19th 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

Rain from 4pm until dawn and, to my horror, the magnolias have rushed out even more. One good blast of east wind and the season will be over in mid-February with no one even seeing it. The gardening weekend is still 10 days away and, for the first time ever, on the first weekend in March. What will be left by then? At least my idea of moving the weekend forward has been vindicated.

The lake and water meadows have flooded again after more or less 48 hours of rain.

water meadows have flooded again
water meadows have flooded again
The first flower out on the 1897 planted Magnolia stellata on the lawn. Very early!
M. stellata
M. stellata
The last flower on Camellia x hiemalis ‘Ginryu’ beside the M. stellata.
Camellia x hiemalis ‘Ginryu’
Camellia x hiemalis ‘Ginryu’
Clematis armandii on the castle front with flowers going over already.
Clematis armandii
Clematis armandii
Clematis armandii
Clematis armandii
Clematis cirrhosa var. balearica full out but the pendulous flowers are hard to see properly.
Clematis cirrhosa var. balearica
Clematis cirrhosa var. balearica
A rubus cockburnianus sucker growing from a wall by the steps which needs removing. The rest of the clump has long gone leaving this unwelcome straggles.
rubus cockburnianus
rubus cockburnianus
Overnight the Magnolia ‘Caerhays Belle’ is out. Astounding how they rush on when the temperature is 12-14°c and there is no sun.
Magnolia ‘Caerhays Belle’
Magnolia ‘Caerhays Belle’
And Magnolia ‘Delia Williams’ on the lawn is full out in 24 hours.
Magnolia ‘Delia Williams’
Magnolia ‘Delia Williams’
Magnolia ‘Delia Williams’
Magnolia ‘Delia Williams’
Magnolia ‘Delia Williams’
Magnolia ‘Delia Williams’

2023 – CHW

Rhododendron ‘Winter Intruder’ now at its best a good month later than most years.

Rhododendron ‘Winter Intruder’
Rhododendron ‘Winter Intruder’
A potted Camellia x williamsii ‘Mary Phoebe Taylor’ at the Top Lodge. Alison’s ‘garden’ as good as ever.
Camellia x williamsii ‘Mary Phoebe Taylor’
Camellia x williamsii ‘Mary Phoebe Taylor’
This Pinus insignis is leaning a bit over the sunken sitting outside area at the Village Hall but I do not think there is a real threat of it collapsing, at least in the short term.
Pinus insignis
Pinus insignis
These willows and alders in the Village Hall garden hedge should be cut down though as they will soon collapse the stone faced hedges.
willows and alders
willows and alders
Camellia japonica ‘Alba Simplex’ at the Vean.
Camellia japonica ‘Alba Simplex’
Camellia japonica ‘Alba Simplex’
Camellia japonica ‘Magnoliaflora’ on the drive.
Camellia japonica ‘Magnoliaflora’
Camellia japonica ‘Magnoliaflora’
Camellia japonica ‘Dear Jenny’ just out and looking good.
Camellia japonica ‘Dear Jenny’
Camellia japonica ‘Dear Jenny’
The leaves of common garlic just emerging – again later than usual.
common garlic
common garlic
Rhododendron ‘Bo Peep’ – yellow form on the drive – well established young plants.
Rhododendron ‘Bo Peep’ – yellow form
Rhododendron ‘Bo Peep’ – yellow form
Rhododendron ‘Bo Peep’ – pink form.
Rhododendron ‘Bo Peep’ – pink form
Rhododendron ‘Bo Peep’ – pink form

2022 – CHW

So what did we all make of Storm Eunice yesterday? In the post pandemic era we shut down everything of course. One hundred and eighty Cornish schools shut, no refuse collection, no trains of any sort, no planes out of Newquay. The county council declared a state of emergency from their command bunker. So what actually happened?

The storm hit at 7am and I drove to Burncoose for a lengthy three and a half hour management meeting without seeing any trees down and with as little traffic as in April 2020 at the start of the pandemic. By 12.00 the storm had gone through and was just a windy day with sun and squalls of rain.

