13th March

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


2025 – CHW

To Belvoir Castle for another round of planting below the castle itself.

A very fine Prunus cerasifera amid the fog.

Prunus cerasifera
Prunus cerasifera
Prunus cerasifera
Prunus cerasifera
Some of the magnolias planted over 20 years ago are covered in bud.
magnolias planted over 20 years ago
magnolias planted over 20 years ago
Placing out the last of the camellias.
Placing out
Placing out
A camellia x williamsii ‘J. C. Williams’ – one of the 100 planted over 20 years ago and now large impressive shrubs.
camellia x williamsii ‘J. C. Williams’
camellia x williamsii ‘J. C. Williams’
Signs of recent frost but camellias are resilient!
Signs of recent frost
Signs of recent frost

2024 – CHW
During garden tours here people often scatter compliments about complements about concerning plant knowledge. In an idle moment I had a good look at all the genus starting with the letter ‘A’ on Trees & Shrubs Online.

The genuses that I have never heard of before which are listed included:-

Ackama – New Zealand
Adenandra – South Africa
Adenocarpus – Noth Africa
Adinandra – South & East Asia
Anagyris – Mediterranean
Aphananthe – Asia. Australia
Ascyrum – Chile
Atraphaxis – South Europe

Scores more species within some of these genuses as well.

Although Trees and Shrubs have little information on any of these genus (and few pictures) the extent of ones ignorance and the excitement of discovering and growing new plants is what gardening is all about. Others may get excited about collecting in the wild but I would always happily settle for trying to grow their discoveries properly. That has been the history of the garden here, in reality, with the addition of our hybridisation programme.

Last flowers on Magnolia ‘Philip Tregunna’ below the Engine House.

Magnolia ‘Philip Tregunna’
Magnolia ‘Philip Tregunna’
Sadly our best young Persea thunbergii appears to be dying. Rot at ground level.
Persea thunbergii
Persea thunbergii
As we saw last summer rot at the base of our largest surviving Magnolia sprengeri var. diva. Lots more dieback but still one branch with decent flowers. Luckily we have lots of other plants of flowering age.
Magnolia sprengeri var. diva
Magnolia sprengeri var. diva
Magnolia sprengeri var. diva
Magnolia sprengeri var. diva
Magnolia sprengeri var. diva
Magnolia sprengeri var. diva
Magnolia campbellii var. mollicomata ‘Burncoose Tennis Court’ is nearly white. I saw a good plant at Tregothnan recently beside their tree paeony bed.
Magnolia campbellii var. mollicomata ‘Burncoose Tennis Court’
Magnolia campbellii var. mollicomata ‘Burncoose Tennis Court’
Magnolia campbellii var. mollicomata ‘Burncoose Tennis Court’
Magnolia campbellii var. mollicomata ‘Burncoose Tennis Court’
Rhododendron monosematum (AC 5978) with its very hairy new growth below Slip Rail.
Rhododendron monosematum (AC 5978)
Rhododendron monosematum (AC 5978)
Rhododendron monosematum (AC 5978)
Rhododendron monosematum (AC 5978)
Three seedlings of Rhododendron sutchuenense which are much the same starting to flower properly.
Rhododendron sutchuenense
Rhododendron sutchuenense
Great to have a good young clump of Rhododendron calophytum flowering properly. Our best plant once grew near George’s Hut but died 30+ years ago.
Rhododendron calophytum
Rhododendron calophytum
Rhododendron calophytum
Rhododendron calophytum
Acacia verticillata flowering here for the first time since planting.
Acacia verticillata
Acacia verticillata
Camellia x williamsii ‘Les Jury’ is a very fine red variety with a very different shape as the buds open to when they are full out. Strangely we only have young plants of this well known New Zealand bred variety.
Camellia x williamsii ‘Les Jury’
Camellia x williamsii ‘Les Jury’
Camellia x williamsii ‘Les Jury’
Camellia x williamsii ‘Les Jury’
Then on the Isla Rose Plantation.
Another plant of Magnolia ‘Black Swan’ in the Isla Rose.
Magnolia ‘Black Swan’
Magnolia ‘Black Swan’
Magnolia ‘Darkest Purple’ x M. campbellii ‘Betty Jessel’ is good but, yet again, I can find no registered name.
Magnolia ‘Darkest Purple’ x M. campbellii ‘Betty Jessel’
Magnolia ‘Darkest Purple’ x M. campbellii ‘Betty Jessel’
Magnolia ‘Darkest Purple’ x M. campbellii ‘Betty Jessel’
Magnolia ‘Darkest Purple’ x M. campbellii ‘Betty Jessel’
Magnolia ‘Strawberry Shake’ (M. ‘Joe McDaniel’ x M. ‘Purple Gaze’) is getting better and better. A good new addition to the Burncoose offering.
Magnolia ‘Strawberry Shake’
Magnolia ‘Strawberry Shake’
Magnolia ‘Strawberry Shake’
Magnolia ‘Strawberry Shake’
Magnolia ‘Strawberry Shake’
Magnolia ‘Strawberry Shake’
Magnolia ‘Angel’s Landing’ (M. ‘Pickard’s Opal’ x M. sprengeri var. elongata) is starting to make a good impact.
Magnolia ‘Angel’s Landing’
Magnolia ‘Angel’s Landing’
Magnolia ‘Angel’s Landing’
Magnolia ‘Angel’s Landing’
Magnolia ‘Angel’s Landing’
Magnolia ‘Angel’s Landing’
Ribes malvaceum covered in flies and bees. The scent is not that nice but very noticeable. One to propagate for Burncoose.
Ribes malvaceum
Ribes malvaceum
Ribes malvaceum
Ribes malvaceum
Ribes malvaceum
Ribes malvaceum
Ribes malvaceum
Ribes malvaceum
Magnolia ‘Dark Bird’ is not MSI registered and no listing in the Eisenhut book as to its parentage.
Magnolia ‘Dark Bird’
Magnolia ‘Dark Bird’
Magnolia ‘Sentinel’ is a Gresham hybrid. Seen a lot worse!
Magnolia ‘Sentinel’
Magnolia ‘Sentinel’
Magnolia ‘Sentinel’
Magnolia ‘Sentinel’
Magnolia ‘Avocet’ (M. x veitchii ‘Isla’ x M. x soulangeana). The two very different growth habits are already obvious but this is a good variety developing well. Bred by Tim Thornton in 2003.
Magnolia ‘Avocet’ (M. x veitchii ‘Isla’ x M. x soulangeana)
Magnolia ‘Avocet’ (M. x veitchii ‘Isla’ x M. x soulangeana)
Magnolia ‘Avocet’ (M. x veitchii ‘Isla’ x M. x soulangeana)
Magnolia ‘Avocet’ (M. x veitchii ‘Isla’ x M. x soulangeana)
First flowers just showing on Staphylea holocarpa ‘Rosea’.
Staphylea holocarpa ‘Rosea’
Staphylea holocarpa ‘Rosea’

