was quite striking and worth Burncoose stocking.
Potentilla fruticosa ‘Bellissima’
Potentilla fruticosa ‘Bellissima’
These grafted cherries will not last long and, frankly, shouldn’t be for sale. The grafts are only half sitting on the rootstocks and have been shooting massively from below the graft. One gust of wind and disaster!
grafted cherries
grafted cherries
grafted cherries
grafted cherries
Dianella ‘Destiny’ was quite a nice new variegated thing. With blue flowers probably very nice indeed!
Dianella ‘Destiny’
Dianella ‘Destiny’

2022 – CHW
Good to see new shoots emerging only about eight weeks after Jaimie cut down the ancient and original Camellia saluenensis by the ladies loos.
Camellia saluenensis
Camellia saluenensis
Hydrangea sargentiana ‘Gold Rush’ now performing well three years on from planting out a clump of three.
Hydrangea sargentiana ‘Gold Rush’
Hydrangea sargentiana ‘Gold Rush’
Hydrangea sargentiana ‘Gold Rush’
Hydrangea sargentiana ‘Gold Rush’
The annual grass cut is perhaps halfway through.
grass cut
grass cut
grass cut
grass cut
Seedheads well formed on Staphylea colchica.
Staphylea colchica
Staphylea colchica
Grass cutting at Donkey Shoe.
Donkey Shoe
Donkey Shoe
Euonymus wilsonii suffering in the drought with the new leaves much smaller than the older ones.
Euonymus wilsonii
Euonymus wilsonii
Euonymus tingens nicely in flower.
Euonymus tingens
Euonymus tingens
Euonymus echinatus is growing into a compact shrub.
Euonymus echinatus
Euonymus echinatus
Euonymus kachinensis suffering from drought but with hopeful reshooting from the main stem.
Euonymus kachinensis
Euonymus kachinensis
Schefflera rhododendriflolia making fantastic growth. I suppose the leaves do look a bit rhododendron like!
Schefflera rhododendriflolia
Schefflera rhododendriflolia
Schefflera rhododendriflolia
Schefflera rhododendriflolia
Schefflera rhododendriflolia
Schefflera rhododendriflolia

2021 – CHW
Another solitary visit to Ventnor Botanics. There are bits of the garden getting so overgrown and full of echium, Verbascum and weed seedlings that a complete cleanout is needed to start again. The key spot to start would be the cistus collection which is long past its best with most of the plants overmature and near dead not to mention the bindweed infestation.I discover Ungnadia speciosa with an acer-like leaf. Not in any reference books that I have here.
Ungnadia speciosa
Ungnadia speciosa
Ungnadia speciosa
Ungnadia speciosa
Correa lawrenciana grampaniana was a 12ft tall shrub with long reddish trumpet flowers.
Correa lawrenciana grampaniana
Correa lawrenciana grampaniana
Correa lawrenciana grampaniana
Correa lawrenciana grampaniana
I have tried this at Caerhays and lost it. Picconia excelsa is a mature evergreen tree which you could easily mistake as a Laurus nobilis.
Picconia excelsa
Picconia excelsa
Picconia excelsa
Picconia excelsa
Picconia excelsa
Picconia excelsa
Asimina triloba in full flower. One of three mature trees here. The two much younger trees at Caerhays are variable and different in their flowering habits. We see individual flowers lined down the twigs and not in small clusters as here.
Asimina triloba
Asimina triloba
Glycyrrhiza glabra would be a good addition to the Burncoose website.
Glycyrrhiza glabra
Glycyrrhiza glabra
Glycyrrhiza glabra
Glycyrrhiza glabra
Banksia ericifolia in flower as a smallish shrub.
Banksia ericifolia
Banksia ericifolia
Cuphea ignea is another possibility for the website. Looks very vigorous at Ventnor and excellent groundcover.
Cuphea ignea
Cuphea ignea
Cuphea ignea
Cuphea ignea
Bowkeria cymosa just coming into flower alongside the peculiar Podanthus ovatifolius.
Bowkeria cymosa
Bowkeria cymosa

