10th October

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

2023 – CHW

More Malus with fruits in the Kitchen Garden.

Malus x robusta ‘Red Sentinel’.

Malus x robusta ‘Red Sentinel’
Malus x robusta ‘Red Sentinel’
Malus ‘Royal Raindrops’.
Malus ‘Royal Raindrops’
Malus ‘Royal Raindrops’
Malus ‘Butterball’.
Malus ‘Butterball’
Malus ‘Butterball’
Malus transitoria ‘Gulliver’.
Malus transitoria ‘Gulliver’
Malus transitoria ‘Gulliver’
Malus ‘Gorgeous’.
Malus ‘Gorgeous’
Malus ‘Gorgeous’
Malus toringo ‘Scarlett’.
Malus toringo ‘Scarlett’
Malus toringo ‘Scarlett’
Malus toringo ‘Freja’ has most attractive leaves.
Malus toringo ‘Freja’
Malus toringo ‘Freja’
Malus ‘Marble’.
Malus ‘Marble’
Malus ‘Marble’
Malus hupehensis ‘Arie Mauritz’.
Malus hupehensis ‘Arie Mauritz’
Malus hupehensis ‘Arie Mauritz’
Malus hupehensis.
Malus hupehensis
Malus hupehensis
Malus ‘Sun Rival’.
Malus ‘Sun Rival’
Malus ‘Sun Rival’
And we wonder why branches break off on young magnolias! Six pheasants drying off on this small tree.
pheasants drying off
pheasants drying off

2022 – CHW
Schima superba just out into flower by Donkey Shoe. Earlier than usual.
Schima in flower
Schima in flower
A pheasant’s futile spring nest uncovered while strimming a bramble patch recently.
Pheasant Nest
Pheasant Nest
The archaeologists are hard at it in the graveyard extension. I had it wrong the other day as this is the stone lined culvert or drain which runs down the front of the church and into the field. Of no consequence as it clearly has not worked for decades.
archaeologists are hard at it
archaeologists are hard at it
This is what I thought was the drain but it is a platform of rubble containing bits of pottery from various dates. Since the original church was extended twice, latterly in the 1880’s, it seems pretty obvious that spoil had to be dug out for the foundations and dumped below the churchyard.
platform of rubble containing bits of pottery
platform of rubble containing bits of pottery
This is the far end of the ‘platform’ which is no longer thought to be the walls of a dwelling but more the levelling of a spoil dump. The pottery bits are far to varied and numerous to suggest a dwelling. Pottery presumably from flowers on graves or in the church itself.
far end of the ‘platform’
far end of the ‘platform’
far end of the ‘platform’
far end of the ‘platform’
So the verbal conclusion on site was that there is nothing significant archeologically in the ground to stop the planners granting permission for the graveyard extension. Let’s hope that is what the archeological report actually says when it arrives.
The huge clump of Hydrangea paniculata ‘Grandiflora’ on the drive has flowers which have turned a gentle pink.
Hydrangea paniculata ‘Grandiflora’
Hydrangea paniculata ‘Grandiflora’

2021 – CHW

Here is the answer to the odd fungus collected during the fungus survey here on 28th September:

I left a specimen on your entrance table by the pine cones, a branch covered in ‘Orange Pore fungus’ or Favolaschia calocera, this is widespread throughout the estate. It is native to Madagascar and was first found in the UK at Enys, it has since spread around the County. It is a saprotroph and not fussy as to diet being found on a wide range of dead trees and shrubs. However at Caerhays it is the first time we have found it on a gymnosperm. I would like to know the tree species, I think it is Cunninghamia lanceolata. There is a mass of the tiny orange ‘ping pong bats’ on a felled trunk just in the woodland above the parking area and there is one standing trunk there.It Has broad lanceolate needles around the stem and rich reddish brown bark.
A large number of pale brown mushrooms growing up in the Castle Wood on soil and pine debris may prove to be an interesting species of Agrocybe. I have sent my notes and photos for an opinion from Kew mycology department.

Favolaschia calocera
Favolaschia calocera
Favolaschia calocera
Favolaschia calocera
The full findings of the survey are attached in full. Complaints that the dry September had reduced the number of species found.

2020 – CHW
More close up pictures of the leaf structure and habit of the Ilex mutchagara at Burncoose. ‘New Trees’ suggest this may be another name for Ilex mitis from sub-Saharan Africa where it is a large tree growing on Table Mountain and Mount Kilimanjaro above 2,500 meters. I remain doubtful.

