18th 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

2024 – CHW

Lots of new plants in flower today at Burncoose which we have not stocked before.

Prunus nipponica var. kurilensis ‘Brilliant’ looking excellent in the nursery.

Prunus nipponica var. kurilensis ‘Brilliant’
Prunus nipponica var. kurilensis ‘Brilliant’
Mahonia x wagneri ‘Fireflame’ is new to the catalogue this year.
Mahonia x wagneri ‘Fireflame’
Mahonia x wagneri ‘Fireflame’
Mahonia x wagneri ‘Fireflame’
Mahonia x wagneri ‘Fireflame’
Pieris japonica ‘Bonfire’ just has a slight hint of pink in its buds but I assume the name refers to the very red new growth.
Pieris japonica ‘Bonfire’
Pieris japonica ‘Bonfire’
Grevillea ‘Fireworks’ – new and impressive. I have not seen this in flower before.
Grevillea ‘Fireworks’
Grevillea ‘Fireworks’
Grevillea ‘Fireworks’
Grevillea ‘Fireworks’
Cornus officinalis in flower in a pot which is unusual.
Cornus officinalis
Cornus officinalis
Acanthus mollis ‘Rue Ledan’ looks a dwarfer grower.
Acanthus mollis ‘Rue Ledan’
Acanthus mollis ‘Rue Ledan’
Clematis macropetala ‘Wesselton’ is an attractive blue.
Clematis macropetala ‘Wesselton’
Clematis macropetala ‘Wesselton’
Not quite out yet but an interesting colour is Clematis macropetala ‘Purple Spider’.
Clematis macropetala ‘Purple Spider’
Clematis macropetala ‘Purple Spider’
Magnolia ‘Pink Pyramid’ – first flowering in the nursery.
Magnolia ‘Pink Pyramid’
Magnolia ‘Pink Pyramid’
Magnolia ‘Purple Globe’.
Magnolia ‘Purple Globe’
Magnolia ‘Purple Globe’
Magnolia denudata ‘Purpurascens’.
Magnolia denudata ‘Purpurascens’
Magnolia denudata ‘Purpurascens’
Hydrangea obtusifolia (also known as Decumaria sinensis) in full flower with a rather odd and unpleasant scent.
Hydrangea obtusifolia
Hydrangea obtusifolia
Hydrangea obtusifolia
Hydrangea obtusifolia
Camellia cuttings callous up in peat free compost on the mist bench but most of the cuttings have failed or are dying as you can see here. Further proof that peat free and camellias is a non-starter!
Camellia cuttings callous up in peat free compost
Camellia cuttings callous up in peat free compost
Camellia cuttings callous up in peat free compost
Camellia cuttings callous up in peat free compost
Camellia cuttings callous up in peat free compost
Camellia cuttings callous up in peat free compost
A peat based compost ensures good rooting! Many thousands here.
Camellia cuttings callous up in peat free compost
Camellia cuttings callous up in peat free compost
Magnolia ‘Venus’ showing the mottling on the inside of the tepals which is so impressive.
Magnolia ‘Venus’
Magnolia ‘Venus’
Eucalyptus gunnii ‘Azura’ was new to the catalogue last year.
Eucalyptus gunnii ‘Azura’
Eucalyptus gunnii ‘Azura’
Eucalyptus pulverulenta ‘Baby Blue’.
Eucalyptus pulverulenta ‘Baby Blue’
Eucalyptus pulverulenta ‘Baby Blue’
Still berries on Ilex aquifolium ‘Argentea Marginata’ which is unusual for mid-March.
Ilex aquifolium ‘Argentea Marginata’
Ilex aquifolium ‘Argentea Marginata’
Lonicera kamtschatica in full flower and dripping in rain.
Lonicera kamtschatica
Lonicera kamtschatica

2023 – CHW
Unfortunately I was in bed with a lurgy but Jaimie and the team won 4 separate trophies at the Rosemoor Camellia Show over the weekend. We cut earlier in the week anticipating the wet and windy weather at the end of the week.Spring ornamental plants competitionAny three trees or shrubs of different genera in bloom
Acacia longifolia, Stachyurus lancifolia & Corylopsis spicata – 2nd
Acacia longifolia
Acacia longifolia
A tree or shrub in bloom
Prunus campanulatus ‘Felix Jury’ – 1st

