5th 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

During our visit to Devon yesterday time to take in a new and interesting garden.

Cornus kousa can be very effective as a feature plant.

Cornus kousa
Cornus kousa
Lilium regale with (perhaps) Rosa ‘Felicia’.
Lilium regale
Lilium regale
I think this is Clematis alpina ‘Frances Rivis’.
Clematis alpina ‘Frances Rivis’
Clematis alpina ‘Frances Rivis’
Clematis alpina ‘Frances Rivis’
Clematis alpina ‘Frances Rivis’
A leaky hose watering system.
A leaky hose watering system
A leaky hose watering system
Trachelospermum jasminoides and Rosa ‘Madame Alfred Carrière’.
Trachelospermum jasminoides
Trachelospermum jasminoides
Hydrangea arborescens ‘Annabelle’ and Clematis ‘Ascotiensis’.
Hydrangea arborescens ‘Annabelle’ and Clematis ‘Ascotiensis’
Hydrangea arborescens ‘Annabelle’ and Clematis ‘Ascotiensis’
Fagus sylvatica ‘Atropurpurea’ and Acer platanoides ‘Crimson King’.
Fagus sylvatica ‘Atropurpurea’ and Acer platanoides ‘Crimson King’
Fagus sylvatica ‘Atropurpurea’ and Acer platanoides ‘Crimson King’
Jet black hollyhocks which I have only seen before in Seaview.
Jet black hollyhocks
Jet black hollyhocks
Hydrangea quercifolia and Actinidia pilosula.
Hydrangea quercifolia and Actinidia pilosula
Hydrangea quercifolia and Actinidia pilosula
Deutzia setchuenensis var. corymbiflora ‘Kiftsgate’ making a fine show.
Deutzia setchuenensis var. corymbiflora ‘Kiftsgate’
Deutzia setchuenensis var. corymbiflora ‘Kiftsgate’
Deutzia setchuenensis var. corymbiflora ‘Kiftsgate’
Deutzia setchuenensis var. corymbiflora ‘Kiftsgate’
Deutzia setchuenensis var. corymbiflora ‘Kiftsgate’
Deutzia setchuenensis var. corymbiflora ‘Kiftsgate’

2023 – CHW
Carpinus omeiensis omiense with its oddly distinct and droopy leaf formation.

arpinus omeiensis omiense
arpinus omeiensis omiense
Stewartia monadelpha with late and drought struck small flowers which are hardly opening in the heat.
Stewartia monadelpha
Stewartia monadelpha
A young Stewartia pseudocamellia in much the same state.
Stewartia pseudocamellia
Stewartia pseudocamellia
Carpinus orientalis ‘Perdika’ has a very dense leaf structure and habit.
Carpinus orientalis ‘Perdika’
Carpinus orientalis ‘Perdika’
Carpinus orientalis ‘Perdika’
Carpinus orientalis ‘Perdika’
Catalpa speciosa ‘Frederik’ flowering well for the first time and enjoying the dry conditions. Similar flowers to Catalpa bignonioides but larger and with fewer flowers in each cluster. Perhaps the best thing out in the garden today (or new thing anyway).
Catalpa speciosa ‘Frederik’
Catalpa speciosa ‘Frederik’
Catalpa speciosa ‘Frederik’
Catalpa speciosa ‘Frederik’
Catalpa speciosa ‘Frederik’
Catalpa speciosa ‘Frederik’
Quercus belle ‘D’aquitaine’ with reddish secondary new growth all of a sudden. Seems also to like hot conditions.
Quercus belle ‘D’aquitaine’
Quercus belle ‘D’aquitaine’

2022 – CHW

So what is out in flower in the garden still after my absence on the Isle of Wight?

Silver gilt medal for Burncoose at Hampton Court. Drama because we had to remove several banned plants from the stand (oaks!) but sales good. Dodoneas and hydrangeas particularly.

Hydrangea seemannii now full out and splendid.

