20th 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

The next two windows to restore in St Michael’s Church perhaps using some of the proceeds of the fete last Sunday.

The next two windows to restore in St Michael’s Church
The next two windows to restore in St Michael’s Church
The next two windows to restore in St Michael’s Church
The next two windows to restore in St Michael’s Church
They do not look good from the outside. The inspection with the Churchwarden, Captain John George, now complete and we need to write up a Faculty to get planning permission from the bishop to actually do the work.
They do not look good from the outside
They do not look good from the outside
They do not look good from the outside
They do not look good from the outside
Another splendid picture from Daphne Scott Harden’s garden in Durham. From the left Cornus ‘Norman Hadden’, C. controversa ‘Variegata’ and C. kousa with Viburnum plicatum ‘Kilimanjaro Sunrise’ and Abutilon vitifolium ‘Album’ on the right. All Burncoose plants originally.
Another splendid picture
Another splendid picture

Then a quick dash to Burncoose to meet the Business Rates Officer. Unbelievably they last inspected the nursery in the year we opened in 1984. Our good luck! On the tour the following were looking good:-

Papaver nudicaule ‘Moondance’.

Papaver nudicaule ‘Moondance’
Papaver nudicaule ‘Moondance’
Dichroa guizhou – should the flowers be blue?
Dichroa guizhou
Dichroa guizhou
Dichroa guizhou
Dichroa guizhou
Limonium latifolium – nowhere near as impressive in flower as Limonium perezii.
Limonium latifolium
Limonium latifolium
Lupin ‘Lavender Spires’ with rather a dwarf habit and strange bicolour flowers.
Lupin ‘Lavender Spires’
Lupin ‘Lavender Spires’
Iris ensata – the flowers never last long so catching one like this is a bonus.
Iris ensata
Iris ensata
The nursery looks remarkably tidy and weed free for this time of the year. Not perfect but much better than I have seen in years gone by mid-June.

2023 – CHW
Each of the Great Gardens of Cornwall have commissioned a painting or two of their own garden this spring. These were auctioned in Lemon Street Market to raise funds for The Cornwall Community Foundation. This is one of the Caerhays pictures which was pre-sold.

Caerhays picture
Caerhays picture
This was the larger Caerhays picture which sold reasonably.
larger Caerhays picture
larger Caerhays picture
This was the auction which raised c.£6K from 11 paintings.
auction
auction
auction
auction
auction
auction

2022 – CHW
Cornus walteri now fully out in flower on the drive. Blown open in the wind.

Cornus walteri
Cornus walteri
A hint of pink on Styrax japonicus ‘Pink Chimes’. Pinkish buds and occasionally one part of the starshaped flowers is pink.
Camellia ‘Kitty’ on Burns Bank is still laden with flower in late June. Exceptional and flowers pink and fading to white.
Camellia ‘Kitty’
Camellia ‘Kitty’
Camellia ‘Kitty’
Camellia ‘Kitty’
Styrax americanus has struggled with dieback in the exposed Isla Rose Plantation. Wrong place for it.
Styrax americanus
Styrax americanus
The odd new bit of reversion on Quercus cerris ‘Variegata’ despite my best efforts last year.
The Rhododendron maddenii with the largest flowers nearly over above Orchid House Nursery.
Rhododendron maddenii
Rhododendron maddenii
As expected and feared Neolitsea sericea has gone dead and our other older plant has gone (nearly) the same way at the same time. I wonder at the cause?
Neolitsea sericea
Neolitsea sericea
Euonymus hamiltonianus ‘Popcorn’ in full flower and recovering well from dieback.
Euonymus hamiltonianus 'Popcorn'
Euonymus hamiltonianus ‘Popcorn’
Euonymus hamiltonianus ‘Popcorn’
Euonymus hamiltonianus ‘Popcorn’
Quercus liebmannii getting going two years from planting. A gift from Thomas Methuen-Campbell.
Quercus liebmannii
Quercus liebmannii
Quercus liebmannii
Quercus liebmannii
Staphylea colchica ‘Black Beauty’ living up to its name. No sign of fading to green here.
Staphylea colchica ‘Black Beauty’
Staphylea colchica ‘Black Beauty’
Indigofera himachalensis (from Roundabarrow nurseries) flowering properly for the first time. A vigorous and erect shrub.
Indigofera himachalensis
Indigofera himachalensis
Indigofera himachalensis
Indigofera himachalensis
Sapium sebiferum recovering from cold dieback in its first winter after planting out.
Sapium sebiferum
Sapium sebiferum
Cannot locate Styrax confusus. Need to check the planting plans.
Styrax americanus
Styrax americanus

2021 – CHW
Another posh garden tour. A little rain overnight.