Prunus campanulatus ‘Felix Jury’ – 1st
Prunus campanulatus ‘Felix Jury’ – 1st
Oemleria cerassiformis – 2nd
Oemleria cerassiformis – 2nd
Oemleria cerassiformis – 2nd

Any evergreen shrub
Araucaria angustifolia – 1st and the Alun Edwards memorial cup for best exhibit

Araucaria angustifolia – 1st
Araucaria angustifolia – 1st

Early Rhododendron competition

Any three species one truss of each
R. grande, arboreum & macabeanum – 2nd
Any species one truss
R. arboreum – 2nd

Any species one spray
R. moulmainense – 1st
R. arboreum – 2nd

Any species of falconera or grandia one truss
R. macabeanum – 2nd

Any species of triflora one spray
R. siderophyllum

Any hybrid one truss
R. Unknown – 2nd

Any tender species or hybrid one spray
R. ‘Maisie’ – 1st

Early Magnolia competition

Three different species, hybrids or cultivars in three vases
M. ‘Caerhays Belle’, M. ‘Philip Tregunna’ & M. ‘Lanarth’ (Seedling) – 1st and The Lamellen Cup for best exhibit

M. ‘Caerhays Belle’, M. ‘Philip Tregunna’ & M. ‘Lanarth’ (Seedling) – 1st
M. ‘Caerhays Belle’, M. ‘Philip Tregunna’ & M. ‘Lanarth’ (Seedling) – 1st

One species, hybrid or cultivar one vase
M. ‘Philip Tregunna’ – 1st
M. campbellii ‘Alba’ (Seedling) – 2nd

M. campbellii ‘Alba’ (Seedling) – 2nd
M. campbellii ‘Alba’ (Seedling) – 2nd

M. ‘Fairy White’

Single bloom any species, hybrid or cultivar
M. ‘Felix Jury’ – 1st and the Brother Vincent cup for best single bloom

M. ‘Felix Jury’ – 1st
M. ‘Felix Jury’ – 1st
M. ‘Valentines Torch’Three different Blooms
M. ‘Lanarth (New Zealand form), ‘Bishop peter’ & ‘Felix Jury’ – 1st
M. ‘Lanarth (New Zealand form), ‘Bishop peter’ & ‘Felix Jury’ – 1st
M. ‘Lanarth (New Zealand form), ‘Bishop peter’ & ‘Felix Jury’ – 1st
M. ‘Valentines Torch’, ‘Wakehurst’ & ‘Darjeeling’Single spray of Kobus, stellate or x loebneri species or hybrid
M ‘Wildcat’ – 1stCamellia competition
An arrangement of Camellias shown for effect – 1st
Camellia x williamsii ‘Caerhays’
Camellia x williamsii ‘Caerhays’

Any anemone or peony cultivar of Japonica one bloom
C. ‘Mark Allen’ – 3rd

Any three Reticulata species or hybrids one bloom of each
C. ‘William Hertrich’, ‘Lila Naff’ & ‘Royalty’ – 1st

C. ‘William Hertrich’, ‘Lila Naff’ & ‘Royalty’ – 1st
C. ‘William Hertrich’, ‘Lila Naff’ & ‘Royalty’ – 1st

Any Miniature one bloom
C. Lipstick – 1st

Any Reticulata species or hybrid one bloom
C. ‘Royalty’ – 1st & The Rosemoor award for best exhibit in Camellia classes

Three blooms of the same cultivar
C. ‘Dona Herzilia de Freitas Margalhaes’ – Highly Commended

Royal Horticultural First Class Certificates (FCC) were awarded to Magnolia ‘F.J. Williams’ and Camellia x williamsii ‘Caerhays’.

Royal Horticultural First Class Certificates (FCC) were awarded to Magnolia ‘F.J. Williams’
Royal Horticultural First Class Certificates (FCC) were awarded to Magnolia ‘F.J. Williams’

Our other entries of camellias and Rhododendron ‘Maisie’ (AM) for awards did not receive any further commendation.

Our other entries & R. 'Maisie'
Our other entries & R. ‘Maisie’

2022 – CHW

Camellia japonica ‘Kerguelen’ with its variegated foliage looking better than usual after winter. Only small flowers.

