3rd February

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

The first garden tour of the year with Raf and his Belgian & French gardening friends.

Camellia reticulata ‘Captain Rawes’ just out in the Aucklandii Garden. This is the Tregullow form.

Camellia reticulata ‘Captain Rawes’
Camellia reticulata ‘Captain Rawes’
First flowers blown open on the 1912 planted Magnolia campbellii.
Magnolia campbellii
Magnolia campbellii
Rhododendron arboreum subsp. cinnamomeum already full out.
Rhododendron arboreum subsp. cinnamomeum
Rhododendron arboreum subsp. cinnamomeum
First flowering of a young Polyspora on Rookery Path.
Polyspora
Polyspora
Brassaiopsis dumicola (KWJ 12217) totally unfrosted which is unexpected.
Brassaiopsis dumicola (KWJ 12217)
Brassaiopsis dumicola (KWJ 12217)
Rhododendron ‘Crossbill’ already full out below the Engine House.
Rhododendron ‘Crossbill’
Rhododendron ‘Crossbill’
Camellia reticulata ‘Royalty’ just out on the Main Ride.
Camellia reticulata ‘Royalty’
Camellia reticulata ‘Royalty’
Carpinus rankanensis has finally shed all its leaves.
Carpinus rankanensis
Carpinus rankanensis

2023 – CHW
A large numbers of rhododendrons are now dying as a result of the drought. Not just the big leaved species but many younger smaller leaved species too.
rhododendrons are now dying
rhododendrons are now dying
rhododendrons are now dying
rhododendrons are now dying
First flowers out on the sport of ‘Donation’ called Camellia x williamsii ‘Celebration’ by George’s Hut.
Camellia x williamsii ‘Celebration’
Camellia x williamsii ‘Celebration’
A dead branch in a clump of Rhododendron ‘Royal Flush’.
Rhododendron ‘Royal Flush’
Rhododendron ‘Royal Flush’
A last fallen flower under Magnolia delavayi which had just about survived the frost.
Magnolia delavayi
Magnolia delavayi
Polyspora longicarpa in flower despite wind damage to the foliage.
Polyspora longicarpa
Polyspora longicarpa
Another dead.
Another dead
Another dead
A drought hit Rhododendron barbatum. Half dead.
Rhododendron barbatum
Rhododendron barbatum
Polyspora axillaris aff. tonkinensis has suddenly died. Drought, cold (unlikely) or honey fungus? No sign of rotting from honey fungus at the base.
Polyspora axillaris aff. tonkinensis
Polyspora axillaris aff. tonkinensis
Polyspora axillaris aff. tonkinensis
Polyspora axillaris aff. tonkinensis
Polyspora axillaris aff. tonkinensis
Polyspora axillaris aff. tonkinensis
And a certain dead!
certain dead!
certain dead!
Another Rhododendron ririei just opening.
Rhododendron ririei
Rhododendron ririei
Half dead again – this one a scented variety.
Half dead again – this one a scented variety
Half dead again – this one a scented variety

2022 – CHW
A fallen leaf under Magnolia dealbata with its silvery underside. The last leaves fell only in mid-December.

