16th 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

2024 – CHW

Magnolia grandiflora ‘Mainstreet’.

Magnolia grandiflora ‘Mainstreet’
Magnolia grandiflora ‘Mainstreet’
Magnolia grandiflora ‘Russet’.
Magnolia grandiflora ‘Russet’
Magnolia grandiflora ‘Russet’
Magnolia grandiflora ‘Overton’.
Magnolia grandiflora ‘Overton’
Magnolia grandiflora ‘Overton’
Still a tail end Wisteria flower in mid-July?
tail end Wisteria flower
tail end Wisteria flower
Eucryphia cordifolia is difficult from cuttings. However, here you see ripening seed pods from last year alongside flower buds for late August. We should think of collecting seed.
Eucryphia cordifolia
Eucryphia cordifolia
Our best clump left of Rhododendron ‘Royal Flush’ – Pink is on Burns Bank.
Rhododendron ‘Royal Flush’
Rhododendron ‘Royal Flush’
Rhododendron ‘Royal Flush’
Rhododendron ‘Royal Flush’
Seed heads on Buddleia limitea. I suppose it is easy enough from cuttings.
Seed heads on Buddleia limitea
Seed heads on Buddleia limitea
Aucuba dying below Hardy & Bert’s Nursery.
Aucuba
Aucuba
Buddleja lindleyana just out.
Buddleja lindleyana
Buddleja lindleyana

2023 – CHW

Now into the garden itself at Osborne House.

A fine clump of Tetrapanax papyrifer ‘Rex’ with no cold damage from last winter.

Tetrapanax papyrifer ‘Rex’
Tetrapanax papyrifer ‘Rex’
Arisaema going to seed?
Arisaema
Arisaema
Salvia cacaliifolia – introduced 1858.
Salvia cacaliifolia
Salvia cacaliifolia
Salvia involucrata ‘Mrs Pope’.
Salvia involucrata ‘Mrs Pope’
Salvia involucrata ‘Mrs Pope’
Salvia involucrata ‘Mrs Pope’
Salvia involucrata ‘Mrs Pope’
Asphodeline lutea setting seed – introduced 1596.
Asphodeline lutea
Asphodeline lutea
One of the 4 historic cedars below over last December. The Royal Family bought Osborne House from the Blanckford family in the 1770’s and these cedars are believed to predate this.
4 historic cedars
4 historic cedars
Sciadopitys verticillata with cones from last year.
Sciadopitys verticillata
Sciadopitys verticillata
The largest Viburnum rhytidophyllum I have ever seen.
Viburnum rhytidophyllum
Viburnum rhytidophyllum
A good clump of Hydrangea serrata ‘Bluebird’?
Hydrangea serrata ‘Bluebird’
Hydrangea serrata ‘Bluebird’
Hydrangea serrata ‘Bluebird’
Hydrangea serrata ‘Bluebird’
A large Nyssa sylvatica.
Nyssa sylvatica
Nyssa sylvatica
Quercus suber planted by The Princess Alice in 1847.
Quercus suber
Quercus suber
Quercus suber
Quercus suber

2022 – CHW

Smilax aspera, the evergreen and slightly prickly climber is another plant which we need more pictures for on the website Care Article. New growth only and no flowers as yet in July.

Smilax aspera
Smilax aspera
Smilax aspera
Smilax aspera
Smilax aspera
Smilax aspera
Echium pininana collapsing and dying.
This one has already shed its seeds and died.
Echium pininana
Echium pininana
This one has a few weeks to go before it succumbs.
Echium pininana
Echium pininana
The Caerhays Charity Fete raised £13,400 and was distributed as follows:
St Michael’s Church, Caerhays £4000
Cornwall Air Ambulance £4000
St Austell Scout Group £2500 (towards their new kitchen)
Pre school Tregony School £2500 (to fund outing for 171 Pupils to the Hall for Cornwall)

Here the Scouts receive their cheque.
Scouts receive their cheque.
Scouts receive their cheque.
And here the Cornwall Air Ambulance.
Cornwall Air Ambulance
Cornwall Air Ambulance

2021 – CHW
Excellent bronzy-red new growth on Sisygium smithii.