Radio Cornwall disgusted no one on the seafront was flooded on the hightide at 7am and hoped for better this evening. ‘Stay at home’ (in all circumstances) and ‘stay safe’; the usual covid cries repeated in another context. The highways authority said to Radio Cornwall that even van drivers should not go to work and most buses did not run. Total shutdown and totally unnecessary. A gross overreaction.

Nothing like as bad as the hurricane on 25/26th January 1990 and the weather charts showed that it was never going to be. ‘Keep safe’ and ‘do nothing’ a typical product of the current national work averse state of play. Frightening to older people but not that much worse than your typical Cornish westerly gale.

Three or four trees down at Burncoose and a few at Caerhays as you will see below and tomorrow. No electricity at Caerhays for about eight hours which was boring. About 10 to 14 days’ work to put back slates blown off quite a few estate roofs for the maintenance team but, as far as I know yet, not one insurance claim to raise. You might argue that we were just lucky but, those who remember January 1990, and any seafarer (which I am definitely not), would tell you that this was a very bad storm but hardly a national emergency. In a real hurricane the wind roars so loudly you cannot hear yourself speak.

Radio Cornwall reported five or six roads closed in the county due to fallen trees and two due to roof debris at 4pm. If the storm had come overnight I doubt many would have noticed. We had very similar storms in 2012 and 2018 with power cuts and trees down but not a countrywide lockdown thrown in.

The Met Office issued an amber warning for Wales and the south of England on Thursday. By Friday morning this had become a ‘very rare’ red warning. My guess is that ‘reds’ will now become the norm in a world where risk and personal choice are unknown. I blame the insidious health and safety culture which arrived from America (and then got reinforced by the EU) whereby every accident has to be blamed on someone and usually someone who can pay. In 50 years’ time we will need a risk assessment to get out of bed. War in Ukraine might, I suppose, finally break this mould of thought.

At the nursery today I enjoyed photographing in the gale:

Vinca difformis ‘Jenny Pym’

Vinca difformis ‘Jenny Pym’
Vinca difformis ‘Jenny Pym’
Vinca minor ‘Illumination’
Vinca minor ‘Illumination’
Vinca minor ‘Illumination’
Sophora microphylla ‘Sun King’ – out rather early.
Sophora microphylla ‘Sun King’
Sophora microphylla ‘Sun King’
Microbiota decussata – our stock plant with interesting ranges of brown colouration in its foliage.
Microbiota decussata
Microbiota decussata
Helleborus sternii and Helleborus ‘Winter Bells’ look good together.
Helleborus
Helleborus
Rhododendron ‘Ostara’
Rhododendron ‘Ostara’
Rhododendron ‘Ostara’
Camellia ‘Tricolor’ and Helleborus ‘Anne’s Red’ in the cash point.
Camellia ‘Tricolor’
Camellia ‘Tricolor’
A bit of the top of a greenhouse blown off. No tunnel covers split or broken in the storm which is highly unusual in a major weather event.
top of a greenhouse
top of a greenhouse
We actually laid these palms down ourselves to avoid them blowing around in the wind but it has not worked!
palms
palms
Camellia ‘Margaret Davis’ was especially fine in the camellia sales area.
Camellia ‘Margaret Davis’
Camellia ‘Margaret Davis’
Camellia ‘Margaret Davis’
Camellia ‘Margaret Davis’
The large and nearly dead Pinus insignis has gone over above the crossroads. My annual tree survey put this on the ‘to do’ list a while ago but nature has got in first.
Pinus insignis
Pinus insignis
A large beech tree has brought down a younger one in the Burncoose bluebell piece. The other elderly beeches need to go too. Another ‘at risk’ tree in the annual survey list as dangerous to the public to cross off.
beech
beech
beech
beech
Rhododendron ‘Praecox’ in the nursery.
Rhododendron ‘Praecox’
Rhododendron ‘Praecox’

