10th June

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 young heifer decides to try to walk to the beach. She must have walked down the river from beside the lake.

young heifer
young heifer
Then to Trebah for a Great Gardens of Cornwall photocall.
Three spikes of Puya chilensis but only one still has the remarkable green flowers left on it. Here alongside a spike of Echium pininana.
Puya chilensis
Puya chilensis
The view down the Trebah gardens valley to the Estuary.
view down the Trebah gardens valley
view down the Trebah gardens valley
Indigofera amblyantha I think in a large clump on the edge of the lawn.
Indigofera amblyantha
Indigofera amblyantha
Not sure which species of Aeonium this might be?
Aeoniums
Aeoniums
Aeoniums
Aeoniums
Mixed Aeoniums in the circular bed beside the house.
Mixed Aeoniums
Mixed Aeoniums
Mixed Aeoniums
Mixed Aeoniums
Fagus sylvatica ‘Atropurpurea’ and Acacia melanoxylon as one looks down the valley.
Fagus sylvatica ‘Atropurpurea’
Fagus sylvatica ‘Atropurpurea’
Then to the photoshoot in the new walled garden which I opened only a year ago.
photoshoot in the new walled garden
photoshoot in the new walled garden
Some very fine Callistemon citrinus ‘Splendens’.
Callistemon citrinus ‘Splendens’
Callistemon citrinus ‘Splendens’
The Great Garden representatives being prepared for the ‘Last Supper’ photocall. Publicity for the 2025 season.
The Great Garden representatives
The Great Garden representatives
The Great Garden representatives
The Great Garden representatives
The Great Garden representatives
The Great Garden representatives
This is the marketing team from Idenna.
Idenna
Idenna
Isoplexis canariensis
Isoplexis canariensis
Isoplexis canariensis
Cestrum parquii
Cestrum parquii
Cestrum parquii

2023 – CHW
Brassaiopsis dumicola (KWJ12217) trying to flower.

Brassaiopsis dumicola (KWJ12217)
Brassaiopsis dumicola (KWJ12217)
Brassaiopsis dumicola (KWJ12217)
Brassaiopsis dumicola (KWJ12217)
The massive trunk of the Quercus acuta above Roger’s Quarry.
Quercus acuta
Quercus acuta
Magnolia sieboldii sinensis x M. virginiana.
Magnolia sieboldii sinensis x M. virginiana
Magnolia sieboldii sinensis x M. virginiana
First flower out on Magnolia dealbata.
Magnolia dealbata
Magnolia dealbata
Fatsia polyneura with attractive new growth.
Fatsia polyneura
Fatsia polyneura
Magnolia moto covered in buds this year; even low down.
Magnolia moto
Magnolia moto
First flowers ever on Castanopsis sclerophylla. Undersides of the leaves spectacular as on all Castanopsis.
Castanopsis sclerophylla
Castanopsis sclerophylla
Castanopsis sclerophylla
Castanopsis sclerophylla

2022 – CHW

Of all the deutzia varieties Deutzia x hybrida ‘Strawberry Fields’ takes some beating.

Deutzia x hybrida ‘Strawberry Fields’
Deutzia x hybrida ‘Strawberry Fields’
Cornus kousa ‘Weaver’s Weeping’ is now in full shade and flowering below its potential.
Cornus kousa ‘Weaver’s Weeping’
Cornus kousa ‘Weaver’s Weeping’
Hydrangea serrata ‘Tiara’ full out. Purple foliage and the blue flowers will fade to pink.
Hydrangea serrata ‘Tiara’
Hydrangea serrata ‘Tiara’
Azalea indica – one of several different coloured forms towards the top lodge in three elderly clumps.
Azalea indica
Azalea indica
Azalea indica
Azalea indica
Azalea indica
Azalea indica
The St Michael Caerhays flower festival in its full glory for the next three days to help raise funds for our tiny church. The flower festival will sit alongside the Caerhays charity fete on Sunday.
flower festival
flower festival
flower festival
flower festival
flower festival
flower festival
flower festival
flower festival
flower festival
flower festival
flower festival
flower festival
flower festival
flower festival
flower festival
flower festival
flower festival
flower festival
flower festival
flower festival
flower festival
flower festival
flower festival
flower festival
flower festival
flower festival
flower festival
flower festival
flower festival
flower festival
flower festival
flower festival
flower festival
flower festival
flower festival
flower festival
Viburnum wilsonii has made excellent growth in three years and now plenty of flower. Not that different to V. odoratissimum in flower although not evergreen.
Viburnum wilsonii
Viburnum wilsonii
Viburnum wilsonii
Viburnum wilsonii
The evergreen Syzygium smithii with its exceptional bronzy new growth. Myrtaceae family and known in New Zealand as the ‘monkey apple’ because of its large clusters of white to maroon edible berries. Unpruned it may grow to 15ft in height.
Syzygium smithii
Syzygium smithii
Syzygium smithii
Syzygium smithii
Viburnum parvifolium lives up to its name in terms of leaf and flower size. A neat compact bush which adds to our viburnum species collection.
Viburnum parvifolium
Viburnum parvifolium