Styrax japonicus ‘Emerald Pagoda’ at its best.

Styrax japonicus ‘Emerald Pagoda’
Styrax japonicus ‘Emerald Pagoda’
Magnolia ‘Yuchelia’ has recently caught us out with a customer complaint. M. acuminata ‘Miss Honeybee’ x Michelia figo is probably not as our original M. ‘Yuchelia’ actually is but more like this?
Magnolia ‘Yuchelia’
Magnolia ‘Yuchelia’
The bracts of Cornus ‘Venus’ now becoming more pink.
Cornus ‘Venus’
Cornus ‘Venus’
Styrax japonicus ‘Jippei Kawamure’ full out and doing well.
Styrax japonicus ‘Jippei Kawamure’
Styrax japonicus ‘Jippei Kawamure’
Styrax japonicus ‘Jippei Kawamure’
Styrax japonicus ‘Jippei Kawamure’
Styrax japonicus ‘Jippei Kawamure’
Styrax japonicus ‘Jippei Kawamure’
Paulownia kawakamii has almost finished flowering and I have missed it.
Paulownia kawakamii
Paulownia kawakamii
Paulownia kawakamii
Paulownia kawakamii
Eucalyptus crenulata with its attractive new growth.
Eucalyptus crenulata
Eucalyptus crenulata
Magnolia rostrata has a flower on one of its lowest branches.
Magnolia rostrata
Magnolia rostrata

2020 – CHW
A good young Rhododendron decorum below Donkey Shoe.
Rhododendron decorum
Rhododendron decorum
I have a mental name block about the original clump of Rhododendron leptotrichum. After Jaimie put me right I found it was already over in this very early year (the other one I have a block about is Rhododendron oreotrephes).
Rhododendron leptotrichum
Rhododendron leptotrichum
Illicium merrillianum with buds showing colour. Again much earlier than last year.
Illicium merrillianum
Illicium merrillianum
Illicium griffithii in much the same state.
Illicium griffithii
Illicium griffithii
The Rhododendron maddenii above Orchid House Nursery with its unusually huge flower trusses compared to Rhododendron maddenii subsp. crassum or Rhododendron polyandrum which flower earlier. Well worth Asia taking cuttings in a month or so.
Rhododendron maddenii
Rhododendron maddenii
Rhododendron maddenii
Rhododendron maddenii
Rhododendron maddenii
Rhododendron maddenii

2019 – CHW
Actinidia deliciosa ‘Tomuri’ (male form) with especially large flowers which are yellowish at first then developing an orange tone. The best show I have seen here.
Actinidia deliciosa ‘Tomuri’
Actinidia deliciosa ‘Tomuri’
Actinidia deliciosa ‘Tomuri’
Actinidia deliciosa ‘Tomuri’
Actinidia deliciosa ‘Tomuri’
Actinidia deliciosa ‘Tomuri’
Rhododendron auriculatum just coming out after the rain.
Rhododendron auriculatum
Rhododendron auriculatum
The supposed Magnolia floribunda var. tonkinensis (from Crug) is now out (two flowers so far) and clearly a Manglietia species (now also magnolia of course) but certainly not a Michelia as we expected. I must send the pictures to Tom Hudson for a further opinion. Very nice indeed though.
Magnolia floribunda var. tonkinensis
Magnolia floribunda var. tonkinensis
Magnolia floribunda var. tonkinensis
Magnolia floribunda var. tonkinensis
Rhododendron ‘Pink Polar Bear’ just coming out.
Rhododendron ‘Pink Polar Bear’
Rhododendron ‘Pink Polar Bear’
Rhododendron ‘Pink Polar Bear’
Rhododendron ‘Pink Polar Bear’
Another Stewartia monodelpha which probably also is not true to name. Two others in the far end of Kennel Close have no flowers but have different foliage.
Stewartia monodelpha
Stewartia monodelpha
Cornus hemsleyi (2019 planted) with first flowers.
Cornus hemsleyi
Cornus hemsleyi
Cornus iberica (2019 planted) with first flowers.
Cornus iberica
Cornus iberica
Styrax japonicus from Taehuksando (BSWJ 14182) flowering nicely for the first time. Large hanging flowers.
Styrax japonicus
Styrax japonicus
Styrax japonicus
Styrax japonicus
Styrax japonicus
Styrax japonicus
Nyssa leptophylla – a new species to us with first new growth.
Nyssa leptophylla
Nyssa leptophylla
Aralia foliosa with first new growth. Horrid prickles!
Aralia foliosa
Aralia foliosa
Aralia foliosa
Aralia foliosa
Aralia foliosa
Aralia foliosa