2021 – CHW
The foundations for the new laundry processing building have been laid and the old stables here have been demolished. The laundry for the Vean and holiday lets will no longer be undertaken at the Vean so that the laundry room there can become a games room. At least for a year we will contract out the laundry to a third party.
foundations
foundations
I have always admired the snowdrops at the entrance to Penvergate Farm.
snowdrops
snowdrops
Penvergate is said to be the oldest building on the estate today after Caerhays Church. An odd shaped three bedroom (listed) house which has just become vacant for the first time for many years. A damp house in need of some renovation but it had a new roof about 15 years ago. We will be seeking a new tenant shortly with the option on some smallholding land.
Penvergate
Penvergate
There is an excellent Eucalyptus pauciflora in the Penvergate garden with masses of flower bud and old seed heads. The peeling brown and white bark is impressive.
Eucalyptus pauciflora
Eucalyptus pauciflora
Eucalyptus pauciflora
Eucalyptus pauciflora
Eucalyptus pauciflora
Eucalyptus pauciflora
Eucalyptus pauciflora
Eucalyptus pauciflora
Eucalyptus pauciflora
Eucalyptus pauciflora
Eucalyptus pauciflora
Eucalyptus pauciflora
Eucalyptus pauciflora
Eucalyptus pauciflora
Pheasant feeding prior to catching up the hens for the laying pens. After no shooting in November or January there are rather a lot of birds on the ground.
Pheasant feeding
Pheasant feeding
In and out on a planting day. These are Camellia x williamsii ‘November Pink’ seedlings at Red Linney which Jaimie raised. They are planted in full shade as a windbreak. Very variable and not much like ‘November Pink’!
Camellia x williamsii ‘November Pink’
Camellia x williamsii ‘November Pink’
Garlic growing fast after the cold.
Garlic
Garlic
These deciduous azaleas were cut down two years ago as 80+ year old plants. See how well they have rejuvenated. Loads of bud.
deciduous azaleas
deciduous azaleas
First drab flower on Magnolia campbellii ‘Lamellyn’. The original plant at Lamellyn by the house is superb but very early into flower as here.
Magnolia campbellii ‘Lamellyn’
Magnolia campbellii ‘Lamellyn’
x Sycoparrotia semidecidua is just opening its buds. A 15-18ft small tree where only the lower and more sheltered branches remain evergreen. Yellow anthers tinged red and a profusion of buds this year. Quite attractive bark too.
x Sycoparrotia semidecidua
x Sycoparrotia semidecidua
x Sycoparrotia semidecidua
x Sycoparrotia semidecidua
x Sycoparrotia semidecidua
x Sycoparrotia semidecidua
x Sycoparrotia semidecidua
x Sycoparrotia semidecidua
A clump of nine Rhododendron viscosum placed out below the drive at Four in Hand.
Rhododendron viscosum
Rhododendron viscosum
Prunus x incam ‘Okame’ with its first flowers out.
Prunus x incam ‘Okame’
Prunus x incam ‘Okame’
Prunus conradinae just showing.
Prunus conradinae
Prunus conradinae
Acer morifolium has attractive greenish-purple new growth shoots from last year and a purple hue overall from a distance. Planted in 2011.
Acer morifolium
Acer morifolium
Acer morifolium
Acer morifolium
Seats repaired for opening and four plants of nine different deciduous azaleas going into beside the path in Kennel Close to improve the late season show for visitors.
Kennel Close
Kennel Close
Prunus serrula’s bark just gets better and better.
Prunus serrula
Prunus serrula
Prunus serrula
Prunus serrula
Sadly the buds on Magnolia ‘Plum Pudding’ have been frosted to mush in some instances.
Magnolia ‘Plum Pudding’
Magnolia ‘Plum Pudding’
Camellia trachocarpa with its first bulbous and odd flower buds in the greenhouse. Serrated leaves.
Camellia trachocarpa
Camellia trachocarpa
Camellia trachocarpa
Camellia trachocarpa
Frankie has cleaned out the silting up which was causing the river to flow into the pond in floods. Thereby depositing all the silt in the pond which we do not want. The bank edge has increased by about a foot with, albeit, still wet mud.
pond
pond
pond
pond
Magnolia campbellii ‘Sidbury’ just opening in Penvergate. Not too bashed about thankfully and it should soon make a decent show.
Magnolia campbellii ‘Sidbury’
Magnolia campbellii ‘Sidbury’
Magnolia campbellii ‘Sidbury’
Magnolia campbellii ‘Sidbury’
We looked at a camellia hedge in Perranwell earlier this week. Here is the same thing as a camellia windbreak in Penvergate which protects the rhododendrons in the lee. A flowering windbreak!
camellia windbreak
camellia windbreak
camellia windbreak
camellia windbreak