2020 – CHW
Last week we visited Bonython garden. As usual the herbaceous borders were looking at their best.The four quarters of the blue garden.
blue garden
blue garden
Acer x conspicuum ‘Silver Cardinal’ covered in seed which I have never yet seen on the Burncoose plant and an exceptional ‘snake-bark’ stem.
Acer x conspicuum ‘Silver Cardinal’
Acer x conspicuum ‘Silver Cardinal’
Acer x conspicuum ‘Silver Cardinal’
Acer x conspicuum ‘Silver Cardinal’
The Betula utilis ssp. jacquemontii circles were growing well.
Betula utilis ssp. jacquemontii
Betula utilis ssp. jacquemontii
Betula utilis ssp. jacquemontii
Betula utilis ssp. jacquemontii
Water lilies advancing across the top pond (Nymphaea alba).
The quarry pond had been dredged.
quarry pond
quarry pond
The view across and up the middle pond.
middle pond
middle pond
The chapel was having its annual clipping.
The chapel
The chapel
Back here the hydrangeas on the drive are hitting their peak.
Meconopsis cambrica (now renamed Meconopsis cambricum), Welsh poppy, has escaped the strimmer and the dry seed heads are scattering their seed in the wind.
Meconopsis cambrica
Meconopsis cambrica
Meconopsis cambrica
Meconopsis cambrica
Sedum album, white stonecrop, now full out on the hedge of Malvern House in the village.
Sedum album
Sedum album
Sedum album
Sedum album
Hydrangea ‘Zorro’ a brilliant blue lacecap set against its black stems.
Hydrangea ‘Zorro’
Hydrangea ‘Zorro’
Hydrangea ‘Zorro’
Hydrangea ‘Zorro’
Hydrangea ‘Hobella’
Hydrangea ‘Hobella’
Hydrangea ‘Hobella’
Hydrangea ‘Hobella’
Hydrangea ‘Hobella’
Hydrangea ‘Fireworks Blue’
Hydrangea ‘Fireworks Blue’
Hydrangea ‘Fireworks Blue’
Hydrangea ‘Fireworks Blue’
Hydrangea ‘Fireworks Blue’
The Harrow hybrid rhododendrons on Hovel Cart Road are now full out.
Harrow hybrid rhododendrons
Harrow hybrid rhododendrons
Harrow hybrid rhododendrons
Harrow hybrid rhododendrons

In Tin Garden, where the soil was disturbed 18 months ago, quite a crop of wildflowers.Anthemis arvensis, corn camomile, is a common arable field weed which is an annual.

Anthemis arvensis
Anthemis arvensis
Anthemis arvensis
Anthemis arvensis
Angallis arvensis, scarlet pimpernel, in great big clumps.
Angallis arvensis
Angallis arvensis
Angallis arvensis
Angallis arvensis
Papaver rhoeas, corn or common poppy, which is in decline in Cornwall and usually found (before sprays) in corn fields.
Papaver rhoeas
Papaver rhoeas
Myosotis arvensis, common forget-me-not, in similar patches. Another arable weed.
Myosotis arvensis
Myosotis arvensis
Myosotis arvensis
Myosotis arvensis
Catalpa speciosa ‘Pulverulenta’ with its mottled or speckled white variegated leaves.
Catalpa speciosa ‘Pulverulenta’
Catalpa speciosa ‘Pulverulenta’
Catalpa speciosa ‘Pulverulenta’
Catalpa speciosa ‘Pulverulenta’
Verbascum thapsus, Aaron’s rod, in one of the borders outside the front door. Odd plants have been appearing around the house where the soil is disturbed for decades. More common in North Cornwall apparently. Sometimes it is crossed up with Verbascum oplympicum as I saw at Ventnor.
Verbascum thapsus
Verbascum thapsus
Verbascum thapsus
Verbascum thapsus

2019 – CHW
A visit to Northcourt Manor to view John and Christine Harrison’s wonderful garden. Most of the magnolias came from Burncoose but a 34 year old ‘Lanarth’ was clearly not true to name from its pictures and probably a Magnolia campbellii alba seedling. The garden is in a deep wooded valley near the village of Shorwell.

Salvia darcyi collected by their friend and Garden Society member, John D’Arcy, and named after him.