Ilex mutchagara
Ilex mutchagara
Ilex mutchagara
Ilex mutchagara
Ilex mutchagara
Ilex mutchagara
My brother has been visiting the battlefields and shoreline at Gallipoli where our grandfather won the MC as a young midshipman. On the seashore he found shrapnel including British and Turkish rounds next door to each other and bones still scattered about. A few pictures are attached of the scene A M Williams would have seen from HMS Euralyus during the landing and subsequent evacuation when he led one of the many small troop carrying boats shuttling men, under fire, to and from the shore.
Gallipoli
Gallipoli
Gallipoli
Gallipoli
Gallipoli
Gallipoli
Gallipoli
Gallipoli
Gallipoli
Gallipoli
To add another superb example of trees and shrubs flowering out of season after a hot summer (May to June especially) here is an apple tree flowering in Jaimie’s garden. A very fine flower for October!
apple tree
apple tree

Going back to Ilex mutchagara Bean says it is a close ally of Ilex crenata from the Ryukyu archipelago. In reality Ilex crenata var. mutchagara.

Bean also says that two Ilex kingiana at Caerhays were awarded an Award of Merit when shown by FJW on 25th February 1964. This was previously called Ilex insignis. In the clump of three elderly hollies by the Podocarpus salignus clump we probably have one Ilex kingiana and two Ilex dipyrena. The two elderly ilex above the Crinodendron Hedge are also probably Ilex dipyrena. The confusion has come in part from the identification of the ilex above the greenhouse previously as Ilex dipyrena when it is in fact Ilex bioritsensis. Bean (probably) correctly identifies the two Ilex dipyrena with their Forrest numbers as F 25362 and F 25424. These collections postdate the Forrest ilex lists of my father’s which do not cover his later expeditions. Forrest called Ilex bioritsensis Ilex pernyi var. veitchii which added to the muddle.Bean mentions seven Ilex cytura growing as a clump at Trewithen. I need to get to see these. Originally this holly was called Ilex forrestii and also incorrectly identified as Ilex ficoidea. Bean says that a holly at Caerhays may be Ilex cytura and was identified as such by David Hurst.

Here are pictures of the old Ilex dipyrena which did not have any berries when cut down by Jaimie recently. I guess we now have enough for Susyn Andrews to work on when she visits next spring.

Ilex dipyrena
Ilex dipyrena
Ilex dipyrena
Ilex dipyrena
Ilex dipyrena
Ilex dipyrena
These are David Hunt’s notes and letter from Susyn Andrews dated 29.4.1984. If these serve to confuse the holly identification problem even more join the club! Ilex centrochinensis is now thought to be the same as Ilex corallina (Rookery – 30 year old plant). No idea what they thought were Ilex cyrtura? However the elderly Ilex kingiana and Ilex dipyrena are, I think, as I/we have now sorted out. Ilex georgii died out as did my Windsor replacement plant.

2019 – CHW
Magnolia obovata ‘Pink Flush’ now has ripe seed showing on a brown seed pod at the very top of the young tree. Asia will need the long handled pruners to get it quickly before the squirrels do. A lower down seed pod is still not yet ripe or shedding.

Magnolia obovata ‘Pink Flush’
Magnolia obovata ‘Pink Flush’
Magnolia obovata ‘Pink Flush’
Magnolia obovata ‘Pink Flush’
A remarkable find which I have not seen here before. Our largest Daphniphyllum macropodum has rot in the base and is slowly dying. However, in its death throws, it has decided to set seeds. These are round and green on attractive purple stalks in panicles. The flowers have purple stems in April and these suddenly stand out again in the autumn. They are not quite ripe but Asia may wish to gather some anyway. There are plenty here.
Daphniphyllum macropodum
Daphniphyllum macropodum
Daphniphyllum macropodum
Daphniphyllum macropodum
Daphniphyllum macropodum
Daphniphyllum macropodum
Daphniphyllum macropodum
Daphniphyllum macropodum
Cornus capitata with much larger fruits than the kousa varieties yesterday. They are not yet quite ripe either.
Cornus capitata
Cornus capitata
Cornus capitata
Cornus capitata
2018 – CHW
The first fruits on Zanthoxylum armatum. The most obvious armaments appear as the prickles on the stems and branches but the fruits seem well protected too.
Zanthoxylum armatum
Zanthoxylum armatum
Zanthoxylum armatum
Zanthoxylum armatum
Wonderful autumn colour again this year on Lindera umbellata.
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Lindera umbellata
Lindera umbellata
Lindera umbellata
Lindera umbellata
Rhododendron ‘Yellow Hammer’ with its secondary autumn flowers which are nearly as copious as the spring offering.
Rhododendron ‘Yellow Hammer’
Rhododendron ‘Yellow Hammer’
Rhododendron ‘Yellow Hammer’
Rhododendron ‘Yellow Hammer’

2017 – CHW
Amazingly Michelia ‘Mixed up Miss’ still has flowers showing. Quite a few in fact. Is this how it gets its name rather than from the flower colour? No other michelia is doing this in the garden.
Michelia ‘Mixed up Miss’
Michelia ‘Mixed up Miss’
Michelia ‘Mixed up Miss’
Michelia ‘Mixed up Miss’
From a distance I thought this was Rhododendron ‘Polar Bear’ in flower but it is actually an elderly Rhododendron decorum with secondary autumn flowers. Certainly the leaf shape and trunk say decorum. Never seen this before.
The second grass cut is only a day or two from completion now.
second grass cut
second grass cut
second grass cut
second grass cut

2016 – CHW
The seed picture quest continues. What is by now clear is that not only is this a very poor magnolia seeding year but it is also a poor seeding year for many types of plants including camellias and a lot of rhododendrons. Styrax seem to be the exception and are all laden with, as yet unripe, spherical seed pods. Staphylea colchica has ‘bladder nuts’ which have ‘burst’ (ie the pods have deflated) and are ready to gather.
Staphylea colchica
Staphylea colchica
Staphylea trifoliata has pods which have turned red like its leaves. These too are ready to gather.
Staphylea trifoliata
Staphylea trifoliata

Styrax serrulatus has seeds which are green and only half swollen.

