20th May

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

Compare Rhododendron falconeri in full flower now to the Rh. sinofalconeri which we viewed recently. This mature clump were from a ?1930’s Kingston Ward collection rather than Forrest or so my father always told me.

Rhododendron falconeri
Rhododendron falconeri
Rhododendron falconeri
Rhododendron falconeri
Rhododendron falconeri
Rhododendron falconeri
Rhododendron falconeri
Rhododendron falconeri
Sadly the Rhododendron sinogrande which travelled up to Cheslea in 2018 and which has flowered away since its return has now succumbed to last year’s drought. Yet another delayed casualty.
Rhododendron sinogrande
Rhododendron sinogrande
The Burncoose stand nears completion.
Burncoose stand
Burncoose stand
Burncoose stand
Burncoose stand
Burncoose stand
Burncoose stand
Burncoose stand
Burncoose stand
Burncoose stand
Burncoose stand
Inevitably Karol Klein appears on the next door stand and the filming takes 2 hours for a 3 minute piece.
Karol Klein
Karol Klein
For the first time ever exhibitors are all allowed sales tables at Chelsea. These are modular and you can build and position as you like. Then some of the better outdoor gardens.
sales tables at Chelsea
sales tables at Chelsea
The Stroke Association Garden for Recovery.
The Stroke Association Garden
The Stroke Association Garden
St James Piccadilly – Imagine the world to be Different.
St James Piccadilly
St James Piccadilly
Muscular Dystrophy UK – Forest Bathing Garden.
Terence Higgins Trust – Bridge to 2030 Garden.
Terence Higgins Trust – Bridge to 2030 Garden
Terence Higgins Trust – Bridge to 2030 Garden
RHS Feature Garden – make your own mind about this horror!
RHS Feature Garden
RHS Feature Garden
RHS Feature Garden
RHS Feature Garden
John Wheatley carrying roses not dahlias.
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John Wheatley
John Wheatley
The team having finished the stand before some return home and some change clothes.
The team
The team
The water feature gets turned on.
The water feature gets turned on
The water feature gets turned on

2023 – CHW
Completed the ‘Trees for the Future’ press release for Chelsea stand which you can see here with pictures of a few of the rarer and more unusual trees on the Burncoose stand.

2022 – CHWAfter the welcome day of lightish rain yesterday there are still puddles on the garden paths and you can almost see the new growth growing everywhere.Jaimie has got the new posts in to remake Higher Quarry Nursery vermin proof again after the second beech tree in five years smashed the fence completely. The laurel has been pruned back right around the edge.

Higher Quarry Nursery
Higher Quarry Nursery
Higher Quarry Nursery
Higher Quarry Nursery
A few new things to see in the newly planted euonymus and viburnum species glade:
Euonymus oxyphyllus (BSWJ 10815) has tiny grey cream flowers with mauve buds.
Euonymus oxyphyllus
Euonymus oxyphyllus
Euonymus echinatus has flower buds and attractive new growth.
Euonymus echinatus
Euonymus echinatus
Euonymus echinatus
Euonymus echinatus
Euonymus tingens not quite out.
Euonymus tingens
Euonymus tingens
Viburnum taiwanianum still in bud. I will miss the flower next week at Chelsea.
Viburnum taiwanianum
Viburnum taiwanianum
First flowers nearly out on a good clump of Rhododendron elliotii.
Rhododendron elliotii
Rhododendron elliotii
Viburnum calvum with the purple undersides to the new growth.
Viburnum calvum
Viburnum calvum
The new leaf growth on Sassafras tzumu is odd. A new leaf or two stands upright (initially) from each twig.
Sassafras tzumu
Sassafras tzumu
Magnolia ‘Genie’ still full of flower.
Magnolia ‘Genie’
Magnolia ‘Genie’
Rhododendron calendulaceum – Sandling Orange-Red Form
Rhododendron calendulaceum – Sandling Orange-Red Form
Rhododendron calendulaceum – Sandling Orange-Red Form
Rhododendron wadanum ‘Album’
Rhododendron wadanum ‘Album’
Rhododendron wadanum ‘Album’
Another named form of Magnolia sieboldii. This one is ‘Ming Pyong’ and the centre of the flowers are certainly a paler pink.
‘Ming Pyong’
‘Ming Pyong’
The Iris sibirica ‘Fran’s Gold’ is looking good at Chelsea for the Plant of the Year competition on Monday.
Iris sibirica ‘Fran’s Gold’
Iris sibirica ‘Fran’s Gold’

