11th March

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

I need photographs for the website of Magnolia salicifolia ‘Rosea’ but it is nowhere near out yet. Triple stemmed as you see here.

Magnolia salicifolia ‘Rosea’
Magnolia salicifolia ‘Rosea’
Michelia maudiae and Magnolia cylindrica.
Michelia maudiae and Magnolia cylindrica
Michelia maudiae and Magnolia cylindrica
Just a hint of pink at the base of the flowers in our original dwarfish Magnolia cylindrica.
Magnolia cylindrica
Magnolia cylindrica
Magnolia cylindrica
Magnolia cylindrica
Wind scorching on the leaves of Podocarpus henkelii is recent.
Podocarpus henkelii
Podocarpus henkelii
But beside it Acer mandshuricum is already in full leaf. A high risk species!
Acer mandshuricum
Acer mandshuricum
Leaves emerging on Acer palmatum ‘Orange Dream’.
Acer palmatum ‘Orange Dream’
Acer palmatum ‘Orange Dream’
Magnolia ‘Tina Durio’ is an excellent smallish growing white magnolia. We now have 3 in the garden. Good against a black sky.
Magnolia ‘Tina Durio’
Magnolia ‘Tina Durio’
Phil Savage’s Magnolia ‘Big Dude’ is not that huge a flower really but a nice thing. (M. x soulangeana ‘Wada’s Picture’ x M. sprengeri ‘Diva’). Similarly M. ‘Mossman’s Grant’ and M. ‘Frank’s Masterpiece’, which both grow nearby, are not huge flowers either by comparison to modern day hybrids. All 3 USA bred.
Magnolia ‘Big Dude’
Magnolia ‘Big Dude’
Magnolia ‘Big Dude’
Magnolia ‘Big Dude’
Magnolia ‘Todd’s Fortyniner’ still performing 6 weeks after we saw it first in colour. Leaves now appearing. How has it lasted so well through such filthy weather?
Magnolia ‘Todd’s Fortyniner’
Magnolia ‘Todd’s Fortyniner’
The old cones on Araucaria angustifolia are now starting to disintegrate.
Araucaria angustifolia
Araucaria angustifolia
Magnolia campbellii var. alba seedling and Magnolia ‘Kew’s Surprise’.
Magnolia campbellii var. alba seedling and Magnolia ‘Kew’s Surprise’
Magnolia campbellii var. alba seedling and Magnolia ‘Kew’s Surprise’
Magnolia campbellii var. alba seedling and Magnolia ‘Black Tulip’.
Magnolia campbellii var. alba seedling and Magnolia ‘Black Tulip’
Magnolia campbellii var. alba seedling and Magnolia ‘Black Tulip’
Rhododendron cilpinense and Rhododendron moupinense at the entrance to the gardens. These are seldom full out at the same time together.
Rhododendron cilpinense and Rhododendron moupinense
Rhododendron cilpinense and Rhododendron moupinense

2023 – CHW
Jaimie spots a rare (for us) group of Crocus amid a bank of naturalised wild daffodils in the Aucklandii Garden.

group of Crocus
group of Crocus
Camellia lecture and tour today. Rhododendron lutescens and Rhododendron arboreum subsp. delavayi out together by the main quarry.
Rhododendron lutescens and Rhododendron arboreum subsp. delavayi
Rhododendron lutescens and Rhododendron arboreum subsp. delavayi
Then to Tregrehan and the sight of seeds on Schefflera rhododendrifolia with a distinct trunk up against the east facing side of the house.
Schefflera rhododendrifolia
Schefflera rhododendrifolia
Schefflera rhododendrifolia
Schefflera rhododendrifolia
Schefflera rhododendrifolia
Schefflera rhododendrifolia
Seeds on Sarcococca wallichii.
Seeds on Sarcococca wallichii
Seeds on Sarcococca wallichii
Nestegis cunninghamii. A New Zealand genus.
Nestegis cunninghamii
Nestegis cunninghamii
Nestegis cunninghamii
Nestegis cunninghamii
Illicium simonsii in full flower. Some pleasantly scented and some not.
Illicium simonsii
Illicium simonsii
Illicium simonsii
Illicium simonsii
Rhododendron ramsdenianum very fine. A hybrid not a species dating from the 1920’s.
Rhododendron ramsdenianum
Rhododendron ramsdenianum
Rhododendron ramsdenianum
Rhododendron ramsdenianum
Rhododendron ramsdenianum
Rhododendron ramsdenianum
A wild collected but unnamed Luculia species. Very different from L. gratissima and growing outside in full shade as a shrub.
unnamed Luculia species
unnamed Luculia species
Brassaiopsis bodinieri in a Tregrehan greenhouse. We have already lost this once outside but are trying again.
Brassaiopsis bodinieri
Brassaiopsis bodinieri
Brassaiopsis bodinieri
Brassaiopsis bodinieri
Strelitzia nichollii growing inside and now in the Burncoose catalogue. This species has white flowers.
Strelitzia nichollii
Strelitzia nichollii
Strelitzia nichollii
Strelitzia nichollii
Strelitzia nichollii
Strelitzia nichollii
Melastomajacene [?] from Ecuador. Extraordinary thing.
Melastomajacene
Melastomajacene
Melastomajacene
Melastomajacene
Seed heads on Vallea stipularis which I have not see before.
Vallea stipularis
Vallea stipularis
Dichroa in leaf and flower in March!
Dichroa
Dichroa