Camellia japonica ‘Kerguelen’
Camellia japonica ‘Kerguelen’
Camellia japonica ‘Kerguelen’
Camellia japonica ‘Kerguelen’
Camellia reticulata ‘Miss Tulare’ with even more enormous flowers than usual.
Camellia reticulata ‘Miss Tulare’
Camellia reticulata ‘Miss Tulare’
The yellow flowered Michelia floribunda (as we call it) out high up at about 60ft.
Michelia floribunda
Michelia floribunda
Camellia ‘Gay Baby’ just out.
Camellia ‘Gay Baby’
Camellia ‘Gay Baby’
Camellia ‘Gay Baby’
Camellia ‘Gay Baby’
Magnolia ‘Joe McDaniel’ flowering as well as I have ever seen it above the Crinodendron Hedge.
Magnolia ‘Joe McDaniel’
Magnolia ‘Joe McDaniel’
The unnamed deciduous azalea on the drive which is always out in February to March. Also one at Burncoose. No one has ever been able to name this.
unnamed deciduous azalea
unnamed deciduous azalea
Michelia floribunda
Michelia floribunda
Magnolia ‘Apollo’ out already. Normally April and one of the last New Zealand bred magnolias to flower.
Magnolia ‘Apollo’
Magnolia ‘Apollo’
Magnolia ‘Margaret Helen’ just coming out on the drive. The one on Hovel Cart Road is already nearly over.
Magnolia ‘Margaret Helen’
Magnolia ‘Margaret Helen’
Magnolia ‘Margaret Helen’
Magnolia ‘Margaret Helen’
First leaves showing on a sycamore by the drive fernery that I have seen this year.
sycamore
sycamore

2021 – CHW
Everything is rushing on in the warmth and sun. A day makes a huge difference as to what has popped open and if you do not explore daily you will miss many good things.Two 30-year-old plants of what I think are very probably Rhododendron monstroseanum. One is much darker than the other but, as you can see, the flowers fade.
Rhododendron monstroseanum
Rhododendron monstroseanum
Rhododendron monstroseanum
Rhododendron monstroseanum
Rhododendron monstroseanum
Rhododendron monstroseanum
A 20-25ft tall and upright growing Camellia reticulata ‘Buddha’ with blue sky behind it.
Camellia reticulata ‘Buddha’
Camellia reticulata ‘Buddha’
A very dark and much pinker form of Rhododendron ‘Crossbill’. Very good and worth propagating just above the Umbellularia californica and lying on its side as a plant (Asia to note please for propagation).
Rhododendron ‘Crossbill’
Rhododendron ‘Crossbill’
Rhododendron ‘Crossbill’
Rhododendron ‘Crossbill’
Got the light right to photograph Magnolia ‘Bishop Michael’ together with Magnolia campbellii alba in Rogers Quarry. Normally the bishop is over before alba is showing.
Magnolia ‘Bishop Michael’ together with Magnolia campbellii alba
Magnolia ‘Bishop Michael’ together with Magnolia campbellii alba
Magnolia ‘Hawk’ out on Burns Bank. Quite similar to Magnolia sprengeri diva really.
Magnolia ‘Hawk’
Magnolia ‘Hawk’
Magnolia ‘Hawk’
Magnolia ‘Hawk’
The best magnolia by far today is the just open Magnolia ‘Felix Jury’ on Burns Bank. We have two other plants, but this is the most sheltered.
Magnolia ‘Felix Jury’
Magnolia ‘Felix Jury’
Magnolia ‘Felix Jury’
Magnolia ‘Felix Jury’
Magnolia ‘Felix Jury’
Magnolia ‘Felix Jury’
Magnolia ‘Felix Jury’
Magnolia ‘Felix Jury’
Acacia cultriformis is now nearly full out.
Acacia cultriformis
Acacia cultriformis
Magnolias behind the castle today!
Magnolias
Magnolias
Magnolias
Magnolias
Camellia ‘Emperor of Russia’ with odd white flecking in some flowers. A very old variety but none the worse for that and late flowering.
Camellia ‘Emperor of Russia’
Camellia ‘Emperor of Russia’
Camellia ‘Emperor of Russia’
Camellia ‘Emperor of Russia’
Placing out the large rhododendrons from Rookery Nursery into their final planting positions. The huge root balls are carried by two people in an old sheet to avoid damaging the root balls. A job you can only do when the ground is fairly dry, and we normally do not find time to do this job until April. COVID has meant that these plants are in the ground a month earlier with more chance of rooting out quickly in case we get a dry time in May or June.
Placing out the large rhododendrons
Placing out the large rhododendrons
Placing out the large rhododendrons
Placing out the large rhododendrons
Placing out the large rhododendrons
Placing out the large rhododendrons
A Magnolia sargentiana ‘Blood Moon’ with a single flower. Nice enough but not as good or different as some argue.
Magnolia sargentiana ‘Blood Moon’
Magnolia sargentiana ‘Blood Moon’
Camellia reticulata ‘Debut’, a new one to us.
Camellia reticulata ‘Debut’
Camellia reticulata ‘Debut’
Camellia ‘Sweet Jane’ is really rather splendid. Another new variety from Stervinou.
Camellia ‘Sweet Jane’
Camellia ‘Sweet Jane’
Camellia ‘Sweet Jane’
Camellia ‘Sweet Jane’
Camellia ‘Sweet Jane’
Camellia ‘Sweet Jane’