2021 – CHW
Rhododendron ‘Matador’ with branches hanging down with the weight of flower.
Rhododendron ‘Matador’
Rhododendron ‘Matador’
Photinia serratifolia v. ardisifolia (NMWJ 14513) with attractive new growth.
Photinia serratifolia v. ardisifolia
Photinia serratifolia v. ardisifolia
Schefflera rhododendrifolia is now growing away well.
Schefflera rhododendrifolia
Schefflera rhododendrifolia
I had thought the South African Halleria lucida too tender to grow outside but here it has survived its second winter.
Halleria lucida
Halleria lucida
I have been trying to find where I had planted Viburnum hoangliense for 18 months and finally I come across it above Higher Quarry Nursery. Pictures needed for the website. Attractive new growth and buds about to open.
Viburnum hoangliense
Viburnum hoangliense
Viburnum hoangliense
Viburnum hoangliense
Rhododendron ‘Mrs Lionel de Rothschild’ now full out.
Rhododendron ‘Mrs Lionel de Rothschild’
Rhododendron ‘Mrs Lionel de Rothschild’
Rhododendron ‘Mrs Lionel de Rothschild’
Rhododendron ‘Mrs Lionel de Rothschild’
Rhododendron yakushimanum looking good as well in a clump on Burns Banks.
Rhododendron yakushimanum
Rhododendron yakushimanum
Enkianthus campanulatus ‘Red Velvet’ out on Burns Bank.
Enkianthus campanulatus ‘Red Velvet’
Enkianthus campanulatus ‘Red Velvet’
Acer pycnanthum – a dullish rarity. The Japanese counterpart to the North American Acer rubrum as its leaves show. A slow growing small tree now about 15ft tall.
Acer pycnanthum
Acer pycnanthum
Acer buergerianum spp. formosanum from Taiwan with leathery leaves which has struggled and is clearly tender.
Acer buergerianum spp. formosanum
Acer buergerianum spp. formosanum
Pentapanax verticilatus (BSWJ 11797) is shaping up into a large multi stemmed shrub.
Pentapanax verticilatus
Pentapanax verticilatus
Pentapanax verticilatus
Pentapanax verticilatus

2020 – CHW
So the Cornwall tourist board (and our very own Malcolm Bell) are doing the government’s bidding and telling our second homers to ‘stay away’. Including caravan sites and holiday lets too.Some may have thought that a (privatised) Cornwall tourist board was supposed to encourage tourism and wealth creation for one of the poorer parts of the country? Mr Bell hopes for fat grants in the future revival for towing the (locally popular) government diktat now that the police can do little to interrogate people in cars or turn them away.Boris has got this right!By June the frustrated city lockdown dwellers will just be turning up regardless.It is, of course, ‘common sense’, yet again, that they should.Why are we too stupid not to behave responsibly in social distancing? Why is it safer to go to a supermarket than to a holiday let?Some of the teaching unions realise that they have lost the battle of public opinion and that most teachers want to teach rather than being held as pawns by unions seeking power and control for overtly political reasons.

It gets even madder and the removal of introspection, depression and negative behaviour is still slow. We are ‘at war’ and yet lethargy, prevarication and negativism still prevail over common sense!

A socially distanced garden tour at Tregullow in the sun. James Williams said he could not remember spending over two months at Tregullow since he was a boy and has been supervising lots of clearance work in the garden (which was a little overdue).

The Cornish Reds by the house are having a severe haircut to rejuvenate them as it will.