2022 – CHW

Just look at this bit of fly tipping in the road between Trencreek and Rosevallon farms which occurred on the evening of 6th March. The council had to shut the road to clear the mess which was, fortunately, not in one of our gateways leaving it for us to pay for the clear up ourselves. Surely someone on the Roseland Peninsula knows who this builder might have been who collected this rubbish from a site?

fly tipping
fly tipping
fly tipping
fly tipping
In 1981 the Queen Mother planted this magnolia seedling by Georges Hut. A Magnolia mollicomata x Magnolia sargentiana robusta seedling with more trace of the former in the flower.
Magnolia mollicomata x Magnolia sargentiana robusta seedling
Magnolia mollicomata x Magnolia sargentiana robusta seedling
Magnolia mollicomata x Magnolia sargentiana robusta seedling
Magnolia mollicomata x Magnolia sargentiana robusta seedling
Only the petals (tepals) now remain under the New Zealand form of Magnolia ‘Lanarth’.
Magnolia ‘Lanarth’
Magnolia ‘Lanarth’
Two young plants of Camellia reticulata ‘Captain Rawes’ now in full flower. Floppy plants which need serious staking. Enormous flowers compared to those on our elderly and dying plants on Rookery Path or below the greenhouses.
Camellia reticulata ‘Captain Rawes’
Camellia reticulata ‘Captain Rawes’
Camellia reticulata ‘Captain Rawes’
Camellia reticulata ‘Captain Rawes’
A few of our entries for the RHS Rosemoor Early Camellia Competition show on Saturday:
Camellia ‘Ruby Wedding’
Camellia ‘Ruby Wedding’
Camellia ‘Ruby Wedding’
Camellia reticulata – white form
Camellia reticulata – white form
Camellia reticulata – white form
Nearly open magnolia buds picked from the garden winds today and wrapped in loo paper for the show.
magnolia buds
magnolia buds
Camellias in buckets for the Rosemoor display of x williamsii camellia varieties.
Camellias
Camellias
The magnolia flowers are all set up for tomorrow’s lecture (full house). Not as many as usual to display as the winds have damaged a lot in the last few days.
magnolia flowers are all set up for tomorrow’s lecture
magnolia flowers are all set up for tomorrow’s lecture
magnolia flowers are all set up for tomorrow’s lecture
magnolia flowers are all set up for tomorrow’s lecture