2020 – CHW
Time to enjoy the first magnolias as I hope our early visitors are.Magnolia ‘F J Williams’ just coming out.
Magnolia ‘F J Williams’
Magnolia ‘F J Williams’
Magnolia ‘F J Williams’
Magnolia ‘F J Williams’
The yellow form of Magnolia campbellii full out.
yellow form of Magnolia campbellii
yellow form of Magnolia campbellii
Magnolia campbellii at its best.
Magnolia campbellii
Magnolia campbellii
Magnolia campbellii
Magnolia campbellii
Rhododendron ‘Maisie’
Rhododendron ‘Maisie’
Rhododendron ‘Maisie’
Rhododendron ‘Maisie’
Rhododendron ‘Maisie’
Rhododendron ‘Maisie’
Rhododendron ‘Maisie’
Magnolia campbellii ‘Darjeeling’ just out.
Magnolia campbellii ‘Darjeeling’
Magnolia campbellii ‘Darjeeling’
Magnolia campbellii ‘Darjeeling’
Magnolia campbellii ‘Darjeeling’
Magnolia ‘Aurora’ in Kennel Close (planted 2010).
Magnolia ‘Aurora’
Magnolia ‘Aurora’
Magnolia ‘Aurora’
Magnolia ‘Aurora’
Magnolia ‘Aurora’
Magnolia ‘Aurora’
Magnolia mollocomata ‘Werrington’ (planted 2012).
Magnolia mollocomata ‘Werrington’
Magnolia mollocomata ‘Werrington’
Magnolia mollocomata ‘Werrington’
Magnolia mollocomata ‘Werrington’
Magnolia mollocomata ‘Werrington’
Magnolia mollocomata ‘Werrington’
First flower on Magnolia ‘Betty Jessel’.
Magnolia ‘Betty Jessel’
Magnolia ‘Betty Jessel’
Buds opening on Magnolia ‘Ian’s Red’.
Magnolia ‘Ian’s Red’
Magnolia ‘Ian’s Red’
The start of Magnolia ‘Bishop Peter’.
Magnolia ‘Bishop Peter’
Magnolia ‘Bishop Peter’
The New Zealand form of Magnolia ‘Lanarth’ from a distance.
Magnolia ‘Lanarth’
Magnolia ‘Lanarth’

2019 – CHW
More magnolias rushing out in this perilously early season.Magnolia ‘Susanna van Veen’ is said to be the New Zealand version of Magnolia ‘Caerhays Belle’. Compare for yourself! Colour and size of flower come into it.
Magnolia ‘Susanna van Veen’
Magnolia ‘Susanna van Veen’
Magnolia ‘Caerhays Belle’
Magnolia ‘Caerhays Belle’
Magnolia ‘Caerhays Belle’
Magnolia ‘Ians Red’ nearly out.
Magnolia ‘Ians Red’
Magnolia ‘Ians Red’
Magnolia ‘Shirraz’ out much earlier than usual in three places in the garden.
Magnolia ‘Shirraz’
Magnolia ‘Shirraz’
A young Magnolia ‘Caerhays Belle’ with three bud casings rather than the usual two.
Magnolia ‘Caerhays Belle’
Magnolia ‘Caerhays Belle’
Magnolia ‘Philip Tregunna’ showing colour in the mist.
Magnolia ‘Philip Tregunna’
Magnolia ‘Philip Tregunna’
Magnolia campbellii from afar in the mizzle.
Magnolia campbellii
Magnolia campbellii

