1st September

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

Hoheria populnea ‘Variegata’ still not quite out.

Hoheria populnea ‘Variegata’
Hoheria populnea ‘Variegata’
Hoheria populnea ‘Alba Variegata’ in the same state.
Hoheria populnea ‘Alba Variegata’
Hoheria populnea ‘Alba Variegata’
Seed well formed on Styrax obassia.
Styrax obassia
Styrax obassia
Lindera angustifolia (FMWJ 13156) is very prone to losing side branches in gales. Storm Betty in August damaged this very quick growing tree which, although only planted in 2020, is now 15 feet tall. An older plant lost half its side branches and this one 3 or 4.
Lindera angustifolia (FMWJ 13156)
Lindera angustifolia (FMWJ 13156)
Just look at the speed of growth here, the interesting bark and bark colours on the side branches.
speed of growth
speed of growth
speed of growth
speed of growth
speed of growth
speed of growth
First autumn flowers out on Rhododendron ‘Yellow Hammer’.
Rhododendron ‘Yellow Hammer’
Rhododendron ‘Yellow Hammer’
Schefflera delavayi with huge flower stalks.
Schefflera delavayi
Schefflera delavayi
Rhododendron concatenans with its usual secondary autumn flowering.
Rhododendron concatenans
Rhododendron concatenans
The tassels on Carpinus fangiana are starting to ripen and turn brown.
Carpinus fangiana
Carpinus fangiana
Carpinus fangiana
Carpinus fangiana

2022 – CHW
White Styles drive with kerbs and all, now ready for pouring the concrete. Hope the new drains really do take the water away from the huge puddle which used to form outside the converted barns.

White Styles drive
White Styles drive
White Styles drive
White Styles drive
Contoneaster flinckii nearly ripe.
Contoneaster flinckii
Contoneaster flinckii
Contoneaster rubens just turning.
Contoneaster rubens
Contoneaster rubens
Contoneaster rhytidophyllus in a similar state.
Contoneaster rhytidophyllus
Contoneaster rhytidophyllus
Cotoneaster thimphuensis still completely green.
Cotoneaster thimphuensis
Cotoneaster thimphuensis
Cotoneaster thimphuensis
Cotoneaster thimphuensis
Cotoneaster hillieri was rated second best in berry last year but only now just turning. We have two plants and the pheasants can reach the berries on one of them.
Cotoneaster hillieri
Cotoneaster hillieri
Cotoneaster hillieri
Cotoneaster hillieri
The very end of the first grass cut at the top of the old park. Little need for any second cut anywhere this year apart from the drive which was cut first. Just a light strim of the edges really.
first grass cut
first grass cut

2021 – CHW
The conversion of the Hovel is now very nearly complete, as far as the builders are concerned, but Western Power have still to make the full new electric connections, so occupancy will only be possible in one of them for the moment. This is despite Western Power having been paid in full last November. Covid again, of course, but administrative incompetence on a grand scale.
the Hovel
the Hovel
the Hovel
the Hovel
the Hovel
the Hovel
the Hovel
the Hovel
the Hovel
the Hovel
the Hovel
the Hovel

2020 – CHW
Searching for some facts for a horticultural article we came across Arnold Dance’s contract of employment from 1958. Arnold was head gardener at Burncoose for 42 years and his son, Stephen, is office manager in the nursery today.

Amazing to think that a week’s wages was £7.10 shillings then (before the deduction of PAYE) and that there were only two weeks of holidays. This is only 62 years ago. The year after I was born!

The contract is attached.

2019 – CHW

The felling in Dry Walls is now complete and ready for replanting. Only a bit to finish after last year when the weather changed and access was too difficult. The timber is all going for firewood and will stay in situ to dry for another year.

felling in Dry Walls
felling in Dry Walls
felling in Dry Walls
felling in Dry Walls
felling in Dry Walls
felling in Dry Walls
Magnolia ‘Yellow Bird’ with large and well-formed secondary flowers in Penvergate. I have once seen this before but never with decent secondary flowers. We pick one for the house.
Magnolia ‘Yellow Bird’
Magnolia ‘Yellow Bird’
Magnolia ‘Yellow Bird’
Magnolia ‘Yellow Bird’
Magnolia ‘Yellow Bird’
Magnolia ‘Yellow Bird’
Sadly the Tilia henryana has collapsed. One bit of the tree split out a couple of years ago but now the whole lot has shattered. It will and is reshooting but we should have seen it today in full autumn flower which was the purpose of the trip to Penvergate.
Tilia henryana
Tilia henryana

2018 – CHW
The ancient clumps of Cyclamen hederifolium under the yew trees on the lawn are flowering away from their massive corms.
Cyclamen hederifolium
Cyclamen hederifolium
Liquidambar styraciflua ‘Oconea’ has a dwarfish rounded habit and is just showing its first autumn tints. Of the four different named forms of liquidambar which we grow this one has the best shape particularly for smaller gardens.
Liquidambar styraciflua ‘Oconea’
Liquidambar styraciflua ‘Oconea’
Liquidambar styraciflua ‘Oconea’
Liquidambar styraciflua ‘Oconea’
The dreaded climbing Toxiodendron (which is for the chop) has early autumn tints in anticipation of its demise. It seems a shame to cut it down really.
Toxiodendron
Toxiodendron
Dierama pulcherrimum has huge ripe seed heads ready for Asia to collect. These clumps have thrived in full sun in a very hot spot for decades.
Dierama pulcherrimum
Dierama pulcherrimum
Dierama pulcherrimum
Dierama pulcherrimum