Sisygium smithii
Sisygium smithii
Maddenia wilsonii is making good progress too. Very different in leaf to Maddenia himalaica which we saw in flower for the first time in March.
Maddenia wilsonii
Maddenia wilsonii
Sapium sebiferum did not like the winter but is recovering well.
Sapium sebiferum
Sapium sebiferum
Two diseased and elderly beech trees and an oak have been felled by tree surgeons. A little damage with tractors removing the trunks but not too bad.
beech trees
beech trees
First flower out this year on Magnolia sapaensis (four yet to come).
Magnolia sapaensis
Magnolia sapaensis
Rhododendron excellens (Alan Clark 5615) is out much later than the more recently planted clumps by Georges Hut. It looks here much like Rhododendron nuttallii to me but that too is well over. The pinkish new growth is similar to Rh. nuttallii as well. I now need to check the new growth on the other Rh. excellens.
Rhododendron excellens
Rhododendron excellens
Rhododendron excellens
Rhododendron excellens
Rhododendron excellens
Rhododendron excellens
Our young Desfontainea spinosa have their first flowers. Much larger and longer than on the old dead plant here or the stock plant at Burncoose. Some slug damage to some flowers.
Desfontainea spinosa
Desfontainea spinosa
Hydrangea seemanii now full out.
Hydrangea seemanii
Hydrangea seemanii
A flower cut from a Manglietia insignis given to us by Tom Hudson years ago and planted by the camellia foliage patch. Small and very pink flowers compared to the one I photographed here a fortnight or so ago.
Manglietia insignis
Manglietia insignis

2020 – CHW
Another day looking at wildflowers in the Isla Rose Plantation where stumps were grubbed three years ago and a whole new crop of wildflowers and grasses have emerged from the bare earth.Another good clump of Meconopsis cambrica.
Meconopsis cambrica
Meconopsis cambrica
Rapeseed or Brassica napus has germinated in disturbed soil. Normally it would flower in April. At least that is what I think it is but it may well be some other brassica?
Brassica
Brassica
Brassica
Brassica

Then the puzzle over two ‘dandelion’ types which grow together.

One is short growing with leaves as here which are hairless. I am really not sure and the reference books confuse rather than enlighten.

not sure
not sure
not sure
not sure
not sure
not sure
The other grows to 2ft or so in flower with larger hairy basal leaves. This may be Hypochoeris radicata.
Hypochoeris radicata
Hypochoeris radicata
Hypochoeris radicata
Hypochoeris radicata
Hypochoeris radicata
Hypochoeris radicata
Lysimachia nummularia or Creeping Jenny with long creeping stems. The reference books say it prefers damp places but here it is in full sun in a hot dry place and has formed large clumps.
Lysimachia nummularia
Lysimachia nummularia
Lysimachia nummularia
Lysimachia nummularia
Heracleum sphondylium, Hogweed or Cow Parsnip, is about the commonest of what might be called the ‘Cow Parsleys’ here. Not to be confused with the non-native, poisonous and invasive Giant Hogweed which is quite different. Young shoots of Cow Parsnip can be eaten like asparagus but I do not fancy trying.
Heracleum sphondylium
Heracleum sphondylium
Heracleum sphondylium
Heracleum sphondylium
Heracleum sphondylium
Heracleum sphondylium
Geranium robertianum, Herb Robert, which is common but normally out in May.
Geranium robertianum
Geranium robertianum
Lotus pedunculatus or Large Birdsfoot-trefoil I think rather than Lotus corniculatus but I could well be wrong!
Lotus pedunculatus
Lotus pedunculatus
Lotus pedunculatus
Lotus pedunculatus
Sonchus asper or Prickly Sow Thistle I think?
Sonchus asper
Sonchus asper
Sonchus asper
Sonchus asper
Sonchus arvensis or Perennial Sow Thistle?
Sonchus arvensis
Sonchus arvensis
Sonchus arvensis
Sonchus arvensis
This may be Solidago virgaura or Golden Rod or it might be a Leonotus or even an Amsonia? Time will tell.
Solidago virgaura
Solidago virgaura
Ragwort (which I pull up) or Senecio jacobaea as you would expect from long undisturbed but now bare soil. This is a perennial.
Senecio jacobaea
Senecio jacobaea
Senecio jacobaea
Senecio jacobaea
Hypericum androsaemum, Sweet Amber, is a native shrubby perennial. The nursery sells improved forms of this Hypericum species but I have seldom seen this as a wildflower growing here.
Hypericum androsaemum
Hypericum androsaemum

Then another real puzzle.I think we have a mixture here of Ribwort or Ribgrass, Plantago lanceolata, and Hoary Plantain, Plantago media, growing together. The latter has more rounded leaves, larger and longer flowers and much bigger seed heads as here. The P. media appear to have flowered and set seed already while P. lanceolata are still flowering. Quite possibly they have hybridised together.