Magnolia dealbata
Magnolia dealbata
Lomatia tinctoria had a few seeds but they have shed and we have missed them.
Lomatia tinctoria
Lomatia tinctoria
A perfect flower on Rhododendron ‘Red Admiral’.
Rhododendron ‘Red Admiral’
Rhododendron ‘Red Admiral’
Another laurel hedge cut back before the start of the opening season. This one below Engine House.
laurel hedge
laurel hedge
laurel hedge
laurel hedge
Flowers on Rhododendron ririei now properly out. Note the different colour on the tight buds.
Rhododendron ririei
Rhododendron ririei
Rhododendron ririei
Rhododendron ririei
First flower half out only on Rhododendron ‘Mrs J C Williams’.
Rhododendron ‘Mrs J C Williams’
Rhododendron ‘Mrs J C Williams’
Camellia ‘Cornish Spring’ full out but it rather hides its flowers inside the bush. A good thing with a tight rounded habit.
Camellia ‘Cornish Spring’
Camellia ‘Cornish Spring’
Camellia ‘Cornish Spring’
Camellia ‘Cornish Spring’
A fine flower on Camellia x williamsii ‘Caerhays’.
Camellia x williamsii ‘Caerhays’
Camellia x williamsii ‘Caerhays’
Camellia x williamsii ‘George Blandford’ and Camellia ‘Alba Simplex’ above the greenhouse.
Camellia x williamsii ‘George Blandford’
Camellia x williamsii ‘George Blandford’
The fourth magnolia to flower here this year is a Magnolia ‘Lanarth’. A graft from the original plant at Lanarth at the top of the lawn there and earlier into flower than all our other plants. At Lanarth it is often out in mid to late January so clearly a very early form. There are five or six original ‘Lanarth’ still surviving at Lanarth and all this shape of flower with slight colour variations.
Magnolia ‘Lanarth’
Magnolia ‘Lanarth’
Magnolia ‘Lanarth’
Magnolia ‘Lanarth’

2021 – CHW
The mystery picture which we did not think was actually taken here between 1907 and 1914 or, perhaps, in 1921 has now been inverted as you can see.
inverted
inverted
This is indeed the second building at the other end of the top wall by the greenhouse. It does not have a chimney today but the remains of the internal brick chimney are visible inside the building.
second building
second building
second building
second building
second building
second building
second building
second building
remains of the internal brick chimney
remains of the internal brick chimney
The pink Rhododendron arboreums in the picture still exist at least 100 years on but, as you can see today, they are nearing the end of their lives. The tree heathers and large clump of Rhododendron ‘Cornish Red’ are still there.
Rhododendron arboreum subsp. cinnamomium
Rhododendron arboreum subsp. cinnamomium
Rhododendron arboreum subsp. cinnamomium
Rhododendron arboreum subsp. cinnamomium

If you use a magnifying glass you can just see a greenhouse behind the seat. A larger and more modern one is there today. The orchid house and galvanised potting shed are also just visible and are still there.On another similar tack Jaimie has been sent a 1925 picture (postcard) of the castle and Porthluney Beach. The former boathouse is visible and there seem to be more walls and structures on the left of the beach than remain today.

1925 picture (postcard)
1925 picture (postcard)

The erosion of the cliffs has been dramatic along the coastline shown here in the last 95 years.Two odd bits of history!

Here is a short film of the flooded road from Penvergate to Rescassa taken on Sunday afternoon. The worst flooding in the water meadows since spring 2014 we think and far worse than pre-Christmas this year.

2020 – CHW
The rather insipid coloured Magnolia campbellii up by Tin Garden is now more or less full out.
Magnolia campbellii
Magnolia campbellii
Likewise the Magnolia campbellii ‘Strybing White’ towards Georges Hut.
Magnolia campbellii ‘Strybing White’
Magnolia campbellii ‘Strybing White’
Magnolia campbellii ‘Strybing White’
Magnolia campbellii ‘Strybing White’

2019 – CHW
The squirrels caught in the garden in 2018 totalled 115 using these Kania 2000 traps. In the last month, and using the newly legal automated New Zealand traps, we have managed another 15 as conditions have got colder and the availability of natural seeds and berries has declined. Of these nearly every one has been female. Despite the cull there has still been some serious squirrel damage to immature trees in the garden as we have seen in the past few months. It is clear that squirrels migrate from hedgerows around corn and maize fields after harvest and recolonise woodland areas with over mature trees (ie holes) and existing dreys. On sunny days when going around the garden you can still frequently see squirrels foraging far and wide exploring new territories and resettling in them. This is an ongoing battle which we are unlikely ever to win completely. Up to six years ago poison hoppers did a far better and more effective job of squirrel control before supplies ran out and the Swedish company which had the European patent declined to renew it on the grounds of cost. It is generally believed that the poison was made illegal but this is something of a fallacy as it can still be used to control squirrels in grain barns or attics or so I believe.
Kania 2000 traps
Kania 2000 traps