2020 – CHW
Another cry off from the forthcoming gardening weekend by Maurice Foster who sends me three pictures from his garden in Kent. Magnolia sargentiana robusta (Caerhays Dark Form), Magnolia ‘Philip Tregunna’ and Magnolia campbellii ‘Trelissick Alba’.
Magnolia campbellii ‘Trelissick Alba’
Magnolia campbellii ‘Trelissick Alba’
Magnolia sargentiana robusta (Caerhays Dark Form),
Magnolia sargentiana robusta (Caerhays Dark Form),
Magnolia ‘Philip Tregunna’
Magnolia ‘Philip Tregunna’

Off to Old Park with the cancellation of yet another large garden tour from Hortus. We have planted at least 200 named magnolias in this wood since clearing it some eight years ago.

Magnolia ‘Theodora’ just coming out. This is one of Maurice Foster’s hybrids – Magnolia ‘Dark Shadow’ x Magnolia campbellii subsp. mollicomata. There is white on the inside of the tepals when open.

Magnolia ‘Theodora’
Magnolia ‘Theodora’
Magnolia ‘Felicity’ on ‘Eric Savill’ looks poor, dull and uninteresting. M. ‘Felicity’ is Magnolia sprengeri ‘Diva’ x Magnolia ‘Wada’s Picture’ and ‘Eric Savill’ is the Savill Garden form of M. sprengeri. ‘Felicity’ and ‘Eric Savill’ look good magnolias but this mix is not!
Magnolia ‘Felicity’ on ‘Eric Savill’
Magnolia ‘Felicity’ on ‘Eric Savill’
Michelia ‘Fairy White’ continues to grow quickly and is producing a good show as before. ‘Fairy Cream’, which is beside it, is only half the size and nowhere near out yet.
Michelia ‘Fairy White’
Michelia ‘Fairy White’
Michelia ‘Fairy White’
Michelia ‘Fairy White’
Michelia ‘Fairy White’
Michelia ‘Fairy White’
Magnolia ‘Early Rose’ is a Magnolia campbellii x Magnolia liliiflora cross bred in New Zealand by Oz Blumhardt in 1970. It is well established and starting to put on a decent show. The name is not really that appropriate 50 years later.
Magnolia 'Early Rose'
Magnolia ‘Early Rose’
Magnolia 'Early Rose'
Magnolia ‘Early Rose’
Magnolia ‘Anticipation’ is a near pure white with slightly recurved flowers. Not that exciting but making a show despite hail damage. It is an American bred plant with the cross with Magnolia cylindrica being unknown. Not a lot of difference between ‘Angelica’ or ‘Pegasus’ really.
Magnolia ‘Anticipation’
Magnolia ‘Anticipation’
Magnolia ‘Anticipation’
Magnolia ‘Anticipation’
Magnolia ‘Livingstone’ is good. Oddly Jaimie bought a small grafted plant of this at Rosemoor on Saturday. Magnolia sprengeri ‘Diva’ x Magnolia ‘Vulcan’.
Magnolia ‘Livingstone’
Magnolia ‘Livingstone’
Magnolia ‘Livingstone’
Magnolia ‘Livingstone’
One of the two original and pure white Magnolia campbellii ‘Alba’ in Old Park looking splendid from a distance today.
Magnolia campbellii ‘Alba’
Magnolia campbellii ‘Alba’
Magnolia ‘Lotus’ is yet another ‘white’. Not as good as ‘David Clulow’ or ‘Manchu Fan’ I think. This is a New Zealander as well – Magnolia ‘Mark Jury’ x Magnolia x soulangeana ‘Lennei Alba’ – and the same parentage as several of these named ‘whites’.
Magnolia ‘Lotus’
Magnolia ‘Lotus’
Magnolia ‘Lotus’
Magnolia ‘Lotus’
First sycamore with full leaf this year.
sycamore
sycamore

Cutting back the Magnolia grandiflora below the lawn has taken the team less than two days. All chipped and blown back onto the roots as a rich mulch for the future.