Plantago lanceolata
Plantago lanceolata
Plantago lanceolata
Plantago lanceolata
Plantago lanceolata
Plantago lanceolata
Plantago media
Plantago media
Plantago media
Plantago media

2019 – CHW
A visit to Shanklin Chine with the former owner and now president of the charity which owns and runs this historic gorge leading from Shanklin to the sea. About a quarter of a mile in length and one of only two chines in the UK. Smugglers paradise 200 to 300 years ago. Today 80,000 visitors (entry £3.00 for OAPs and £4.00 adults). Half is a natural woodland gorge with steep steps and narrow walkways and half supposedly more formal but in a state of disrepair. Three unqualified ‘gardeners’ who have all started this year have a major job to get it back in hand from years of self-seeding, brambles, scrub and neglect. Some pretty invasive weeds much in evidence too as well as ash disease on a key young ash. The real threat to ‘the garden’ or gorge is landslides and trees toppling in over the top of the ravine. How you do a tree survey or risk assessment for this I have no idea. A great exhibition room and a room devoted to the D-day landings of which Shanklin was a key part.

Anne Springman approaches the top entrance to the chine having parked illegally blocking a goods yard. The chine opens for about seven months of the year from 10.30am to 10pm.

Anne Springman
Anne Springman
Narrow steps
Narrow steps
Narrow steps
The partly made up waterfall which would be even more impressive after high rainfall. Surprising it was running at all today after such a dry period. The chine has been cut out of green limestone over thousands of years. The water comes from springs on chalk and hence this extraordinary natural feature.
waterfall
waterfall
waterfall
waterfall
A bank in urgent need of clearance and replanting. There is plenty more of this.
bank in urgent need of clearance
bank in urgent need of clearance
Tearooms and exhibition at the beach end of the chine.
Tearooms
Tearooms
Tearooms
Tearooms
Tearooms
Tearooms
A little of the exhibition with a collection of clay pipes and roman coins dug up nearby
exhibition
exhibition
exhibition
exhibition
exhibition
exhibition
40 Royal Marine Commando war memorial overlooking the sea.
war memorial
war memorial

2018 – CHW
A visit to Cerne Farm which was parched and barren with not a blade of grass to be seen in any field. The sheep were grazing in the woodland. All but one which had been adopted as a strange pet!
Carne Farm
Carne Farm
The wisteria growing on the house was having a second flush of flowers in the heat.
wisteria growing on the house
wisteria growing on the house
wisteria growing on the house
wisteria growing on the house
Drimys lanceolata used as a garden hedge in very dry conditions was effective. Only at Tregothnan have I seen it used elsewhere for this purpose.
Drimys lanceolata
Drimys lanceolata
The combination of the tall growing Verbena bonariensis and the much lower growing Verbena rigida was effective.
Verbena bonariensis and the much lower growing Verbena rigida
Verbena bonariensis and the much lower growing Verbena rigida
So was Verbena bonariensis and agapanthus.
Verbena bonariensis and agapanthus
Verbena bonariensis and agapanthus

2017 – CHW
The new clearing as it is shaping up from below or above the Top Wall.

new clearing
new clearing
new clearing
new clearing
This is Buddleia ‘Harlequin’ which should have variegated foliage. However half this large bush has reverted to having green leaves although the flower remains (in theory) ‘purplish-red’. Not much red really?
Buddleia ‘Harlequin’
Buddleia ‘Harlequin’
Buddleia ‘Harlequin’
Buddleia ‘Harlequin’
The Hothead and underground spring with upraised beds for dwarf rhododendrons. Needs a good clean out and tidy. The two sycamore trees above the well will be cut down shortly. A few saplings to go too.
Hothead
Hothead
This is labelled Magnolia tripetala but the leaf looks a bit too small for it to be the true species. Perhaps Magnolia ‘Ralph’ or ‘Charles Coates’? Not quite like the M. ‘Charles Coates’ at Burncoose in flower form (more yellowish than white) and colour though? Nevertheless it is a bushy shrub with many shoots so probably it is Magnolia ‘Charles Coates’. M. tripetala is a single stemmed tree and grows elsewhere.
Magnolia ‘Charles Coates’
Magnolia ‘Charles Coates’
The frames are crammed full of superb young rhododendrons ready to be planted out next spring. Then we can restart them with Asia’s crops of specie rhodo seedlings.
young rhododendrons ready to be planted out
young rhododendrons ready to be planted out
young rhododendrons ready to be planted out
young rhododendrons ready to be planted out
Ziziphus sativa has never really recovered from my brother lighting a fire too close to it and scorching all one side of it. Does not like our climate I fear and will never perform or fruit. It is a hot Mediterranean tree really.
Ziziphus sativa
Ziziphus sativa
This rather nice crocosmia variety has grown in profusion by the greenhouse for at least 50 years. It is far better than I remember and perhaps we can name it? (Is it Crocosmia ‘Saracen’?) Amazing that the county council deliberately spray out wild crocosmia clumps on roadsides as being ‘non-native’. Will these same plant fascists spray out all Austrian and Swiss daffodils growing wild too? Political correctness again of course but total ignorance, vandalism and worse in reality.
crocosmia variety
crocosmia variety
crocosmia variety
crocosmia variety
crocosmia variety
crocosmia variety
crocosmia variety
crocosmia variety