2021 – CHW
Thick coastal fog for the start of the G7 leaders conference in Carbis Bay. Helicopters that only a US president could bring in the sky and along the coastline. Not much sightseeing in Cornwall with Carrie Johnson as host. They went to St Michaels Mount.Fuchsia exorticata still full out on the top wall.
Fuchsia exorticata
Fuchsia exorticata
From Crûg an Ilex perado subsp. azorica (BSWJ 12526). In leaf form some way between Ilex perado subsp. platyphylla and Ilex perado itself.
Ilex perado subsp. azorica
Ilex perado subsp. azorica
Ilex perado subsp. azorica
Ilex perado subsp. azorica
Daphniphyllum paxianum (BSWJ 9755)
Daphniphyllum paxianum
Daphniphyllum paxianum
Syringa tomentella flowering in the frames.
Syringa tomentella
Syringa tomentella
First flowers on our replacement Magnolia x brooklynensis ‘Woodsman’. The old plant died.
Magnolia x brooklynensis ‘Woodsman’
Magnolia x brooklynensis ‘Woodsman’
Catkins on Morus cathayana.
Morus cathayana
Morus cathayana
Morus cathayana
Morus cathayana
There always is another bit of Rhododendron ponticum to remove.
Rhododendron ponticum
Rhododendron ponticum
Crataegus laevigata ‘Paul’s Scarlet’ at its best.
Crataegus laevigata ‘Paul’s Scarlet’
Crataegus laevigata ‘Paul’s Scarlet’
Crataegus laevigata ‘Paul’s Scarlet’
Crataegus laevigata ‘Paul’s Scarlet’
Pinus mugo ‘Zundert’ in full new growth with its yellow winter needles now vanishing until the autumn.
Pinus mugo ‘Zundert’
Pinus mugo ‘Zundert’
Philadelphus caucasicus now full out and very fine!
Philadelphus caucasicus
Philadelphus caucasicus
Philadelphus caucasicus
Philadelphus caucasicus
Photinia niitakayamensis in flower.
Photinia niitakayamensis
Photinia niitakayamensis
Crataegus laevigata ‘Crimson Cloud’ nearly over.
Crataegus laevigata ‘Crimson Cloud’
Crataegus laevigata ‘Crimson Cloud’

2020 – CHW
At Burncoose today and could not resist more pictures of Carrieria calycina.
Carrieria calycina
Carrieria calycina
Carrieria calycina
Carrieria calycina

Azalea ‘Gumpo’ nicely out in the garden in full shade. A Nakahari hybrid which flowers very late with a compact habit.

Azalea ‘Gumpo’
Azalea ‘Gumpo’
Azalea ‘Gumpo’
Azalea ‘Gumpo’
Rhododendron eriogynum by the pond. Nearly black in bud and very late season.
Rhododendron eriogynum
Rhododendron eriogynum
Rhododendron eriogynum
Rhododendron eriogynum
Cornus kousa ‘Wolf Eyes’ covered in flower and growing well unlike the one we saw two days ago at Caerhays.
Cornus kousa ‘Wolf Eyes’
Cornus kousa ‘Wolf Eyes’
Cornus kousa ‘Wolf Eyes’
Cornus kousa ‘Wolf Eyes’
Cornus kousa ‘Wolf Eyes’
Cornus kousa ‘Wolf Eyes’
Cornus kousa ‘Samaritan’ which is not much different. Both have wavy leaves but I suspect that the autumn colours may be different when the pink tinges appear.
Cornus kousa ‘Samaritan’
Cornus kousa ‘Samaritan’
Cornus kousa ‘Samaritan’
Cornus kousa ‘Samaritan’
Cornus kousa ‘Samaritan’
Cornus kousa ‘Samaritan’
Magnolia x wiesneri ‘Aashild Kalleberg’ just going over.
Magnolia x wiesneri ‘Aashild Kalleberg’
Magnolia x wiesneri ‘Aashild Kalleberg’
Huodendron biaristatum with its reddish new growth is doing well unlike the three which I have lost at Caerhays.
Huodendron biaristatum
Huodendron biaristatum
The Wollemi pine has male and female cones for the first time. We lost the two plants at Caerhays in silly places. Progress has been slow and the tree is now about 7-8ft tall.
Wollemi pine
Wollemi pine
Wollemi pine
Wollemi pine
Wollemi pine
Wollemi pine
Squirrel damage on a young beech tree.
Squirrel damage on a young beech tree
Squirrel damage on a young beech tree
Weigelia coraeensis doing well on the drive. Initially the flowers are either white or pink but the pinker ones fade to red. About 5-6ft tall after 10 years and an outstanding small shrub.
Weigelia coraeensis
Weigelia coraeensis
Weigelia coraeensis
Weigelia coraeensis
Weigelia coraeensis
Weigelia coraeensis
House martins turfing their eggs out of the nests under the battlements. The second hatch off.
Eggs
Eggs
I am sent this from Camelot Castle hotel (Tintagel) with the caption ‘Hope there is limited rioting at Caerhays’!
Black Labs Matter
Black Labs Matter