Hydrangea seemannii
Hydrangea seemannii
Hydrangea seemannii
Hydrangea seemannii
Store cattle have grazed off the castle front in only a week and little grass left. Clearly a lot of cow shit on the drive but I am told someone else’s escapees.
cattle
cattle
Fuchsia ‘Lady Bacon’ properly out by the tower.
Fuchsia ‘Lady Bacon’
Fuchsia ‘Lady Bacon’
Cornus kousa ‘China Doll’ nearly over.
Cornus kousa ‘China Doll’
Cornus kousa ‘China Doll’
Hydrangea ‘Fireworks-Blue’ and Cornus kousa ‘Gold Star’.
Hydrangea ‘Fireworks-Blue’
Hydrangea ‘Fireworks-Blue’
Hydrangea ‘Fireworks-Blue’ just full out.
Hydrangea ‘Fireworks-Blue’
Hydrangea ‘Fireworks-Blue’
Rhododendron ‘Royal Flush’ (pale pink form) nearly over.
Rhododendron ‘Royal Flush’
Rhododendron ‘Royal Flush’
Still flowers on Magnolia globosa.
Magnolia globosa
Magnolia globosa

2021 – CHW
First visit today to Ventnor Botanic Garden. They had stayed open throughout COVID but gardeners on furlough had not done a lot for the masses of bindweed everywhere. They too had a dry spring and everything was a bit further behind than I had expected.This year Puya chilensis and Puya berteroniana were both flowering as huge clumps. Most spectacular.
Puya chilensis and Puya berteroniana
Puya chilensis and Puya berteroniana
Puya chilensis and Puya berteroniana
Puya chilensis and Puya berteroniana
Puya chilensis and Puya berteroniana
Puya chilensis and Puya berteroniana
Podanthus ovalifolius not quite out.
Podanthus ovalifolius
Podanthus ovalifolius
Schinus lentiscifolius is another rare but dull species of Schinus to go with the others we have looked at, at home, earlier this year.
Schinus lentiscifolius
Schinus lentiscifolius
Schinus lentiscifolius
Schinus lentiscifolius
Rhaphithamnus spinosus as a tree with a huge trunk. I had always assumed it was just a shrub!
Rhaphithamnus spinosus
Rhaphithamnus spinosus
Chordospartium stevensonii is a 15-20ft multi stemmed shrub here. In full flower today.
Chordospartium stevensonii
Chordospartium stevensonii
Chordospartium stevensonii
Chordospartium stevensonii
No idea of the name of this attractive climber.
climber
climber
The Nare hotel may have flowered an Agave americana in 2019 but there are around 10 in flower here or putting up their huge flowering stems before they die.
Agave americana
Agave americana
Agave americana
Agave americana
Agapanthus ‘Whitney’ was a standout white form which they had for sale in their tiny and not very exciting sales area.
Agapanthus ‘Whitney’
Agapanthus ‘Whitney’
Echium fastuosum as a branched shrub and spectacular in flower today.
Echium fastuosum
Echium fastuosum
Echium fastuosum
Echium fastuosum
I could find no label for this small evergreen tree. I was told it was a Melicytus which it clearly is not!
evergreen tree
evergreen tree
evergreen tree
evergreen tree
evergreen tree
evergreen tree

2020 – CHW
The Rhododendron weyrichii in the Rockery is just going over.Then a trip to look at the newish summer flowering shrubs above the drive and on Sinogrande Walk where they can be seen properly at this time of the year.Philadelphus maculatus ‘Mexican Jewel’ is a Mexican species which has made enormous growth since planted in 2017. Lots more flowers to come and nice scent close up. The flowers hang down and are a bit hidden.
Philadelphus maculatus ‘Mexican Jewel’
Philadelphus maculatus ‘Mexican Jewel’
Philadelphus maculatus ‘Mexican Jewel’
Philadelphus maculatus ‘Mexican Jewel’
Philadelphus maculatus ‘Mexican Jewel’
Philadelphus maculatus ‘Mexican Jewel’
Philadelphus mexicanus hangs its flowers inside the dense small leaved and much smaller bush which it has become. This is another Mexican and Guatemalan species which has a purple blotch in the centre of the flower. Both need propagating for Burncoose.
Philadelphus mexicanus
Philadelphus mexicanus
Philadelphus mexicanus
Philadelphus mexicanus
Philadelphus mexicanus
Philadelphus mexicanus

The labels are the wrong way around on these two Philadelphus and mexicanus is on the left and maculatus on the right (two plants).

Buddleia delavayi is flowering for the first time that I have noticed it. Some flowers over and some in bud still. Quite pretty but said to be tender.