Magnolia grandiflora
Magnolia grandiflora
Magnolia grandiflora
Magnolia grandiflora

2019 – CHW

Much excitement over the weekend. A huge sweet chestnut tree fell at the nursery entrance and it took two days to clear.

sweet chestnut tree
sweet chestnut tree
sweet chestnut tree
sweet chestnut tree
Meanwhile three cups at the Rosemoor Show and an RHS Award of Merit for Jaimie’s Rhododendron ‘Maisie’. Click here for more Rosemoor images.
Rosemoor Show
Rosemoor Show
Magnolia ‘Petite Chicon’ just showing colour in Old Park. We have another older plant which is actually white in flower. This is the correct thing and very vigorous indeed in its growth rates.
Magnolia ‘Petite Chicon’
Magnolia ‘Petite Chicon’
Magnolia ‘Petite Chicon’
Magnolia ‘Petite Chicon’
Camellia x williamsii ‘Laura Boscawen’ as a hedge in the estate office car park at Tregothnan. This was bred by David Trehane and is similar to ‘Debbie’ but rather darker.
Camellia x williamsii ‘Laura Boscawen’
Camellia x williamsii ‘Laura Boscawen’
Camellia x williamsii ‘Laura Boscawen’
Camellia x williamsii ‘Laura Boscawen’
Magnolia ‘Apollo’ looking very fine at Tregothnan.
Magnolia ‘Apollo’
Magnolia ‘Apollo’
Magnolia ‘Apollo’
Magnolia ‘Apollo’
Wonderful new growth on Eriobotrya deflexa.
Eriobotrya deflexa
Eriobotrya deflexa
‘Flowers’ which are merely separate clusters of anthers and stamens on Cercidophyllum japonicum.
Cercidophyllum japonicum
Cercidophyllum japonicum

2018 – CHW
More garden touring with Roy Lancaster (6 ½ hours over 2 days) as we try to keep ahead of the snow. Sunshine and 500+ people in the gardens until 1.00.An ancient Gaultheria – perhaps G hookeri is spotted by Roy. A Wilson introduction in 1907. Perhaps G. tetramera?
perhaps G hookeri
perhaps G hookeri
perhaps G hookeri
perhaps G hookeri
Cephalotaxus fortunei – a male form with copious flowers already exuding clouds of pollen.
Cephalotaxus fortunei
Cephalotaxus fortunei
A female plant of Cephalotaxus fortunei with just a few flowers (some open) at the tips of the twigs. So we have 3 young make plants in the Kennel Close and only one female.
Cephalotaxus fortunei
Cephalotaxus fortunei
A bay hedge (Laurus nobilis) blasted to bits in Kennel Close by the east wind.
bay hedge
bay hedge
bay hedge
bay hedge
Abies delavayi with sappy white new growth shoots.
Abies delavayi
Abies delavayi
Abies delavayi
Abies delavayi
Sorbus aff. ligustrifolium flowering for the first time with us. Roy has seen this in China. Pale yellowish flowers.
Sarbus aff. ligustrifolium
Sarbus aff. ligustrifolium
Sorbus aff. ligustrifolium
Sorbus aff. ligustrifolium
Photinia macrophylla with a few fruits still holding on the tree which should be evergreen but which has lost its leaves in the wind.
Photinia macrophylla
Photinia macrophylla
Roy with what I thought was a Gardenia. He says it’s a Photinia!
Roy with what I thought was a Gardenia
Roy with what I thought was a Gardenia
Photinia prionophylla (VK record tree) which might in fact be Photinia glomerata (the latter not often known in UK cultivation). Roy is adamant it’s the former and grows it at home.
Photinia prionophylla
Photinia prionophylla
Photinia prionophylla
Photinia prionophylla
Euonymus morrismernsis with new growth and white scales on its older leaves.
Euonymus morrismernsis
Euonymus morrismernsis
Euonymus morrismernsis
Euonymus morrismernsis
Rhododendron praestans just coming out.
Rhododendron praestans
Rhododendron praestans
Then the snow came down for 3 hours. Camellia ‘Lady Clare’ and Camellia ‘sodekashuki’ have flowers amid the snow! Roy is now happily stuck in the Wilson and Forrest archives making copious notes. The snow has some positive points.