2023 – CHW
A few pictures of the family and guests over the weekend.Baby Zara at breakfast.
Baby Zara at breakfast
Baby Zara at breakfast
Colour coding a new magnolia hybrid above the Old Kennels.
Colour coding a new magnolia hybrid
Colour coding a new magnolia hybrid
Isla and Jaimie beside the new magnolia.
Isla and Jaimie
Isla and Jaimie
Under a seedling Magnolia ‘Lanarth’ in Old Park.
Magnolia ‘Lanarth’
Magnolia ‘Lanarth’
Isla and Beatrice with the new magnolia bud.
Isla and Beatrice
Isla and Beatrice
All 4 grandchildren – Serena & Katie.
All 4 grandchildren – Serena & Katie
All 4 grandchildren – Serena & Katie
Zara stars again at The Vean.
Zara stars again at The Vean
Zara stars again at The Vean
Jaimie and Neil try a martini or two.
Jaimie and Neil try a martini
Jaimie and Neil try a martini
Then to Tregothnan where a heavily pruned young Magnolia campbelli was flowering well as a result of the pruning.
Magnolia campbelli
Magnolia campbelli
Magnolia campbelli
Magnolia campbelli
Osmanthus heterophyllus ‘Sasaba’ as an established small tree in full sun. We grow this in shade above Hovel Cart Road.
Osmanthus heterophyllus ‘Sasaba’
Osmanthus heterophyllus ‘Sasaba’
Osmanthus heterophyllus ‘Sasaba’
Osmanthus heterophyllus ‘Sasaba’
The original 1920(ish) Magnolia campbellii at Tregothnan. 10 years ago this looked elderly and decrepid but much new growth and rejuvenation of late.
The original 1920(ish) Magnolia campbellii at Tregothnan
The original 1920(ish) Magnolia campbellii at Tregothnan
Acer sempervirens (A. creticum) as a large tree with a semi evergreen habit and distinct leaves. Our small tree looks tiny in comparison.
Acer sempervirens
Acer sempervirens
Acer sempervirens
Acer sempervirens
Tregothnan from what was the old garden windbreak now removed.
Tregothnan
Tregothnan
Corylopsis pauciflora – a startlingly good plant.
Corylopsis pauciflora
Corylopsis pauciflora
Corylopsis pauciflora
Corylopsis pauciflora

2022 – CHW

The Gardening Weekend moves on to Trewithen.

The Magnolia mollicomata on the main lawn was at its absolute best.