2018 – CHW
Between meetings a quick check on the state of play with the first decent magnolia flowers. They are still far from decent as yet!Erica arborea are a splendid show all over and quite untouched by the frost / cold wind earlier this week.
Erica arborea
Erica arborea
Erica arborea
Erica arborea
The Magnolia mollicomata seedling through the arch has moved on a bit with the odd flower blown open and very pale in colour with some browning.
Magnolia mollicomata seedling
Magnolia mollicomata seedling
Magnolia mollicomata seedling
Magnolia mollicomata seedling
A young Camellia ‘Adolphe Audusson’ with first flowers above the cash point.
Camellia ‘Adolphe Audusson’
Camellia ‘Adolphe Audusson’
A battered Camellia ‘China Doll’ as well with just a single flower.
Camellia ‘China Doll’
Camellia ‘China Doll’
The (record tree) 1913 Magnolia campbellii has some colour and the odd pale flower blown open lower down. A better colour peeping out at the top of the tree. For ‘spring to have sprung’ we need 50 flowers out on our M. campbellii. Still a week to 10 days off I suspect and in line with last year. Tregothnan’s campbellii has been blown away. Trewidden’s was nice a week ago. I will try and see Trewithen’s tomorrow after the Great Gardens meeting.
Magnolia campbellii
Magnolia campbellii
Magnolia campbellii
Magnolia campbellii
Camellia reticulata ‘Captain Rawes’ (dark Tregullow form) is now full out.
Camellia reticulata ‘Captain Rawes’
Camellia reticulata ‘Captain Rawes’
Bluebells (English!) now 12in or so out of the ground in the Auklandii Garden.
Bluebells (English!)
Bluebells (English!)
Two years since this rare Chilean conifer was planted out – Pilgerodendron uniferum. The structure of the needles or leaves is most intricate and attractive.
Pilgerodendron uniferum
Pilgerodendron uniferum
New signage on the new shop. New garden guide this year and the Isla Rose Plantation has changed the different routes a bit.
New signage on the new shop
New signage on the new shop
A new advertorial sign for The Vean and our holiday lets too with (at last) a proper location map.
new advertorial sign for The Vean and our holiday lets
new advertorial sign for The Vean and our holiday lets
First load of plants being set up in the plant sales area.
First load of plants being set up in the plant sales area
First load of plants being set up in the plant sales area
These few are novelties / new plants at Burncoose which we have snaffled to plant out when it finally dries up enough to start.
novelties / new plants
novelties / new plants
The Sarcocca hookeriana var digyna by the car park is a huge clump now in full flower. Still in full flower actually as I pictured it out at least three weeks ago.
Sarcocca hookeriana var digyna
Sarcocca hookeriana var digyna
Western Power are (very slowly) building a new shed to cover in the new transformer which supplies power to the castle. These three are at least a week into the job and the slate roof is still to do. Hope their risk assessments are all up to date!
Western Power are (very slowly) building a new shed
Western Power are (very slowly) building a new shed
Another lot of ‘you are here’ sign maps for around the gardens.
Another lot of ‘you are here’ sign maps
Another lot of ‘you are here’ sign maps
What a lot of new signage for this year to go with all the 170 new record tree signs which Karol and I plan to finish putting out before the end of the weekend.

2017 – CHW
Serena spent the day with two photographers and the features director of The Field getting shooting pictures for her forthcoming article which she has written. As a Purdey’s ambassador she has the full Purdey shooting kit and looks unbelievably smart. Will she be the cover girl for the May edition? She has her two dogs with her and Billy plus Nuttie go too which I fear may not have been that helpful.Quite a week for filming and publicity immediately prior to opening on Monday. ‘Salvage Hunters’ is viewed by two million people so we will see what this does to visitor numbers in due course!
2016 – CHW
BBC Spotlight TV news was not too bad last night and Michael was good but, as expected, the cameraman did his utmost NOT to show any magnolia flowers in the main clips. Better not say any more or suggest how he might do his job better!An hour with Asia in the greenhouse to show her the old fashioned way of planting magnolia seeds, 40 to a box, in wooden boxes. Very simple and a much easier way to grow on hundreds of seedlings for grafting which we need. Everything in the greenhouse needs some spring warmth to get going.Phil Knuckey and the Burncoose landscapers are trimming and pruning around The Vean. Brambles still to do and they will not finish today. All looking spring cleaned now.The Environment Agency contractors have started to build the new sluice gate in Penvergate and the lake is full of more herring gulls that I have ever seen. Swans, sheep and seagulls!
Environment Agency contractors
Environment Agency contractors
lake full of herring gulls
lake full of herring gulls

Now raining AGAIN and another wet weekend in prospect but no more frost we all hope.Magnolia ‘Iolanthe’ on the drive is showing colour absurdly early as this is a late April New Zealander normally.