2017 – CHW Magnolia breeding at Caerhays lecture and the table all set up for action. Then a tour with the 21 attendees.

Magnolia breeding at Caerhays lecture
Magnolia breeding at Caerhays lecture
Magnolia breeding at Caerhays lecture
Magnolia breeding at Caerhays lecture
Castanopsis concolor with its first chestnut like seedpods appearing on a young tree.
Castanopsis concolor
Castanopsis concolor
Magnolia ‘Lanarth Surprise’ sadly just over and on an overcast day.
Magnolia ‘Lanarth Surprise’
Magnolia ‘Lanarth Surprise’
Magnolia ‘Genie’ just out and particularly fine.
Magnolia ‘Genie’
Magnolia ‘Genie’
Magnolia ‘Genie’
Magnolia ‘Genie’
Magnolia ‘Black Tulip’ (again) as a contrast. ‘Genie’ wins again in my opinion.
Magnolia ‘Black Tulip’
Magnolia ‘Black Tulip’
Magnolia ‘Black Tulip’
Magnolia ‘Black Tulip’
Camellia ‘Alpen Light’ – first flowering after planting last year. Aptly named.
Camellia ‘Alpen Light’
Camellia ‘Alpen Light’
Rhododendron fargesii full out in the quarry.
Rhododendron fargesii
Rhododendron fargesii

Then off to Tregrehan.First sighting of Euptelia pleiosperma in flower. Amazing rare new introduction. Flowers a little like an Acer negundo. Our plants go out next week.

Euptelia pleiosperma
Euptelia pleiosperma
Euptelia pleiosperma
Euptelia pleiosperma
Illicium simonsii – one of many at Tregrehan with very different habits. This one especially good by the tennis court with the flowers standing proud rather than hidden by the leaves.
Illicium simonsii
Illicium simonsii
Illicium simonsii
Illicium simonsii
Illicium simonsii
Illicium simonsii
Sarcocca wallichii with fruit very late on.
Sarcocca wallichii
Sarcocca wallichii
Maesa ? in flower. Very rare with a leaf like ehrethia – very tender.
Maesa
Maesa
Polyspora established as a tree which ours are not yet.
Polyspora
Polyspora
Schefflera taiwanense – nice bark.
Schefflera taiwanense
Schefflera taiwanense
Schefflera taiwanense
Schefflera taiwanense
Arbutus xalapensis with extraordinary bark. Entirely new species to me.
Arbutus xalapensis
Arbutus xalapensis
Arbutus xalapensis
Arbutus xalapensis
Arbutus xalapensis
Arbutus xalapensis
Rhododendron barbatum – a true form as the barbs prove although the flower colour was varied.
Rhododendron barbatum
Rhododendron barbatum
Rhododendron barbatum
Rhododendron barbatum
Rhododendron barbatum
Rhododendron barbatum
Acer sikkimensis in flower just beside the melliodendron which was out at the top.
Acer sikkimensis
Acer sikkimensis
Rhododendron davidii – new to me and a delicious pale colour.
Rhododendron davidii
Rhododendron davidii
Rhododendron davidii
Rhododendron davidii
Rhododendron davidii
Rhododendron davidii
Rhododendron davidii
Rhododendron davidii
Camellia ‘Mrs D W Davis’ with huge undamaged flowers.
Camellia ‘Mrs D W Davis’
Camellia ‘Mrs D W Davis’
Camellia ‘Mrs D W Davis’
Camellia ‘Mrs D W Davis’

Our gardening weekend and the first of two tours here during the day. Present were:

  • Roger & Teresa Harvey
  • Rod & Mary White
  • Toby & Jennifer Greenbury
  • Mark & Justina McKeever
  • Susyn Andrews & Brian Schrire
  • Stephanie Harrod & Mike
  • Tom Hudson
  • Sir Richard & Mary Carew-Pole
  • Ludovic & Natalie de Montille
  • Humphrey & Miranda Ocean

Overcast but none of the forecast heavy rain. Magnolias probably a week past their absolute best except on the drive which is always later by seven to ten days.