2021 – CHW
Then came gales and rain after three nights of frosts. Another problem for the magnolias this year but the wind is in the south west so will be over the top of them and they should get through it.I had forgotten where we had planted this large Cinnamomum japonicum and had been looking for it for the last three days as it is a new introduction into the Burncoose catalogue and needs to be photographed! It was in Old Park nestled in by an old Quercus acuta and a Quercus phillyreoides.
Cinnamomum japonicum
Cinnamomum japonicum
Cinnamomum japonicum
Cinnamomum japonicum
Tree surgery on more sweet chestnuts in Old Park. Some felled, some with just dead branches removed. All under a statutory felling order.
sweet chestnuts
sweet chestnuts
sweet chestnuts
sweet chestnuts
One forgets what a frost pocket Old Park is where the valley is much narrower. Here a Magnolia ‘Caerhays Belle’ which will not be wasting any energy this year on its flowers!
Magnolia ‘Caerhays Belle’
Magnolia ‘Caerhays Belle’
One day on and the beech tree above Higher Quarry Nursery is nearly dealt with. The Aucuba hedge will hopefully reshoot but not many plants left this end of the nursery bed. Not that much rot in the centre of the trunk of the beech tree. An unusual direction to the wind (NE) caused it to topple prematurely.
beech tree
beech tree
beech tree
beech tree
beech tree
beech tree
beech tree
beech tree
For the last fortnight we had been wondering why the lake was still so full. The sluice gate hinges had rusted off and the sluice had dropped down preventing any water from flowing except over the top of it. New metalwork and a new wooden cross beam now while a rope does the job for the moment.
sluice gate
sluice gate
A load of laurels for planting out as shelterbelts in the Rookery and below Hovel Cart Road.
laurels
laurels
Just two flowers on Magnolia ‘Big Dude’ this year. They are certainly large!
Magnolia ‘Big Dude’
Magnolia ‘Big Dude’
A pink form of Camellia granthamiana which may not be correctly named as granthamiana normally has pendant white flowers. The leaf looks correct though.
Camellia granthamiana
Camellia granthamiana
Camellia granthamiana
Camellia granthamiana
Camellia ‘Drama Girl’ just coming out with its gigantic flowers.
Camellia ‘Drama Girl’
Camellia ‘Drama Girl’
Camellia ‘Drama Girl’
Camellia ‘Drama Girl’
The Magnolia campbellii which took 43 years to first flower is just out in the mist and drizzle. Very pale in colour and quite small flowers but they are the right shape.
Magnolia campbellii
Magnolia campbellii
The first acer into leaf that I have so far seen this year – Acer tegmentosum ‘Joe Witt’.
Acer tegmentosum ‘Joe Witt’
Acer tegmentosum ‘Joe Witt’
Michelia doltsopa rushing out in the mizzle by Georges Hut.
Michelia doltsopa
Michelia doltsopa
The original Magnolia ‘Delia Williams’ now full out but no blue sky today to see it properly.
Magnolia ‘Delia Williams’
Magnolia ‘Delia Williams’
This is the second flowering of Jaimie’s latest magnolia hybrid. A cross between Magnolia campbellii and Magnolia ‘F J Williams’. In the mist the flowers seem a good colour but not (yet) exceptional. The flowers are variable in colour due to wind and frost. It will be another year or two before we can say with certainty that this new hybrid is good enough to perhaps be worth naming. It is not unusual for quick growing magnolia seedlings to settle into a pattern of properly flowering three to four years after their first light flowerings. M. campbellii crosses are notoriously slow to flower as we know.
Magnolia campbellii and Magnolia ‘F J Williams’
Magnolia campbellii and Magnolia ‘F J Williams’

2020 – CHW
In my absence undertaking a planting job on the Belvoir Estate and visiting a new client in Ascot Jaimie took yet more wonderful pictures of Magnolia ‘Mr Julian’ and Magnolia ‘Caerhays Splendour’ as well as a few others while starting to cut the flowers for our entries at the Rosemoor show next weekend.
Magnolia ‘Mr Julian’
Magnolia ‘Mr Julian’
Magnolia ‘Mr Julian’
Magnolia ‘Mr Julian’
Magnolia ‘Mr Julian’
Magnolia ‘Mr Julian’
Magnolia ‘Caerhays Splendour’
Magnolia ‘Caerhays Splendour’
Magnolia ‘Caerhays Splendour’
Magnolia ‘Caerhays Splendour’
This is the original and true Magnolia campbellii ‘Alba’ between showers. Now full out.
Magnolia campbellii ‘Alba’
Magnolia campbellii ‘Alba’
Early flowers out on Magnolia ‘Caerhays Surprise’. Perhaps a fortnight before expected most years.
Magnolia ‘Caerhays Surprise’
Magnolia ‘Caerhays Surprise’
Magnolia ‘Caerhays Surprise’
Magnolia ‘Caerhays Surprise’
Magnolia denudata ‘Double Diamond’ battered by hailstorms earlier this week in Kennel Close. There is a large tree at Burncoose but this is its first flowering here.
Magnolia denudata ‘Double Diamond’
Magnolia denudata ‘Double Diamond’
The oldest Magnolia sargentiana var. robusta absolutely perfect in the Ririeii Opening.
Magnolia sargentiana var. robusta
Magnolia sargentiana var. robusta
Magnolia sargentiana var. robusta
Magnolia sargentiana var. robusta
A load of plants ready to go out at Belvoir in a lakeside setting which you can see a glimpse of here amid the showers and in a gale.
Belvoir
Belvoir
Belvoir
Belvoir
Belvoir
Belvoir
Belvoir
Belvoir