Buddleia delavayi
Buddleia delavayi
Buddleia delavayi
Buddleia delavayi
Buddleia delavayi
Buddleia delavayi
Buddleia limitanea has quite similar flowers to B. delavayi in that the centres are orange and the flower colour similar. This species has a much more compact habit and even more bluish leaves. Planted 2017 and a gift from Peter Moore. Said to be very hardy.
Buddleia limitanea
Buddleia limitanea
Buddleia limitanea
Buddleia limitanea
Buddleia limitanea
Buddleia limitanea
Fagus sylvatica ‘Prince George of Crete’ has the largest (and quite dark green) leaves of any beech tree I have seen. Planted in 2006 it is now 15-20ft tall and doing well.
Fagus sylvatica ‘Prince George of Crete’
Fagus sylvatica ‘Prince George of Crete’
Fagus sylvatica ‘Prince George of Crete’
Fagus sylvatica ‘Prince George of Crete’

I have been bitching for months about trying to find a decent wildflower book and suddenly Colin French emails me to say he has published a (pictorial and locational) ‘Flora of Cornwall’. It is 550 pages long with 1,700 photographs of Cornish wildflowers. The index is not 100% accurate as I have randomly found but this is a real joy of a life’s work at £40.Colin did his last survey of flowering plants and ferns here on the estate in 2010. He found several red book rarities in his 2002 survey and more rarities in 2010. I attach a list of the rarities which he found in his last survey.

The fun will be now to try to locate them and see if they are still there. A trip to Tubbs Mill Quarry looms.

2019 – CHW
Our Seaview garden is not in bad shape at all thanks to Jaimie and Michael’s visit two to three weeks ago.

Melianthus major has finished flowering and has three tall seed heads with ripening seed pods.

Melianthus major
Melianthus major
Melianthus major
Melianthus major
Plenty of seed heads forming on Acacia dealbata overhanging the garden.
Acacia dealbata
Acacia dealbata
Hypericum ‘Hidcote’ and Jasminum officinale affine flowering nicely together outside the doorway into the garden.
Hypericum ‘Hidcote’ and Jasminum officinale affine
Hypericum ‘Hidcote’ and Jasminum officinale affine

2018 – CHW
A trip to Cotehele which is reputed to have the best herbaceous borders of any National Trust garden in Cornwall. Take it from me that Lanhydrock is better! An odd house well off the beaten track with a faint hint of abandonment and in need of some serious investment. The terraced garden below the house is in keeping and the upper garden in nice surprise boxes but the main herbaceous beds contain just annual plants so of no great interest to Karol and I today. Why do no National Trust gardens label their plants properly? Little sign of any real labelling at all except the annuals. Surely National Trust members deserve to be educated a bit when they visit?Red water lilies in the main pond.
Red water lilies
Red water lilies
Buddleia salvifolia (I think) out a little early in the year in this heatwave. Not quite the same colour or foliage to ours here so perhaps a hybrid.
Buddleia salvifolia
Buddleia salvifolia
Buddleia salvifolia
Buddleia salvifolia
Amicia zygomeris in the back of a border.
Amicia zygomeris
Amicia zygomeris
Acanthus spinosus is smaller growing than Acanthus mollis with rather more attractive flowers.
Acanthus spinosus
Acanthus spinosus
Acanthus spinosus
Acanthus spinosus
Canna ‘King Humbert’ with a surprisingly tall and contrasting flower for a variety often grown just for its foliage.
Canna ‘King Humbert’
Canna ‘King Humbert’
Canna ‘King Humbert’
Canna ‘King Humbert’
Blackcurrants, gooseberries and redcurrants. Burncoose used to stock these but gave up. Now we have some good photographs if we change our mind.
Blackcurrants, gooseberries and redcurrants
Blackcurrants, gooseberries and redcurrants
Blackcurrants, gooseberries and redcurrants
Blackcurrants, gooseberries and redcurrants
Blackcurrants, gooseberries and redcurrants
Blackcurrants, gooseberries and redcurrants
Triteleia laxa is one of those bulbous plants whose leaves die just before they flower. Consequently they look a bit of a mess in the border, as here, although the flowers are nice enough.
Triteleia laxa
Triteleia laxa
A fine stand of Yucca gloriosa in full flower.
Yucca gloriosa
Yucca gloriosa
Yucca gloriosa
Yucca gloriosa
An elderly but very healthy Itea ilicifolia in full show.
Itea ilicifolia
Itea ilicifolia