2017 – CHW
Elephant or hummingbird hawkmoth caterpillar? Grazing happily on a weed in Kennel Close. The former I believe.
Elephant or hummingbird hawkmoth caterpillar
Elephant or hummingbird hawkmoth caterpillar
The tent for today’s 60th and 30th birthday party on Beach Meadow.
tent for today’s 60th and 30th birthday party
tent for today’s 60th and 30th birthday party
These are the hips on the white climbing rose which we hope Roy Lancaster can identify as a wild collected gift from him 30 plus years ago. The flower trusses have set relatively few small hips with some trusses having none.
hips on the white climbing rose
hips on the white climbing rose
hips on the white climbing rose
hips on the white climbing rose
Fruit just turning black on Vaccinum urceolatum. Fully juicy and ripe soon on this very rare plant.
Vaccinum urceolatum
Vaccinum urceolatum
Vaccinum urceolatum
Vaccinum urceolatum
Rhododendron aperanthum has survived for 100 years at Werrington and is still only 4-5ft tall there. This plant here in the Rockery suddenly looks more healthy. Nearly dead in the spring and never yet a flower after 10 to 15 years. Minimal growth in that time too. Our plants and the Werrington ones are in shade.
Rhododendron aperanthum
Rhododendron aperanthum
Rhododendron russatum has a single secondary autumn flower.
Rhododendron russatum
Rhododendron russatum
As does Rhododendron campylogynum although there are rather more here but half the bush has died over the summer. There seem to be seeds setting to collect later.
Rhododendron campylogynum
Rhododendron campylogynum
Rhododendron campylogynum
Rhododendron campylogynum

2016 – CHW
Magnolia ‘Yakeo’ has a massive second flowering in Kennel Close. The older plant flowered profusely by Georges Hut last autumn and again in the spring before turning up its toes.
Magnolia ‘Yakeo’
Magnolia ‘Yakeo’
Populus deltoides ‘Purple Tower’ has grown well since planting this spring. This is going to be a dramatic leaf colour plant against a predominantly green background.
Populus deltoides ‘Purple Tower’
Populus deltoides ‘Purple Tower’
Populus deltoides ‘Purple Tower’
Populus deltoides ‘Purple Tower’
Salix fargesii is now shaping up well after initial deer nibbling. The contrast between the red stems and large leaves is attractive and this is clearly a rounded shrub not a tree. It will be interesting to see how it shapes up for any autumn colour.
Salix fargesii
Salix fargesii
Salix fargesii
Salix fargesii
Sorbus japonica from Crug Farm was only planted in 2010 but is already a sturdy tree with attractive drooping branches and contrasting new growth to the old leaves. No fruits yet.
Sorbus japonica
Sorbus japonica
Sorbus japonica
Sorbus japonica
Sorbus thompsonii (also Crug and a 2010 planting) is very erect in habit with enormous leaves. Sadly again no fruits as yet. Both these newly introduced sorbus species are clearly very well worth growing. We have had relatively few sorbus species here historically but there are plenty of new ones now coming on in the garden.
Sorbus thompsonii
Sorbus thompsonii
Sorbus thompsonii
Sorbus thompsonii
Sorbus thompsonii
Sorbus thompsonii
2015 – CHW
Eucryphia cordifolia, late but now at its best. I have to wonder why the reference books say its flower is like a white ‘Rose of Sharon’ (Hypericum calycinum). A strangely absurd comparison between a white flowered tree and a yellow flowered groundcover plant currently very prone to dying of rust. Tut tut Mr Hillier!
Eucryphia cordifolia
Eucryphia cordifolia
Eucryphia cordifolia
Eucryphia cordifolia
Eucryphia cordifolia
Eucryphia cordifolia

1999 – FJW
Harvest finished.

1990 – FJW
Corn and straw in.

1975 – FJW
David killed first partridge – 2 in 1 shot.

1972 – FJW
Corn gathered in. A big lot of straw but yields poor.

1964 – FJW
Very blustery easterly gale (no rain). Lapageria good.

1958 – FJW
Returned from Scotland to find Lapageria out.

1957 – FJW
Charles Henry born.

1919 – JCW
Rhodo’s as above with Haematodes also. Roses fair, cyclamen nice, lapagerias moderate. R websterianum very pretty.

1917 – JCW
The following rhodo’s show bits of flower 10333 – 10278 – scintillans – rupicolum – 10311 – 12468 – decorum – trichocladum – Cunninghams Yellow. Buddleias are over, roses in the three beds are good, hydrangeas are good.

1916 – JCW
Bits of flower on the following rhodo’s – about 5 mountain species, decorum, chrysanthum, venustum, flavidum and auriculatum. The solanum is good, lapageria fair. wood hydrangeas of Wilson’s very nice, drive hydrangeas good, cyclamen nice.

1915 – JCW
The cassia is good, the cyclamen also, the lapagerias fair, the three beds are very good.

1914 – JCW
The cyclamen are at their best, the lapagerias are good, the 3 rose beds good. The cassia is very nice and that is about the end of it.

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