2019 – CHW
First very early flowers on a single plant of Rhododendron augustinii. A pale form.
Rhododendron augustinii
Rhododendron augustinii
First flowering of Magnolia ‘Sentinel’ in the Isla Rose Plantation. Nothing, as yet, to get very excited about. I need to research the parentage as this is a new one to us.
Magnolia ‘Sentinel’
Magnolia ‘Sentinel’
Magnolia ‘Tina Durio’ does have some pink markings or veining on some of the inner tepals just as they open out.
Magnolia ‘Tina Durio’
Magnolia ‘Tina Durio’
Magnolia ‘Tina Durio’
Magnolia ‘Tina Durio’
Camellia fraterna with much earlier and larger flowers than last year. The flowers seem to turn into the plant and are not easily appreciated. A pretty species none the less with leathery leaves which are a pale green.
Camellia fraterna
Camellia fraterna
Camellia fraterna
Camellia fraterna
Rhododendron moupinense at its best. First odd flower photographed a good 10 weeks ago but not on this plant.
Rhododendron moupinense
Rhododendron moupinense
Rhododendron moupinense
Rhododendron moupinense
The New Zealand bred Magnolia ‘Cleopatra’ just coming out.
Magnolia ‘Cleopatra’
Magnolia ‘Cleopatra’
Magnolia ‘Cleopatra’
Magnolia ‘Cleopatra’
Magnolia x loebneri ‘Pink Cloud’ is another misnamed one really (like Magnolia zenii ‘Pink Parchment’). Just a hint of pink in the bud before it opens a conventional white. Battered in the wind I fear.
Magnolia x loebneri ‘Pink Cloud’
Magnolia x loebneri ‘Pink Cloud’
Magnolia x loebneri ‘Pink Cloud’
Magnolia x loebneri ‘Pink Cloud’
Magnolia x loebneri ‘Wildcat’ has extraordinary rose-like flowers.
Magnolia x loebneri ‘Wildcat’
Magnolia x loebneri ‘Wildcat’
Magnolia x loebneri ‘Wildcat’
Magnolia x loebneri ‘Wildcat’

2018 – CHW
I had thought this was frost damage or splitting on the trunks of Hydrangea aspara spp. robusta

Hydrangea aspara spp. robusta
Hydrangea aspara spp. robusta
Hydrangea aspara spp. robusta
Hydrangea aspara spp. robusta
Then I see it also on hydrangea villosa nearby so it’s a natural phenomenon and not serious damage.
hydrangea villosa
hydrangea villosa
hydrangea villosa
hydrangea villosa
A week on from snow and a hydrangea clump with plenty of new growth.
hydrangea clump
hydrangea clump
hydrangea clump
hydrangea clump

Then a further quest for Camellias to encourage people to visit the garden which is suddenly far from dead, depressed or devastated. Although a north wind with cold showers for Mothering Sunday the Camellias are coming into their peak. A little late due to the snow but none the worse for that.Camellia reticulata ‘William Hertrich’ is excellent.