Salvia darcyi
Salvia darcyi
Nepeta subsessilis grows to around 3ft tall. Well worth adding to the Burncoose catalogue and cuttings were offered.
Nepeta subsessilis
Nepeta subsessilis
Nepeta subsessilis
Nepeta subsessilis
The only self-sown Davidia seedlings I have ever seen under a mature Davidia involucrata.
Davidia involucrata
Davidia involucrata
The front of Northcourt Manor – 1615 is the date above the door.
Northcourt Manor
Northcourt Manor
The largest blue flowered Iochroma australis that I have ever seen. Ten to twelve feet tall with a similar spread.
Iochroma australis
Iochroma australis
Iochroma australis
Iochroma australis
An amazing display of hollyhocks.
hollyhocks
hollyhocks
hollyhocks
hollyhocks
A 150 year old apple tree on its last legs – extraordinary.
apple tree
apple tree
The garden is half on chalk and half on green limestone. Here is Hydrangea ‘Ayesha’ with pink and blue flowers on the same large plant. Half grows on a chalky path and half on green limestone!
Hydrangea ‘Ayesha’
Hydrangea ‘Ayesha’
Hydrangea ‘Ayesha’
Hydrangea ‘Ayesha’
Hydrangea ‘Ayesha’
Hydrangea ‘Ayesha’
Albizia julibrissin ‘Rosea’ about to come into flower.
Albizia julibrissin ‘Rosea’
Albizia julibrissin ‘Rosea’

2018 – CHW
A trip to Thompson’s garden centre near Arreton. One of four in the chain but the only one in the Isle of Wight. They are growers as well as garden centres and also grow Christmas trees.The few new plants seen were:Achillea ‘Lilac Beauty’ – a gentle colour
Achillea ‘Lilac Beauty’
Achillea ‘Lilac Beauty’
Achillea ‘Lilac Beauty’
Achillea ‘Lilac Beauty’
Hibiscus ‘Lavender Chiffon’ – a good semi double
Hibiscus ‘Lavender Chiffon’
Hibiscus ‘Lavender Chiffon’
Malus ‘Pink Glow’ with fruits just turning colour
Malus ‘Pink Glow’
Malus ‘Pink Glow’
Malus ‘Pink Glow’
Malus ‘Pink Glow’
Photinia ‘Pink Crispy’ just cut back but with partially mottled leaves
Photinia ‘Pink Crispy’
Photinia ‘Pink Crispy’
Photinia ‘Pink Crispy’
Photinia ‘Pink Crispy’
Lots of glass behind the garden centre. All neat, tidy and well laid out but no customers in the continuing heatwave.

2017 – CHW
A surprising late flowering red rhododendron on the Rookery path which needs layering to ensure its survival. A very different colour to the ‘Harrow Hybrids’ but the hairs on the leaf petioles would suggest that it too is a Rhododendron auriculatum hybrid. Well worth propagating and preserving.
late flowering red rhododendron
late flowering red rhododendron
late flowering red rhododendron
late flowering red rhododendron
late flowering red rhododendron
late flowering red rhododendron
late flowering red rhododendron
late flowering red rhododendron

Painters at work on the Rabbit Warren.

Painters
Painters
And the digger hard at it on the new clearing above the castle.
digger
digger
More dead aucuba by the Green Gate. This phythopthera only apparently kills aucuba and we soon will not have much of this valuable windbreak left.
dead aucuba
dead aucuba
There are three big batches of hydrangeas on the bank by Green Gate. This lot are about 20 years old and thrive now with more light. Looking from the lawn they show up well, or would without the dead aucuba!
three big batches of hydrangeas
three big batches of hydrangeas
three big batches of hydrangeas
three big batches of hydrangeas
Just seen a bullfinch from the window as I write this. A once common bird which one now sees seldom here. Bullfinches were the detested pests before the First War as they were frequently found pecking and destroying camellia and other flowers in the garden. Some of the gardeners were even issued with fold up spud guns or 4.10 guns that folded into their jacket pockets while at work. Presumably a bounty was paid! Orchard growers in Kent certainly did in former years.
2016 – CHW
Off to Leslie Baker’s immaculate garden open day in St Austell to raise money for St Mewan Church. Many shooting friends present. Leslie is planning to turn some of the herbaceous borders into shrubberies to reduce maintenance in his dotage and we agree to swap clumps of herbaceous for shrubs in the autumn. Phlox ‘White Admiral’ is just coming out.  Phlox seldom look as good as this in pots!
Phlox ‘White Admiral’
Phlox ‘White Admiral’

Rhodohypoxis is a lovely alpine plant but only really grow-able in Cornwall in a pot as here. Not one for our catalogue although very good.