Magnolia mollicomata
Magnolia mollicomata
Magnolia mollicomata
Magnolia mollicomata
Magnolia mollicomata
Magnolia mollicomata
Magnolia mollicomata
Magnolia mollicomata
The group do the admiring!
The group
The group
The group
The group
Magnolia foveolata (WWJ 11955) sadly with no flowers but 15-20ft tall.
Magnolia foveolata
Magnolia foveolata
Magnolia foveolata
Magnolia foveolata
Magnolia foveolata
Magnolia foveolata
Laureliopsis philippiana in all its trailing glory (not Laurelia sempervirens which is similar but without the trailing branches).
Laureliopsis philippiana
Laureliopsis philippiana
Laureliopsis philippiana
Laureliopsis philippiana
Trewithen’s Magnolia ‘Lanarth’ seedling.
Magnolia ‘Lanarth’ seedling
Magnolia ‘Lanarth’ seedling
Magnolia ‘Lanarth’ seedling
Magnolia ‘Lanarth’ seedling
Outstanding bark on Clethra barbinervis.
Clethra barbinervis
Clethra barbinervis
Camellia japonica ‘Senator Fletcher’
Camellia japonica ‘Senator Fletcher’
Camellia japonica ‘Senator Fletcher’
Ilex koehniana – a very upright habit.
Ilex koehniana
Ilex koehniana
Ilex koehniana
Ilex koehniana
Magnolia maudii – very different to the Tregrehan plants.
Magnolia maudii
Magnolia maudii
Schefflera macrophylla at about 10-12ft in height.
Schefflera macrophylla
Schefflera macrophylla
The new sculpture at the southern edge of the garden made from old metal parkland fencing posts. Odd but each to his own!
sculpture
sculpture

2021 – CHW
Picked up the replacement Quercus engleriana yesterday from the nursery. As a grafted plant it will need at least two years growing on before being large enough to plant out.
Quercus engleriana
Quercus engleriana
The original Magnolia ‘Caerhays Belle’ has, thankfully, escaped the frost reasonably well particularly lower down.
Magnolia ‘Caerhays Belle’
Magnolia ‘Caerhays Belle’
Magnolia ‘Caerhays Belle’
Magnolia ‘Caerhays Belle’
First flowers on Magnolia x loebneri ‘Leonard Messel’ outside the back yard.
Magnolia x loebneri ‘Leonard Messel’
Magnolia x loebneri ‘Leonard Messel’
The beech tree trunk nearly finished despite brief very heavy showers with a bit of hail.
beech tree trunk
beech tree trunk
A tree damaged Camellia x williamsii ‘Donation’ pruned up to reshoot in a more even manner.
Camellia x williamsii ‘Donation’
Camellia x williamsii ‘Donation’
Magnolia ‘Caerhays Belle’ and Forsythia x intermedia ‘Lynwood’ out together – yellow and pink!
Magnolia ‘Caerhays Belle’ and Forsythia x intermedia ‘Lynwood’
Magnolia ‘Caerhays Belle’ and Forsythia x intermedia ‘Lynwood’
Forsythia x intermedia ‘Lynwood’ looking splendid.
Forsythia x intermedia ‘Lynwood’
Forsythia x intermedia ‘Lynwood’
Forsythia x intermedia ‘Lynwood’
Forsythia x intermedia ‘Lynwood’
Rubus tricolor looking good with Erica arborea.
Rubus tricolor looking good with Erica arborea
Rubus tricolor looking good with Erica arborea
Unfrosted Echium pininana and Forsythia x intermedia ‘Lynwood’ make an unusual combination in early March!
Echium pininana and Forsythia x intermedia ‘Lynwood’
Echium pininana and Forsythia x intermedia ‘Lynwood’
Erica arborea showing a little frost damage and Magnolia ‘Caerhays Belle’ with flowers just opening.
Erica arborea showing a little frost damage and Magnolia ‘Caerhays Belle’
Erica arborea showing a little frost damage and Magnolia ‘Caerhays Belle’
A branch blown out and on the ground from the original 1913 planted Magnolia campbellii.
Magnolia campbellii
Magnolia campbellii
Magnolia campbellii ‘Darjeeling’ and Magnolia ‘Caerhays Belle’ make a wonderful colour contrast.
Magnolia campbellii ‘Darjeeling’ and Magnolia ‘Caerhays Belle’
Magnolia campbellii ‘Darjeeling’ and Magnolia ‘Caerhays Belle’
Corylopsis spicata and Rhododendron ‘Cornish Red’.
Corylopsis spicata and Rhododendron ‘Cornish Red’
Corylopsis spicata and Rhododendron ‘Cornish Red’
Corylopsis spicata and Camellia x williamsii ‘Brigadoon’.
Corylopsis spicata and Camellia x williamsii ‘Brigadoon’
Corylopsis spicata and Camellia x williamsii ‘Brigadoon’
Magnolia ‘Philip Tregunna’ in the distance. The best magnolia today in the garden by far. Stupendous!
Magnolia ‘Philip Tregunna’
Magnolia ‘Philip Tregunna’
Lizzie retrieves the windblown branch of Magnolia campbellii to sit on the slate slab outside the front door. It is too big for a vase.
Magnolia campbellii
Magnolia campbellii
This afternoon spent showing Duchy and Prince Charles’ favourite forester around the magnolias here. The government wants tree planting, but UK nurseries are sold out in the pandemic and tree planting without control of squirrels and deer is a waste of time and money. A proper strategy and acceptance of practical reality beyond ‘woke’ and BLM demands / social media dreams is still light years away.