2019 – CHW

These are some pictures of Dipentodon sinicus taken in flower at Tregrehan Garden by Jaimie and Michael during the rare plant fair. It is an entirely new genus to me but Tom Hudson’s reply (attached) to my query with the Forrest note suggests it was once at Caerhays but failed to propagate or died out in cold winters. We look forward to Tom’s offer of a seedling. The page about Dipentodon sinicus in ‘New Trees’ is also attached. Odd that a plant with such a widespread distribution in China only appears today in one UK garden (Tregrehan as usual!).

Dipentodon sinicus
Dipentodon sinicus
Dipentodon sinicus
Dipentodon sinicus

2018 – CHW
A tour with some elderly gardening friends on a sweltering day.Styrax formosanus var hayatainus out quite early and before other species in this late year.
Styrax formosanus var hayatainus
Styrax formosanus var hayatainus
Styrax formosanus var hayatainus
Styrax formosanus var hayatainus
A simply perfect bud on Magnolia ‘Summer Solstice’.
Magnolia ‘Summer Solstice’
Magnolia ‘Summer Solstice’
Rhododendron ‘Pink Polar Bear’ just coming out. The white form in more shade not yet showing.
Rhododendron ‘Pink Polar Bear’
Rhododendron ‘Pink Polar Bear’
Rhododendron ‘Pink Polar Bear’
Rhododendron ‘Pink Polar Bear’
Magnolia ‘Porcelain Dove’ smelling very lemonish. This is a superb magnolia with a long flowering span.
Magnolia ‘Porcelain Dove’
Magnolia ‘Porcelain Dove’
New growth on Gevuina avellana after some cold damage.
Gevuina avellana
Gevuina avellana

2017 – CHW
Styrax japonicus ‘Pendulus’ is now full out although you have to delve into the centre of this pendulous tree to catch the full effect as the flowers are mainly hidden within it. Masses of flower but not a spectacle from afar.
Styrax japonicus ‘Pendulus’
Styrax japonicus ‘Pendulus’
Styrax japonicus ‘Pendulus’
Styrax japonicus ‘Pendulus’
Styrax japonicus ‘Pendulus’
Styrax japonicus ‘Pendulus’
Styrax japonicus ‘Pendulus’
Styrax japonicus ‘Pendulus’
Styrax japonicus ‘Pendulus’
Styrax japonicus ‘Pendulus’
Styrax japonicus ‘Emerald Pagoda’ is also full out and has grown quickly into a floriferous small tree. Larger flowers than on any other styrax species or variety? A slight scent today but the bees are going mad for the flowers as you can see.
Styrax japonicus ‘Emerald Pagoda’
Styrax japonicus ‘Emerald Pagoda’
Styrax japonicus ‘Emerald Pagoda’
Styrax japonicus ‘Emerald Pagoda’
Styrax japonicus ‘Emerald Pagoda’
Styrax japonicus ‘Emerald Pagoda’
Styrax japonicus ‘Emerald Pagoda’
Styrax japonicus ‘Emerald Pagoda’
Styrax japonicus ‘Emerald Pagoda’
Styrax japonicus ‘Emerald Pagoda’
Sorbus gongashanica in flower for the first time. Not exactly a species to write home about but rare and new.
Sorbus gongashanica
Sorbus gongashanica
Sorbus gongashanica
Sorbus gongashanica
Styrax serrulatus – we gave the lower branches something of a haircut in the winter to lift the crown off other adjacent plants. The reaction has been to shoot vigorously from the base. Note how different the bark colours are to Styrax hemsleyanus or Styrax formosanus seen yesterday. This is clearly a spreading evergreen tree which wants to be multi stemmed. The flowers are still some way off opening and this 26 year old tree is now 20ft tall with a nearly similar spread.
Styrax serrulatus
Styrax serrulatus
Styrax serrulatus
Styrax serrulatus
Styrax serrulatus
Styrax serrulatus
Styrax serrulatus
Styrax serrulatus
Magnolia globosa has a few more flowers than last year and is growing away well.
Magnolia globosa
Magnolia globosa
Magnolia globosa
Magnolia globosa
This younger clump of Rhododendron stamineum is flowering a fortnight later than the old plants in the main quarry. Its leaves look much healthier too.
Rhododendron stamineum
Rhododendron stamineum
Rhododendron stamineum
Rhododendron stamineum
One of a clump of Rhododendron auriculatum is just coming into flower. I do not remember these in flower until now although I may well have missed them. On a drab day they are too high up to photograph properly.
Rhododendron auriculatum
Rhododendron auriculatum
Rhododendron auriculatum
Rhododendron auriculatum
A recently planted Rhododendron sutchuenense (collector’s number AC6126) has three flowers. Can this possibly be correctly named flowering months later than it should? I suspect grown from seed by us originally so this is what happens. Either a first flowering aberration or ‘one of those things’ when you grow rhodos from seed.
Rhododendron sutchuenense
Rhododendron sutchuenense
Rhododendron sutchuenense
Rhododendron sutchuenense
This Rhododendron keysii is full out today at the end of Hovel Cart Road. All the other clumps of this species have been over for weeks. Is this the sign it is going to massively over-seed and die?
Rhododendron keysii
Rhododendron keysii
Rhododendron keysii
Rhododendron keysii
Styrax japonicus ‘Pink Chimes’ is far from out yet but you can see how it sits nicely on the bank above the drive so that you can look up into the flowers properly. Otherwise they would be mainly hidden from view.
Styrax japonicus ‘Pink Chimes’
Styrax japonicus ‘Pink Chimes’