2018 – CHW
Plenty of early new growth on Fuchsia gracilis confirming a frost free winter.
Fuchsia gracilis
Fuchsia gracilis
Garrya elliptica ‘James Roof’ with its gigantic tassels of flowers is superb today. What a plant!
Garrya elliptica ‘James Roof’
Garrya elliptica ‘James Roof’
Garrya elliptica ‘James Roof’
Garrya elliptica ‘James Roof’
The scented narcissii by the Dining Room window are nearly over.
scented narcissii
scented narcissii
Clematis cirrhosa var balerica is full out on the wall. The speckles of red or pink are on the insides of the petals and not readily visible as the flowers hang here.
Clematis cirrhosa var balerica
Clematis cirrhosa var balerica
Clematis cirrhosa var balerica
Clematis cirrhosa var balerica
A huge crop of Echium pininana seedlings have emerged below this year’s flowering spikes which have now been removed.
Echium pininana
Echium pininana
And several of these biennial plants well on to flower by or before Chelsea time this year.
several of these biennial plants well on to flower
several of these biennial plants well on to flower

2017 – CHW
Another magnolia is just coming out – Magnolia sprengeri ‘Copeland Court’. It is a bit battered and blown open early but the colour is good even if the flowers are small. Colour varies. Those blown open early are too pale but some are a good dark colour as they should be.
Magnolia sprengeri ‘Copeland Court’
Magnolia sprengeri ‘Copeland Court’
Magnolia sprengeri ‘Copeland Court’
Magnolia sprengeri ‘Copeland Court’
Magnolia sprengeri ‘Copeland Court’
Magnolia sprengeri ‘Copeland Court’
Magnolia sprengeri ‘Copeland Court’
Magnolia sprengeri ‘Copeland Court’

2016 – CHW
Here is something peculiar! A well established self sown Thuja plicata growing happily on the fallen trunk of one of its parents in Brownberry Wood. Actually Jaimie Parsons took this picture while beating last week so I can claim no credit for unearthing this horticultural curiosity for you. The trunk of the parent is still alive so the sapling may or may not triumph eventually.

Thuja plicata
Thuja plicata
Thuja plicata
Thuja plicata

2005 – FJW
Magnolia flower can be seen from the front door.1992 – FJW
A little rain fell.1990 – FJW
A fresh flower on original Mag sprengeri diva (Michael Lear saw it yesterday) – Bishop Peter shows colour.1969 – FJW
Trewidden Grande very good.1962 – FJW
St Ewe hedge very good. Too mild – cut back by Lord Headford and Plagianthus. 2 nice flowers of early Sutch. Arb. hybrid.

1929 – JCW
Much as in 1918 but no big coloured Rhodo’s show flower, a late season.

1926 – JCW
No daffs in the Tin Garden, Irroratum, Moupinense, blood red Arboreum and blood red [?] show flower, Barbatum open and Scabrifolium is very good, also several Primroses are open and E. hybrida is very good.

1922 – JCW
Nearly 20 species of Rhodo are open a bit, perhaps Irroratum and Scabrifolium are the best. Erica darlyense is very fine this year.

1920 – JCW
There are 21 species of Rhodo showing some flower Lutescens – Scabrifolium and Sutchunense are good, Praecox is the best thing open.

1916 – JCW
Rhodo’ species in flower Lutescens, Sutchuenense, Flavidum, Intricatum, Oleifolium, Barbatum, Arboreum (pink), Longistylum, Moupinense, Ciliatum and Argenteum.

1904 – JCW
Picked five seedling trumpets half open, one of them a Cyc X.