2016 – CHW
The five Magnolia ‘Caerhays Splendour’ planted on the bank above the house are starting to put on a secondary set of new growth.
Magnolia ‘Caerhays Splendour’
Magnolia ‘Caerhays Splendour’
The Mespilus germanica ‘Nottingham’ planted by The Worshipful Company of Fruiterers a month ago already has some well-developed medlars. One fruit, alongside a flower, has been eaten by something.
Mespilus germanica ‘Nottingham’
Mespilus germanica ‘Nottingham’
This Schefflera alpina was planted in 2010 and is already 12ft tall. The new growth is oddly ‘umbrella-like’ and more attractive than I had thought.
Schefflera alpina
Schefflera alpina
Schefflera alpina
Schefflera alpina

2015 – CHW

So another hunt for some more unusual hydrangeas:

Hydrangea involucrata ‘Viridescens’ – the florets open green then go white. Not exactly an eye catching variety.

Hydrangea serrata ‘Midori’ – dwarf with tiny blue flowers. Another for the collector or the rockery but probably not for gardeners.

Hydrangea serrata ‘Shichidanka’ – a bit bigger growing but equally uninspiring and over very quickly.

Hydrangea ‘Sheila’ – an attractive newer variety with bronze new growth

Hydrangea ‘Alpengluhen’ – not a bad red even on our acidic soil in this area of the garden where all blues tend to be blue rather than pink.

Armed with yet more pictures from Arboretum Wespelaar Asia and I try to confirm the identity of Stewartia sinensis on Burns Bank.The flower is clearly correct (five petals and small) as is the hairy seed. The leaf on our mature 80 to 90 year old plant is much smaller than in the reference books but I suspect that is simply age related. The bark is however more of a problem as it simply does not peel like the Lamellyn plant pictured. The article does say the bark is ‘variable’ so let us leave it as that and confirm Stewartia sinensis as a fact rather than as a handed down name from the past.

Stewartia sinensis
Stewartia sinensis
Stewartia sinensis
Stewartia sinensis

2003 – FJW
Rain came after warm (not hot) dry spell.

1989 – FJW
Very hot spell continues – no end in sight.

1955 – CW
It has been very hot and dry for 3 weeks. Double pink Camellias by lodge both still have flowers also Kimberley. Still some Griersonianum, Phis and Eriogynum beginning. Big Maddeni in quarry nursery very fine, also Metrosideros. Big wall rose fine. Not much else. Rabdotum just over, a few whites coming.

1935 – JCW
Very hot and dry for a long time, some of the gardeners are ill and away, but the fuchsias are good. Romneya is very good, the Maddeni have carried a lot of flowers but the great heat finished the flowers.

1933 – JCW
I Clarke is here, not much open. Mag delavayi all flowering well.

1914 – JCW
Just a cyclamen open to wear by and a Lapageria. Buddleia’s nice. Romneya fair. Brunonis over. The following rhodo’s show bloom: maddeni, cinnabarinum, micranthum, fastigatum.

1911 – JCW
L giganteum long over. R coulteri goodish. Wilson here and saw his Buddleias at their best.

1906 – JCW
Just back from a month at Strathvaich, Brunonis very good yet, 100 spikes of L giganteum open. R coulteri very good. The three beds of tea roses remain good.Sweet peas open.

1899 – JCW
The first of the autumn cyclamen open.

One thought on “16th July

  1. Two noxious weeds: The first, the presumed Solidago, is a very invasive neophyt (also) from Canada; Canadian horseweed, Erigeron (Conyza) canadensis. It is not eaten by cattle and grows everywhere now; urgently to eradicate when it is still (?) possible.
    The second is Ragwort (Cushag) as you rightly declare, Senecio jacobaea, poisonous to cattle, esp. horses die after consuming hay infested with it as happened here. It is also spreading during the last years.

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