2018 – CHW
Seed heads already turning reddish on some sycamores on the drive. Very early in view of how late these trees were into leaf after The Beast.
Seed heads
Seed heads
Seed heads
Seed heads
I always have a soft spot for the (now) wild growing yellow Icelandic poppies. Asia might collect some seed to grow on and Clare might see if we could add them to the new catalogue but I need to look up the Latin name first!
yellow Icelandic poppies
yellow Icelandic poppies
yellow Icelandic poppies
yellow Icelandic poppies
We were worried as to whether the Magnolia delavayi cut down last August would recover from The Beast. The first new growth was totally decimated but look how vigorous the second set of purplish new growth is.
Magnolia delavayi
Magnolia delavayi
Magnolia delavayi
Magnolia delavayi
First flowers on the plain yellow day-lilies outside the front door.
yellow day-lilies
yellow day-lilies
yellow day-lilies
yellow day-lilies

2017 – CHW
Lonicera crassifolia is a prostrate evergreen species which Asia should propagate. It was a gift from Roy Lancaster and grows in and on the old tree stump at the Four in Hand. Tiny upright white flowers which go yellowish with age. Delicate and attractive in full sun. A rarity but a perfect rockery plant to grow perhaps with Fuchsia procumbens?
Lonicera crassifolia
Lonicera crassifolia
Lonicera crassifolia
Lonicera crassifolia
Lonicera crassifolia
Lonicera crassifolia
Lonicera crassifolia
Lonicera crassifolia
Stewartia pteropetiolata is just coming out. Still plenty of flowers to follow. A smaller flower than other species but alive with flies and bees.
Stewartia pteropetiolata
Stewartia pteropetiolata
Stewartia pteropetiolata
Stewartia pteropetiolata
Stewartia pteropetiolata
Stewartia pteropetiolata
An old Rhododendron crassum reshooting well after having only been cut back in the spring.
Rhododendron crassum
Rhododendron crassum
The very late flowering Rhododendron ‘Mosers Maroon’ is still out. Great plant for crossing with its dark reddish flowers.
Rhododendron ‘Mosers Maroon’
Rhododendron ‘Mosers Maroon’
Rhododendron ‘Mosers Maroon’
Rhododendron ‘Mosers Maroon’
The old Stewartia pseudocamellia is also just out. Green blotches in some petals.
Stewartia pseudocamellia
Stewartia pseudocamellia
Stewartia pseudocamellia
Stewartia pseudocamellia
Stewartia pseudocamellia
Stewartia pseudocamellia
Rhododendron sanguineum ssp didymum (or something close to it) is flowering late (as it should) by Georges Hut.
Rhododendron sanguineum ssp didymum
Rhododendron sanguineum ssp didymum
Rhododendron sanguineum ssp didymum
Rhododendron sanguineum ssp didymum
The first of several elderly Rhododendron fortunei var discolor is out in the Main Quarry. Nothing to see of course! It is a bit sun scorched though.
Rhododendron fortunei var discolor
Rhododendron fortunei var discolor
Rhododendron fortunei var discolor
Rhododendron fortunei var discolor
Styrax japonicus ‘Pink Chimes’ is just out. Less pink in this one, other than the bud, in contrast to the one in full sun further up the drive. Even a long tailed tits nest in the crown of the weeping tree!
Styrax japonicus ‘Pink Chimes’
Styrax japonicus ‘Pink Chimes’
Styrax japonicus ‘Pink Chimes’
Styrax japonicus ‘Pink Chimes’
Styrax japonicus ‘Pink Chimes’
Styrax japonicus ‘Pink Chimes’
Styrax japonicus ‘Pink Chimes’
Styrax japonicus ‘Pink Chimes’