2017 – CHW
Philip Knuckey has won a gold for our stand at Hampton Court. Our first gold here for at least a decade.Here are a couple of Karol’s pictures of the second lorry loading up with plants to sell.
Lorry loads
Lorry loads
Lorry loads
Lorry loads
A few photographs of some new plants for the 2018 mail order catalogue:Agapanthus ‘Strawberry Ice’ opens white and then develops a delicate pink tinge.
Agapanthus ‘Strawberry Ice’
Agapanthus ‘Strawberry Ice’
Agapanthus ‘Strawberry Ice’
Agapanthus ‘Strawberry Ice’
Parkinsonia aculeata – no idea what this is!
Parkinsonia aculeata
Parkinsonia aculeata
Parkinsonia aculeata
Parkinsonia aculeata
Marsdenia oreophila – an odd but vigorous climber with hoya-like flowers.
Marsdenia oreophila
Marsdenia oreophila
Marsdenia oreophila
Marsdenia oreophila
Kniphofia ‘Rufa Rasta’ – pretty horrid name – judge it for yourself!
Kniphofia ‘Rufa Rasta’
Kniphofia ‘Rufa Rasta’
Kniphofia ‘Rufa Rasta’
Kniphofia ‘Rufa Rasta’
Ajuga reptans ‘Black Scallop’ without its pretty contrasting blue flowers.
Ajuga reptans ‘Black Scallop’
Ajuga reptans ‘Black Scallop’
Ajuga reptans ‘Black Scallop’
Ajuga reptans ‘Black Scallop’
Ajuga reptans ‘Black Scallop’
Ajuga reptans ‘Black Scallop’
Ajuga reptans ‘Black Scallop’
Ajuga reptans ‘Black Scallop’

2016 – CHW
A day clearing out my mother’s desk for the archive room so no great tour today.The yellow alstroemeria beside the front door has been here for at least 50 years. Today the yellow form is wrongly considered dull alongside a plethora of new coloured forms.

yellow alstroemeria
yellow alstroemeria

This Alchemilla mollis was planted here for Serena’s wedding a year ago.

Alchemilla mollis
Alchemilla mollis

The Sweet William are splendid in many colours. All self-sown.

Sweet William
Sweet William
Sweet William
Sweet William

The first white agapanthus has come out since the weekend.

white agapanthus
white agapanthus
Fuchsia exorticatica still has flowers on it about five months since I first photographed them on the then leafless tree. A bizarre performance from a spring fuchsia but it is a New Zealand native!
Fuchsia exorticatica
Fuchsia exorticatica
Fuchsia exorticatica
Fuchsia exorticatica
2015 – CHW
On holiday, having a few days off.

View of the Needles, Isle of Wight
View of the Needles, Isle of Wight, a row of three chalk stacks rising out of the sea with a lighthouse on the farthest one

1927 – JCW
The Actinidia in the Pinus austriaca is good. The Magnolia delavayi’s are flowering. Also Mag hypoleuca and parviflora. M glauca is not quite open. Rhodo’ discolor is good. Harrow hybrids fair, also Eriogynum and Griersonianum. Rosa brunonis is the best thing with the American Pillar.

1898 – JCW
Many of the daffodils have their foliage yet.

1897 – JCW
Most of the tree ferns have finished their growth. Henonis at full length, the best cane about 16 feet. Mitis and veitchii in mid growth, Nigra at full length. All daffodils have died down except Maximus and most of these have.

3 thoughts on “5th July

  1. ’23 Quercus ‘Belle d’Aquitaine’ should be written like this, the d beeing a preposition.
    ’21 Many great and impressive exotic plants at Ventnor BG, the evergreen tree is correctly named, Bean described it as Melicytus ramiflorus, I saw it only as small shrubs.
    Parkinsonia is the jelly bean tree or Jerusalem thorn, a nowadays widespread invasive species of dry warm countries, called palo verde in Spanish, the green stick. It belongs to Caesalpinioideae like poinciana.

  2. The Buddleja plant at Cotehele above appears to be the Himalayan species, Buddleja crispa. The common form of B. salviifolia has blue flowers and lanceolate leaves, usually with a tan tomentum. There are white and pale lilac forms also, with longer and more pendulous leaves.

  3. The specimen above labelled Buddleja delavayi is not in fact that species, but is also a Buddleja limitanea (technically, a synonym of Buddleja forrestii). B. delavayi is a predominantly spring flowering species, quite unlike the plant shown, and is often still known by the former epithet of B. heliophila.
    There are at least six B. limitanea collections in the UK, for example ACE 2522 and KR2737, which can vary with regards to corolla colour and leaf tomentum. The flower morphology is, however, usually consistent.
    The genus Buddleja does suffer from some historical mislabelling, and it would help conservation efforts if such errors were corrected.

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