Magnolia ‘Iolanthe’
Magnolia ‘Iolanthe’
Then we have a few really nice camellias towards the Top Lodge:
Camellia ‘Desire’
Camellia ‘Desire’

‘Desire’

Camellia ‘Mary-Phoebe Taylor’
Camellia ‘Mary-Phoebe Taylor’

‘Mary-Phoebe Taylor’

Camellia ‘Spring Festival’
Camellia ‘Spring Festival’
Camellia ‘Spring Festival’
Camellia ‘Spring Festival’

‘Spring Festival’

Opposite them is an ancient clump of Leujocum aestivum already in flower. The ‘summer snowflake’ and a form of snowdrop normally out in April or May. Bonkers again!

Leujocum aestivum
Leujocum aestivum

The new steel extension to the beach café is just up with its new cover but no sides as yet. It will be a huge improvement but too wet now for photographs.Karol has ‘done’ 175 missing website pictures found on his database with 125 more to go by Sunday. The total number of missing pictures on the Burncoose website should now be around 300 with 15,700 present and correct (four per plant online). It has taken nine years to get even close to a full set of good pictures of the plant in flower, leaf, pot, garden etc. We have not pinched anyone else’s so woe betide anyone caught pinching our copyright.

Karol has taken some nice new pictures of the Nash arch on a fine day which now dominates the car park and Porthluney cove. Visitors are in for a pleasant surprise.

Nash arch
Nash arch
Nash arch
Nash arch
Nash arch
Nash arch

The plant labels go out all over the garden for Monday’s opening.So a great deal is going on with many improvements coming to fruition on this dismal misty wet day. Roll on spring if it is not already here?

1994 – FJW
T Hudson seeds arrived.

1961 – FJW
Early year – Rhodo’s Grande – Sutch x Arboreum – Golden Oriole – R Admiral – well and truly open. Trewidden grafted Grande looking superb. Flower buds on Macabeanum. Mary Williams full out but C noblissima very late. Colour on G.B’s campbellii.

1958 – FJW
Crossbill coming. Well out are Rhodo praecox, ciliatums, irroratum, arboreums, 2 G. Oriole. Prunus pissardi also good.

1945 – CW
Rhodo barbatum, lutescens, ririei, also Blood Reds and Sutchuenense hybrids out, Leucaspis and both Moupinense and its hybrids. I picked 12 different red cups and clear yellows in Tin Garden. No magnolias showing colour. Single Camellias very good, Speciosa at its best.

1933 – JCW
No Magnolias yet. Rho lutescens should be very good shortly, the first Narcissus cyclamineus by this window shows colour.

1932 – JCW
No sign of a Magnolia anywhere. E darleyense V.G.

1921 – JCW
About 20 species of Rhodo show bloom, some Prunus conradinae very good, 2 dead with silverleaf. The heaths are nice, E darleyense has been very good since December. Camellia speciosa shows promise of being very nice, one bloom each on Magnolia kobus and Magnolia denudata.

1911 – JCW
Wilsons conifers etc soon here, and last week at Werrington.

1908 – JCW
The 1899 things are not open, some nice Arboreums are out. Anenome blanda is nice.

1899 – JCW
No reticulata, no C.J.B, or Cernuus, or Horsfieldi etc but Tenby, H Irving and Caerhays a good lot.

1898 – JCW
Many reticulata, picked some C J Backhouse, Cernuus at its best, some Horsfieldi out and a Sir Watkin. Jacko just breaks ground, Weardale only lately, nearly all Tenby and H Irving open, many Pallidus and Praecox.