2016 – CHW
The three young Aesculus wilsonii at the entrance to Old Park Wood are flowering
well.
Aesculus wilsonii
Aesculus wilsonii
Aesculus wilsonii
Aesculus wilsonii
2015 – CHW
Tents on the lawn, tents below the lawn, hustle and bustle from all our staff and helpers. Charity fete tomorrow. We need a fine day and 3,000 people if we can to create a real profit for the church and local charities.

Styrax shiraiana – another new species to plant out next spring with very different leaves. There are several new ones on Mark Bulk’s Dutch website and we need to try the lot.

Styrax shiraiana
Styrax shiraiana
Styrax shiraiana
Styrax shiraiana
Rhododendron indicum
Rhododendron indicum

Rhododendron indicum (white) (Azalea indica) – very late into flower but, as with all indicums, flowers are random and not all out at once.

Eurya japonica
Eurya japonica

Eurya japonica – cannot now find the seed pods but never mind.

Rhododendron maddenii
Rhododendron maddenii
Rhododendron maddenii
Rhododendron maddenii

This clump of Rhododendron maddenii still in tight bud so must remember to have a look in July.

Rhododendron leptotrichum
Rhododendron leptotrichum

A late flower on Rhododendron leptotrichum which is often paler on the ancient plants growing in shade below Donkey Shoe.

Two more Cornus kousas:

Cornus kousa ‘WCBCRI’
Cornus kousa ‘WCBCRI’
Cornus kousa ‘WCBCRI’
Cornus kousa ‘WCBCRI’

Cornus kousa ‘WCBCRI’ – that is what it says on the label! This may be a breeder’s number, our cock up or a misspelling of one of the more obscurely named varieties in the US reference book. Nice enough with biggish bracts.

Cornus kousa ‘Rasen’ – in full sun the bracts curl and go pink. In more shade they go pink spotted. Quite an unusual US bred variety. As usual the US reference book is vague.
Cornus kousa ‘Rasen’
Cornus kousa ‘Rasen’
Cornus kousa ‘Rasen’
Cornus kousa ‘Rasen’
Cornus kousa ‘Rasen’
Cornus kousa ‘Rasen’
I think I have nearly had enough of Cornus kousas and conclude that most of the named clones are not that different to the species. Cornus kousa ‘Satomi’ far and away the best. As usual US breeders have named far too many seedlings! Good in the garden but too boring to try to collect a full set.

The pink form of Rhododendron decorum above the Sales Point is the best thing in the garden today and well worth a trip around the garden on its own. The white form nearby is nearly over but others in the garden are not. Clearly several different original collections here and well worth collecting seed. ‘Tinners Blush’ and ‘High Sheriff’ are our decorum crosses and we should do more!

Pink form of Rhododendron decorum
Pink form of Rhododendron decorum
Pink form of Rhododendron decorum
Pink form of Rhododendron decorum

1948 – CW
Rho falconeri only just over also Harrows hybrids and Cornish Loderi over. Tally Ho at its best. Styrax wilsoni coming out. Azaleas mostly over. Still some Mag – Wilsoni and Sinensis. No hay cut here yet. Wall rose at its best.
1899 – JCW
Many Paeonies have only lately started, picked nearly all the daff seed.

One thought on “20th June

  1. Indigofera himachalensis looks quite good, hope it is hardy enough like others. The first picture of Neolitsea is of course Euon. hamiltonianus, as Neolitsea has single leaves, not pinnate, and flowers in axiles, as a Laurus. This Staphylea ‘Black Beauty’ looks good, would make a good contras with white flowers.
    Actinidia delic. is quite late flowering, but even small fruits can ripen. Store them cool til spring after harvest and then put them into a bag with ripe apples for some weeks (and ad sugar for eating, of cours).
    The yellow “day lilies” are Alstroemeria aurantiaca or cultivar.
    Read Rhododendron leptotrichum.
    Greetings

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