Styrax serrulatus
Styrax serrulatus
Styrax serrulatus
Styrax serrulatus

Styrax hemsleyanus which has individual flowers rather than flower clusters is similarly ‘unready’.

Styrax hemsleyanus
Styrax hemsleyanus
Corylopsis spicata has a few unripe seed spikes.
Corylopsis spicata
Corylopsis spicata
Conversely formerly pink Magnolia sieboldii seed pods are losing their colour and shedding orange seed fast.
Magnolia sieboldii
Magnolia sieboldii
Acer palmatum ‘Osakasuki’ seed is turning from reddish to brown and is very nearly ripe.
Acer palmatum ‘Osakasuki’
Acer palmatum ‘Osakasuki’
Rhododendron polyandron has seed pods which are browning and very nearly collectable.
Rhododendron polyandron
Rhododendron polyandron
Lithocarpus pachyphyllus (an evergreen oak) with a large viable ripe oak seed.
Lithocarpus pachyphyllus
Lithocarpus pachyphyllus
Lithocarpus pachyphyllus (an evergreen oak) with a cluster of small and totally unviable and useless acorns even though they are ripe.
Lithocarpus pachyphyllus
Lithocarpus pachyphyllus

Quercus myrsinifolia has very tiny acorn clusters. They certainly are not ripe and I do not think they will now ever swell or develop properly.

Quercus myrsinifolia
Quercus myrsinifolia
Rhododendron megacalyx has swelling seed heads but they are still far from ripe. One we must collect and propagate this year.
Rhododendron megacalyx
Rhododendron megacalyx
Nearly ripe Camellia sasanqua seed. Three seeds only on this plant and none on the seven others in this group unless Asia has picked already?
Camellia sasanqua
Camellia sasanqua
Magnolia cylindrica seedpods are ripening well but not yet quite shedding their seeds. You could probably risk picking them (as I have) and ripening them on in the greenhouse.
Magnolia cylindrica
Magnolia cylindrica
Enkianthus cernuus rubens is plastered in small seed which are still far from ripe. I wonder if they ever will be. Perhaps the old plant has tried but has not the energy to complete the process.
Enkianthus cernuus rubens
Enkianthus cernuus rubens

2015 – CHWJust missed the autumn colour on Cercidiphyllum japonicum ‘Strawberry’ which is really a spring show rather than an autumn one but not bad at all.

Cercidiphyllum japonicum ‘Strawberry’
Cercidiphyllum japonicum ‘Strawberry’
Cercidiphyllum japonicum ‘Strawberry’
Cercidiphyllum japonicum ‘Strawberry’
Cercidiphyllum japonicum ‘Strawberry’
Cercidiphyllum japonicum ‘Strawberry’

Nearby is a good young plant of Podocarpus acutifolius which has a strange flattening of some of its stems rather like Salix udensis ‘Selika’ or Cryptomeria ‘Sekkan-sugi’. I have never seen this before in a podocarpus and wonder if it is an abnormality or not? Quite attractive but I cannot remember the specific name for this feature other than ‘flattened stems’.

Podocarpus acutifolius
Podocarpus acutifolius

2000 – FJW
First Sasanqua flowers on plant nearest side door seen.

1949 – CW
A very long dry summer. Big leaf rhododendron growth small. The 2 Sinogrande by big group of Barbatum about dead. White Sasanqua by stables nearly over, others well out. One Decorum out and a nice bit of Repens, also a lot of Yellow Hammer. All Auriculatum hybrids over. Still some Magnolia delavayi and both forms of Grandiflora. Cyclamen good.

1943 – CW
Daffodils up and quite a lot of pink Sasanqua Camellia now out.

1936 – JCW
Returned from Scotland. They have cleared the main opening and wait for the screen before planting.

1920 – JCW
There are about 25 species of rhodo showing flower.

1917 – JCW
The hydrangeas remain good. Lapagerias and cyclamen wane, no roses to speak of. Clematis paniculata nears its best.

One thought on “10th October

  1. To the pic of Podocarpus acutifolius
    There is a mistake in one sentence. ……similar to Salix udensis ‘ Selika ‘ or Cryptomeria ‘ Sekkansugi ‘. This is not correct: It must be : …… or Cryptomeria jap. ‘ Kilmacurragh’ or ‘ Cristata’.

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