Rhodohypoxis
Rhodohypoxis

Not sure which Penstemon variety this is?

penstemon blackbird
Penstemon blackbird
Heuchera ‘Cherry Cola’ is very effective. We have stocked this for a couple of years but I have never seen it in maturity.
Heuchera ‘Cherry Cola’
Heuchera ‘Cherry Cola’
Heuchera ‘Cherry Cola’
Heuchera ‘Cherry Cola’
Hemerocallis ‘Autumn Red’ is one we can dig up and split to avoid buying it in for a bit.
Hemerocallis ‘Autumn Red’
Hemerocallis ‘Autumn Red’
An unusual oxalis which I have not seen before. It may well be Oxalis rubra from South America. Well worth growing for its leaves alone.
Oxalis rubra
Oxalis rubra
Oxalis rubra
Oxalis rubra

Another Penstemon which Karol may be able to identify from our website? – ‘Alice Handley’

penstemon alice Hindley
Penstemon ‘Alice Hindley’
A very pretty geum with yellowish new flowers turning orange with yellow flecks. Better than Geum ‘Totally Tangerine’ by far.
geum
Geum
The oxalis we all know and once stocked which is rather invasive with white flowers contrasting to the purple-black leaves. Oxalis purpurea from South Africa I am fairly sure.
Oxalis purpurea
Oxalis purpurea
A peculiar new hosta with crinkled leaves which I did not like but some might well!
hosta
Hosta
Thalictrum delavayi ‘Album’ at its absolute best. Four to six feet tall and perfect today.
Thalictrum delavayi ‘Album’
Thalictrum delavayi ‘Album’
Thalictrum delavayi ‘Album’
Thalictrum delavayi ‘Album’
Thalictrum delavayi ‘Album’
Thalictrum delavayi ‘Album’
What is this primula like thing flowering in July with ‘dock’-like leaves. Really quite nice despite the slug damage.
primula like thing
Primula like thing
The best and most perfect clump of Hakonechloa macra ‘Albo-aurea’ that I have ever yet seen. Leslie gets agitated when he finds a pure green shoot or two and quickly cuts them out while Myrna feeds the many fish in the nearby pond.
Hakonechloa macra ‘Albo-aurea’
Hakonechloa macra ‘Albo-aurea’
Hakonechloa macra ‘Albo-aurea’
Hakonechloa macra ‘Albo-aurea’
Hakonechloa macra ‘Albo-aurea’
Hakonechloa macra ‘Albo-aurea’
2015 – CHW
No entry

1927 – JCW
The Gravetye Gardener saw over 100 blooms on Mag parviflora open since the first week in May.

1922 – JCW
Only a few flowers open. No Auriculatums moving. American Pillars are good. No Buddleia.

1921 – JCW
Romneya coulteri at its best say 600 flowers?!

1920 – JCW
Fortunei are passing. Auriculatum and Decorum x Auriculatum coming on, these last promise to be green and just as late as the species. Plagianthus have been very fine. R ingersii over.

1917 – JCW
Fortunei have been very fine, are now fading. Brunonis at its best. No Buddleias. C Rambler is very good. One Auriculatum is starting. R mitricatum is opening also R mugorii.

1914 – JCW
R brunonis is over. Buddleia variabilis is open well. R magnifica is starting. One R fortunei is in flower in Beech Walk and the others over. C rambler fair. R auriculatum is just starting.

1913 – JCW
Just back from London and Scotland. R brunonis remains very good, R veitchii fair. Rhodo’s Ingersii, Maddeni, Cataubiense and Campylocarpum would give pollen (just a pinch on the Campylo and Cataubiense).

1912 – JCW
R brunonis has gone. A cyclamen or two show and so a Lapageria. Buddleia veitchii good. R magnifica starting. Wilson’s Hupei Fortunei’s just over owing to the heavy rains. R auriculatum is not moving.

1911 – JCW
C Rambler going back. Brunonis also. All daff seed sown a week ago, some of the two years old planted, most of the older bulbs moved. Buddleia at Hovel half open, the darkest form ten days off. A few cyclamen open.

1908 – JCW
C rambler at their best also Brunonis. Came from Scotland two days ago. All daff seed picked some [?] since. A long drought just broken, the rhodo’s seem to have set well for flowers as a result.

1901 – JCW
No Lapageria open, roses good yet. Planted most of the seed, well on with the moving of bulbs and seedlings and other.

1899 – JCW
Everlasting peas at their best, a few Lapagerias open.

One thought on “13th July

  1. The rare Ungnadia speciosa, Mexican buckeye, monotypic in Sapindaceae, is now in IDS online, with pictures, one from Strasbourg BG where it flowers and fruits every year, despite being planted below Emmenopterys and Choerospondias axillaris, the former often suffering from drought.
    Albizzia julibrissin is the “winner” of drought, growing on an flowering unimpressed where others suffer heavily.
    This colour variant of Correa lawrenciana is remarkable, one would like to have frost-hardy types of it for the yard.

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