Jaimie discovered a thrush’s nest with three eggs in laurel in the rookery last Friday.

thrush’s nest
thrush’s nest
The best new magnolia seen this year is Magnolia ‘Black Tulip’ x ‘J C Williams’. Superb as you can see on the Hovel Cart Road bank.
Magnolia ‘Black Tulip’ x ‘J C Williams’
Magnolia ‘Black Tulip’ x ‘J C Williams’
Meliosma beaniana just coming into flower.
Meliosma beaniana
Meliosma beaniana
An unknown symplocos species for Susyn Andrews to identify for us.
unknown symplocos species
unknown symplocos species
Rhododendron ‘Crossbill’ full out.
Rhododendron ‘Crossbill’
Rhododendron ‘Crossbill’
Rhododendron ‘Crossbill’
Rhododendron ‘Crossbill’

2016 – CHW
An escape for an hour after a long hour of missing website pictures with Karol.At the end of Bond Street are two good Betula albosinensis ‘Bowling Green’. This is a graft from the original at Werrington on the bowling green which also features on the front cover of the latest edition of Hillier’s. There is a third in Penvergate. I bought these from Thornhayes nursery 20 to 25 years ago and gave two to Mike for Werrington. The tree was a numbered Wilson introduction I believe (W4109-1910). Amazing bark.
Betula albosinensis ‘Bowling Green’
Betula albosinensis ‘Bowling Green’
A few magnolias stand out in Old Park viewed from the drive with ewes and lambs in White Styles field below.
magnolias stand out in Old Park
magnolias stand out in Old Park
Magnolia ‘Rouged Alabaster’ is quite nice close up in a cold place but flowering well and has missed the north winds last week. In my mind I thought it was Magnolia ‘Sayonara’ which is similar.
Magnolia ‘Rouged Alabaster’
Magnolia ‘Rouged Alabaster’
A rogue Rhododendron ponticum seedling is full out above the main fernery. Clearly one we and Defra missed a few years ago and one for the chop when we remember. Very early none the less – say eight to ten weeks!
Rhododendron ponticum
Rhododendron ponticum
This is labelled Pseudotaxus chenii but it looks more like a podocarpus to me and it is nothing like the three small plants of this name in the greenhouse? Perhaps it is a pseudotsuga?
Pseudotaxus chenii
Pseudotaxus chenii
Pseudotaxus chenii
Pseudotaxus chenii
I have not ever seen cones of Sciadopitys verticellata on the old plant at Burncoose but here, on Sinogrande Walk, we have a 2008 small tree doing exactly that in a hot, dry and exposed location. One from last year and more developing. At Burncoose the tree grows in full shade which it likes.
Sciadopitys verticellata
Sciadopitys verticellata
Sciadopitys verticellata
Sciadopitys verticellata
Liquidamber styraciflua ‘Oconee’ still has the odd leaf left. You can now see what an odd habit this tree has after last autumn’s explosion of colour in a ‘ball’.
Liquidamber styraciflua ‘Oconee’
Liquidamber styraciflua ‘Oconee’
Four newish camellias planted in 2008 on Sinogrande Walk which I had forgotten about but which are new to us and well worth propagating this summer:

 

Camellia ‘Candy Apple’
Camellia ‘Candy Apple’
Camellia ‘Annie Waylam’ is a good paeony form and better than many. No idea who she was.
Camellia ‘Annie Waylam’
Camellia ‘Annie Waylam’
Camellia ‘Annie Waylam’
Camellia ‘Annie Waylam’
Camellia ‘Midnight Magic’ is known and deservedly in the Burncoose catalogue. Slightly sparse flowerer here but a good dark red.
Camellia ‘Midnight Magic’
Camellia ‘Midnight Magic’
Camellia ‘Sundae’ has an odd trailing habit and fades off to pink but is sufficiently unusual to be worth growing. I thought it was Camellia ‘Bokukan’ from a distance but it is a much larger flower and a different colour.
Camellia ‘Sundae’
Camellia ‘Sundae’
Camellia ‘Sundae’
Camellia ‘Sundae’
It is too cold a spot for Camellia ‘Spring Festival’ which is suffering and there are no flowers on Camellia ‘William Bartlett’ which were also planted here at the same time.

2015 – CHW
One of the most magical hours this evening in the garden one could ever imagine with Magnolia campbellii just about to go over but catching the fading sun on its topmost flowers 80 feet up. Everything else absolutely spot on. Hopefully it will stay calm and mild until Serena’s wedding on Saturday. Cutting flowers tomorrow with magnolias aplenty.