2016 – CHW
Off to the Royal Cornwall Show where four stands have to be visited and time taken to support:Burncoose Nurseries stand had won a Gold Medal and Justin was in charge!
Burncoose Nurseries stand
Burncoose Nurseries stand
Burncoose Nurseries stand
Burncoose Nurseries stand
Burncoose Nurseries stand
Burncoose Nurseries stand
The Cornwall Red Squirrel Project (CRSP) had Natasha at the helm and was visited (later) by Bishop Tim of Truro and Lord and Lady St Levan.
Cornwall Red Squirrel Project (CRSP)
Cornwall Red Squirrel Project (CRSP)
Cornwall Red Squirrel Project (CRSP)
Cornwall Red Squirrel Project (CRSP)

The Caerhays Estate stand had Lucinda and Edwina flogging weddings and holiday lets.

Caerhays Estate stand
Caerhays Estate stand
Caerhays Estate stand
Caerhays Estate stand

Things were getting a bit alcoholic by the time we got to the Game & Wildlife Conservation stand to launch the Cornish Grey Partridge reintroduction project at 5.30pm. I forgot to take any pictures so you will have to make do with a copy of the leaflet.10 Jun16 Cornish Grey Partridge Project

2015 – CHW
A cornus hunt reveals:Cornus kousa var Chinensis ‘Wisley Queen’This plant was given to my father by Richard Carew-Pole when he was RHS president.
Cornus kousa var Chinensis ‘Wisley Queen’
Cornus kousa var chinensis ‘Wisley Queen’
Cornus kousa var Chinensis ‘Wisley Queen’
Cornus kousa var chinensis ‘Wisley Queen’
Cornus kousa var Chinensis ‘Wisley Queen’
Cornus kousa var chinensis ‘Wisley Queen’

Cornus kousa ‘Satomi’ (‘Miss Satomi’ in the new Hillier’s)

Growing in full sun in the open this is a real stunner and has been showing a good red colour for a fortnight.  The reference books say ‘pink’ but it is very clearly a red so I wonder if the naming is correct or whether it will fade?   Is it really a Cornus kousa or is it really a Cornus florida variety?

Cornus kousa ‘Satomi’
Cornus kousa ‘Satomi’
Cornus kousa ‘Satomi’
Cornus kousa ‘Satomi’
Cornus kousa ‘Satomi’
Cornus kousa ‘Satomi’

Cornus florida ‘Red Giant’

Planted in 1991 this enormous but rather hidden away plant will be the best thing in the garden in a fortnight or so.  The adjacent Loderi ‘King George’ is over but some years the two coincide.

CORNUS florida 'Red giant'
CORNUS florida ‘Red giant’
CORNUS florida 'Red giant'
CORNUS florida ‘Red giant’
CORNUS florida 'Red giant'
CORNUS florida ‘Red giant’

1997 – FJW
Delias grand design – 5 pieces done – bad storm, much salt damage in Laurel, and damaged trees around Noahs Ark and the Beeches.

1972 – FJW
Delia started on her Grand Design.

1902 – JCW
Habranthus is now very good, moved the big lot of Polyanthus primroses. None of the waterlilies show flower yet, a few Arums about, a very cold late season.

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