Cornish Reds
Cornish Reds
Viburnum opalus ‘Roseum’ (‘Sterile’) – the snowball tree at the back of the house was on full show. The spherical cones are only occasionally pink.
Viburnum opalus ‘Roseum’
Viburnum opalus ‘Roseum’
Viburnum opalus ‘Roseum’
Viburnum opalus ‘Roseum’
More pruning work on from the house in phases over three years as you can see.
pruning work
pruning work
A giant Araucaria araucana had died and been felled. The timber was not rotten (as ours was at Burncoose) and has been sold to a kitchen flooring specialist. The tree had produced three suckers which remain in place and now have light.
Araucaria araucana
Araucaria araucana
Araucaria araucana
Araucaria araucana
Araucaria araucana
Araucaria araucana
Cornus controversa ‘Variegata’ planted 30 to 35 years ago in full flower. The best one I have ever seen in full flower and by far the best thing in the garden at Tregullow today.
Cornus controversa ‘Variegata’
Cornus controversa ‘Variegata’
Cornus controversa ‘Variegata’
Cornus controversa ‘Variegata’
Cornus controversa ‘Variegata’
Cornus controversa ‘Variegata’
Cornus controversa ‘Variegata’
Cornus controversa ‘Variegata’
Rhododendron ‘Rubicon’
Rhododendron ‘Rubicon’
Rhododendron ‘Rubicon’
Lizzie’s first day outside Caerhays for eight and a half weeks. She may be showing it!
Lizzie
Lizzie
Fraxinus ornus – manna ash 35 years after planting.
Fraxinus ornus
Fraxinus ornus
Rhododendron ‘Fastuosum flore pleno’ full out but a bit paler than the Caerhays form.
Rhododendron ‘Fastuosum flore pleno’
Rhododendron ‘Fastuosum flore pleno’
Rhododendron ‘Fastuosum flore pleno’
Rhododendron ‘Fastuosum flore pleno’
Rhododendron ‘Fastuosum flore pleno’
Rhododendron ‘Fastuosum flore pleno’
A huge Rhododendron ‘May Day’ which was a Werrington hybrid originally.
Rhododendron ‘May Day’
Rhododendron ‘May Day’
Rhododendron ‘May Day’
Rhododendron ‘May Day’
Sadly, possibly the best Rhododendron sinogrande in Cornwall has died of drought and over seeding (they never did remove the seed heads). However a layer remains of this exceptional form.
Rhododendron sinogrande
Rhododendron sinogrande
Rhododendron ‘Champagne’ (‘Tortoiseshell Champagne’) – a Slocock hybrid.
Rhododendron ‘Champagne’
Rhododendron ‘Champagne’
Rhododendron ‘Champagne’
Rhododendron ‘Champagne’
Rhododendron ‘Fusilier’
Rhododendron ‘Fusilier’
Rhododendron ‘Fusilier’
Rhododendron ‘Fusilier’
Rhododendron ‘Fusilier’
Rhododendron ‘Golden Torch’
Rhododendron ‘Golden Torch’
Rhododendron ‘Golden Torch’
Rhododendron ‘Colonel Rogers Group’ (Rhododendron niveum x Rhododendron falconeri) – I am promised a cutting.
Rhododendron ‘Colonel Rogers Group’
Rhododendron ‘Colonel Rogers Group’
Camellia ‘Konronkoku’ (‘Nigra’ or ‘Kunlong black’) still had plenty of near black flowers out today.
Camellia ‘Konronkoku’
Camellia ‘Konronkoku’
Camellia ‘Konronkoku’
Camellia ‘Konronkoku’
As did this unknown Camellia japonica above the tennis court. Plastered in flower! [James later suggests that this might be Camellia japonica ‘Baron Leguay’]
Camellia japonica
Camellia japonica
Camellia japonica
Camellia japonica
Rhododendron ‘Catherine Fortescue’ is a better yellow when first into flower.
Rhododendron ‘Catherine Fortescue’
Rhododendron ‘Catherine Fortescue’
Rhododendron ‘Catherine Fortescue’
Rhododendron ‘Catherine Fortescue’
The record Saxegothaea conspicua on the main drive.
Saxegothaea conspicua
Saxegothaea conspicua
Rosa ‘Canary Bird’ looking good by the old air raid shelter behind the house.
Rosa ‘Canary Bird’
Rosa ‘Canary Bird’

2019 – CHW
Medwyn’s vegetable stand for Anglesea. Medwyn retired nine years ago and is now 75 to 80 but got bored with not winning RHS gold medals and awards so is back!

vegetable stand
vegetable stand
vegetable stand
vegetable stand
The judges advance on our stand at about 8.15 and we observe from afar.
judges
judges
Rupert Eley the ‘moderator’ or monitor of the judges.
Rupert Eley
Rupert Eley
Jonathon Jones and the smoking kettle on the Tregothnan stand (I was having a smoke too!).
Jonathon Jones
Jonathon Jones
Godson Archie (not smoking – at the time anyway).
Archie
Archie
Mrs Williams arrives with the ice for the VIP party at 9am.
Mrs Williams
Mrs Williams
Blackmore and Langdons delphiniums and begonias as splendid as ever. What nice people they are!
Blackmore and Langdons
Blackmore and Langdons
The RHS woody plant committee visits the stand.
woody plant committee
woody plant committee
Our sponsor, Guy Hands, arrives at about 9.30 – here he is tackled by the press about Wyevale garden centres which he is on the brink of selling.
Guy Hands
Guy Hands
Our celebrity, Susan Hampshire, has a tour of the stand with Gerry.
Susan Hampshire
Susan Hampshire
Susan Hampshire with a Chelsea pensioner.
Susan Hampshire
Susan Hampshire
Susan Hampshire with our rose.
Susan Hampshire
Susan Hampshire
Susan Hampshire and Guy Hands.
Susan Hampshire
Susan Hampshire
The press line up for the photo call.
press
press
The photo call with Susan, Guy and Gerry.
photo call
photo call
Lizzie and Justin look on with other VIPs!
Lizzie and Justin
Lizzie and Justin
Susan and yet another Chelsea pensioner. This one gets a kiss!
Susan
Susan
The press get more excited.
press
press
The Duchess of Rutland doing something odd with paeonies in a bath right next to our stand. Some disruption caused (by me).
Duchess of Rutland
Duchess of Rutland
The painted (and largely naked) lady who got into the bath with the paeonies. Justin has more revealing pictures which I will not show here!
painted (and largely naked) lady
painted (and largely naked) lady
Peace and quiet at a late lunch but we spy another lady in an odd costume. Lunch is sparse because the RHS have shut the exhibitors’ restaurant. The pigeon did not mind!
late lunch
late lunch
another lady in an odd costume
another lady in an odd costume
Westcountry TV turn up for an interview rather late in the day but no worries.
Westcountry TV
Westcountry TV

2018 – CHW
Some pictures of the Chelsea build up.