Most of the rhododendrons from Higher Quarry Nursery (50 to 60) planted in Old Park today and looking good. The main planting of the wild collected species from Orchid House Nursery will have now to wait until after the wedding. Room for several hundred plants yet.

MAGNOLIA Lanarth seedling
MAGNOLIA ‘Lanarth’ seedling

The Magnolia ‘Lanarth’ seedling near Rookery Gate is coming out and (as previously said) needs a name. Jaimie assures me he planted it and not Philip in 1995. Apparently Philip bollocked us both 20 years ago for planting it where the flowers would ‘always’ be blown away. The flowers are very much intact today but slightly smaller than Bishop Michael in the quarry and not quite as frilly (ie more erect) or quite as dark but it is still an exceptional plant by anyone’s estimation.

What clots we have all been not to wander further when on planting days.

perfect large rhododendron area
Area perfect for planting Rhododendrons.

There is a perfect large rhododendron planting area where we ripped out the laurel out above Mr Rogers Quarry. Good job Jaimie did not take quite everything from Higher Quarry Nursery to Old Park. Sort this tomorrow first thing.

Two male weirdos in the garden (first for the year) who claimed to have come all the way from Australia. Two chuck-outs after closing time after entering from not the proper entrances. Fired a few shots (at crows) plus a dozen dogs with ours and Jaimie’s in the garden may have seen them off by 6pm.

Three coaches due for two tours today but one of the three drivers in convoy refuses to turn in at Gorran High Lanes claiming our lanes are too narrow and takes the party shopping in Truro instead. New bus, idiot driver and imbecile passengers to put up with this but three incumbents get off and are rescued by Mary from the roadside and so come anyway. 21 do not. Four staff and house guide waste a good hour and a half over this bus driver pantomime so they (the very latecomers who did arrive) get a bloody quick lunch and tour. The perils of our narrow lanes despite spending at least £15k ourselves sorting Rescassa corner for much larger buses than those we had today. The driver of the bus who braved the lanes might have used the word ‘tosser’ about his colleague who would not but we absolutely cannot have any Jeremy Clarkson behaviour can we! It would have made my (lengthy and hectic) day to have met the shopping driver.

2001 – FJW
Early Magnolias at their best – wrecked by east wind 2 days back.

1979 – FJW
No Magnolias in flower. No leaf on Michelias or L pachyphylla. -75% leaf off Auklandii, Sinogrande, Gigantium.

1965 – FJW
Great frog activity in the moors.

1959 – FJW
Went to Lanarth with Tregunna. Mollicomata indescribable – the petals lose lustre as soon as they drop. Dombeyii and Davidii very fine plants.

1935 – JCW
Lutescens is fairly good. Reticulata fairly good flowers.

1929 – JCW
Lutescens is far the best thing we have. Neriiflorum, Thomsonii, Barbatum, Irroratum are all fairly good, but we lack flower buds. Daffodils are only just starting.

1926 – JCW
Staphylea holocarpa shows bud, 6-8 kinds of cherry. Reticulata fair. Lutescens opening. Calophytums wane. Sutchuenense gone or nearly so. Lutescens and Argenteum wane. Auklandii showing colour for some days. Erica hybrida remains good. About the earliest year we ever saw. M de Graf shows.

1901 – JCW
Narcissi ‘Sirius’ just shows colour, a few Ciliatums open, a good few useful seedlings to try, one flower of 25 open, no other incomps near it, forced open Sirius in heat from the bud for Cl.

1900 – JCW
The seedling Ciliatum opening, none of the things on the opposite page are nearly open except Sirius, Snow.

1898 – JCW
Golden Bell came out.

2 thoughts on “18th March

  1. 2016: The small conifer isn’t Pseudotaxus; this looks more like Torreya nucifera, the small shrub is something different, Pseudotsuga comes nearer. For images of Prumnopitys andina, Pseudotsugae and Pseudotaxus chienii see hubertus-nimsch.de under ‘Beiträge zu Koniferen’, then scroll down. Further rbge.org.uk, contents. Greetings

  2. The Magnolia ‘Black Tulip’ x ‘J C Williams’ (see 18th of March) is this a seedling or a graft? I know that Michael Gottschalk from Kelkheim, Germany made several of this crosses. A few have been named already.
    This is a very nice colour indeed.

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