Chelsea build up (1)
Chelsea build up (1)
Chelsea build up (2)
Chelsea build up (2)
Chelsea build up (3)
Chelsea build up (3)
Chelsea build up (4)
Chelsea build up (4)
Chelsea build up (5)
Chelsea build up (5)
Chelsea build up (6)
Chelsea build up (6)
Chelsea build up (7)
Chelsea build up (7)
Chelsea build up (8)
Chelsea build up (8)
Chelsea build up (9)
Chelsea build up (9)
Chelsea build up (10)
Chelsea build up (10)

2017 – CHW
Today’s great drama is will the three 10ft tall echium flowers last the course until judging? The top of one has curled over and goes on the skip but the other two are holding up and have picked up overnight. The leaves have however drooped so we cut them all off lower down. The new growth on the crinodendron has flopped a bit too so we chop this off where it can be seen. The two dustbins of embothrium are however still looking perfect.
20th May Chelsea stand
20th May Chelsea stand
20th May Chelsea stand
20th May Chelsea stand
20th May Chelsea stand
20th May Chelsea stand
20th May Chelsea stand
20th May Chelsea stand
20th May Chelsea stand
20th May Chelsea stand
20th May Chelsea stand
20th May Chelsea stand
Karol starts to take close ups of the key plants on the stand even before it is finished as these need to get onto the website by Tuesday to remind the public what they have seen and to inform those who did not have the ‘luxury’ of visiting Chelsea themselves.
STYRAX japonicus
STYRAX japonicus
MAGNOLIA summer solstice
MAGNOLIA summer solstice
MAGNOLIA sieboldii
MAGNOLIA sieboldii
FURCRAEA
FURCRAEA
EUPHORBIA
EUPHORBIA
ERIOBOTHRYA
ERIOBOTHRYA
CALYCANTHUS venus
CALYCANTHUS venus

2016 – CHW
We arrived in London about midday to find everything moving forward with the stand in good time. Rob Toy had arrived with the cut stuff much earlier and he was proving a dab hand at flower arranging in the new bowls and vases which made life considerably easier than it has been for some years. We have more than enough stuff to finish the stand and there is no need to panic this year. Even the Rayners water feature is in place although not actually working of course.
Chelsea 2016
Chelsea 2016
Chelsea 2016
Chelsea 2016
Chelsea 2016
Chelsea 2016

2015 – CHW

Protea little 02
Protea ‘Little Prince’

We have taken more orders already than in the whole of the last two Chelseas.  It is not like it used to be 20 years ago but bloody good and the orders are rolling in off the internet at the nursery.I take Jill Otway, organiser of the Plant of the Year,  for a liquid lunch using the last of Guy’s pink fizz to thank her for all her help with our entry.  We smoke away happily outside the exhibitors’ tent and ignore the RHS bosses who frown on such things.

Finally, on to the Cornish Club dinner at the Travellers Club.  My brother and I agree we are totally knackered and head swiftly to bed without the port.

1992 – FJW
George Williams at Chelsea – garden still good but HOT with E wind and dry.

1981 – FJW
Visitor laid an EGG in Maurices suite (George Blandfords bedroom).

1909 – JCW
R roylei nice, C montana rubra good, bluebells nearly at the top, Montana ¾ of its best. Van Tubergens Iris are over.

1908 – JCW
R roylei nice, Montana rubra over.

1906 – JCW
A little pink May, a few Waterers, Azaleas in mid season I korolkowi on the wane. Bluebells on the wane or nearly. A little seed from Artemis under glass.

1904 – JCW
We are three weeks behind 1899, I picked some (most of ) the de Graaf under glass; moved two seedlings and some unflowered cyclamineus. Montana is nearly at its best.

1899? – JCW
A few I lorteti, most of the I pavonia, all the A altaclarence. Bluebells very good, primroses nearly over. No waterlilies.

1897 – JCW
Pink May at their best, also Iris siberica and waterer rhodo’s. Iris lorteti open, a large lot of roses out, nearly all Azaleas open. Bluebells going over, primroses gone, a few waterlilies at Beech Walk, none in the Big Pond. Gibsonii Rhodo going over.