Camellia reticulata ‘William Hertrich’
Camellia reticulata ‘William Hertrich’
Camellia reticulata ‘William Hertrich’
Camellia reticulata ‘William Hertrich’
Camellia reticulata ‘Lasca Beauty’ is just opening.
Camellia reticulata ‘Lasca Beauty’
Camellia reticulata ‘Lasca Beauty’
Camellia reticulata ‘Lasca Beauty’
Camellia reticulata ‘Lasca Beauty’
Rhododendron ‘Mrs J.C.Williams’ is just opening.
Rhododendron ‘Mrs J.C.Williams’
Rhododendron ‘Mrs J.C.Williams’
Camellia ‘Dream Castle’, which was cut back 2 years ago, is restored to its full glory.
Camellia ‘Dream Castle’
Camellia ‘Dream Castle’
Camellia ‘Dream Castle’
Camellia ‘Dream Castle’
Camellia ‘Dream Boat’ is a new one to us. Better when fully open.
Camellia ‘Dream Boat’
Camellia ‘Dream Boat’
Camellia ‘Dream Boat’
Camellia ‘Dream Boat’
A rather better flowerd Camellia ‘Galaxie’ then we looked at the other day.
Camellia ‘Galaxie’
Camellia ‘Galaxie’
Camellia ‘Galaxie’
Camellia ‘Galaxie’
Schefflera macrophylla untouched by frost or cold of -9oC!!
Schefflera macrophylla
Schefflera macrophylla
Schefflera macrophylla
Schefflera macrophylla
Camellia ‘Grandiflora Alba’ just coming out again. Loads of buds and only the odd flower frosted earlier.
Camellia ‘Grandiflora Alba’
Camellia ‘Grandiflora Alba’
Camellia ‘Grandiflora Alba’
Camellia ‘Grandiflora Alba’
Camellia ‘Cornish Snow’ still with a good new show of flowers. Again this started flowering in December.
Camellia ‘Cornish Snow’
Camellia ‘Cornish Snow’
Camellia ‘Cornish Snow’
Camellia ‘Cornish Snow’
First flowers on a young Rhododendron calophytum. They will soon fade to white but the blotch is nice.
Rhododendron calophytum
Rhododendron calophytum
Rhododendron calophytum
Rhododendron calophytum
Camellia ‘Mrs D.W. Davis’ with its droopy habit and huge flowers is just out for the first time this year.
Camellia ‘Mrs D.W. Davis’
Camellia ‘Mrs D.W. Davis’
Camellia ‘Mrs D.W. Davis’
Camellia ‘Mrs D.W. Davis’
Syringa reticulata already in leaf/growth a week on from the icy winds.
Syringa reticulata
Syringa reticulata
Camellia ‘Silver Anniversary’ out again too. Just the first few flowers lost.
Camellia ‘Silver Anniversary’
Camellia ‘Silver Anniversary’
Camellia ‘Silver Anniversary’
Camellia ‘Silver Anniversary’
The dainty Camellia ‘Cornish Spring’ is a great show below Burns Bank.
Camellia ‘Cornish Spring’
Camellia ‘Cornish Spring’
Camellia ‘Cornish Spring’
Camellia ‘Cornish Spring’
Masses to see and admire on a rather unmotherly Sunday. Lizzie has had to rush to Cheshire where her mother has had a stroke.

2017 – CHW
The first Rosemoor Show is a disaster. The tent erected collapses so the classes are stuck in various rooms. We stage the magnolias on Friday night and they have flopped badly in the heat by the time of judging. No cup this year (first time for five years!). This is what they originally looked like! A confused show with a few nice things which were new:

magnolias on Friday night
magnolias on Friday night
magnolias on Friday night
magnolias on Friday night
magnolias on Friday night
magnolias on Friday night
magnolias on Friday night
magnolias on Friday night
magnolias on Friday night
magnolias on Friday night
Acacia potaczeki was attractive and new to me.
Acacia potaczeki
Acacia potaczeki
Acacia potaczeki
Acacia potaczeki
Pieris formosa var forrestii ‘Rowallane Spike’ – flowers as its name implies.
Pieris formosa var forrestii ‘Rowallane Spike’
Pieris formosa var forrestii ‘Rowallane Spike’
Illicium simonsii won a cup (Trewithen). The flowers are rather hidden in the foliage.
Illicium simonsii
Illicium simonsii
Illicium simonsii
Illicium simonsii
Grevillea williamsonii – not my namesake but nice enough.
Grevillea williamsonii
Grevillea williamsonii
Grevillea williamsonii
Grevillea williamsonii
Then on into the Rosemoor garden which looks better every year. More work, more planting and even better labelling. Mulching is the key and the new beds are nicely planted with the rare and the common for all types of gardener.
A few things to consider obtaining for the 2018 Burncoose catalogue:Leucothoe fontanesiana Whitewater ‘Howw’ – large flowers, tall growing and an attractive habit. The best flowering leucothoe I have seen albeit with variegated foliage.
Leucothoe fontanesiana Whitewater ‘Howw’
Leucothoe fontanesiana Whitewater ‘Howw’
Leucothoe fontanesiana Whitewater ‘Howw’
Leucothoe fontanesiana Whitewater ‘Howw’
Leucothoe fontanesiana Whitewater ‘Howw’
Leucothoe fontanesiana Whitewater ‘Howw’
Prunus laurocerasus ‘Castlewellan’ – a great deal better than our erratic ‘Marbled White’.
Prunus laurocerasus ‘Castlewellan’
Prunus laurocerasus ‘Castlewellan’
Prunus laurocerasus ‘Castlewellan’
Prunus laurocerasus ‘Castlewellan’
Pittosporum dallii
Pittosporum dallii
Schefflera delavayi growing well with a little leaf yellowing over winter.
Schefflera delavayi
Schefflera delavayi
Schefflera delavayi
Schefflera delavayi
Pittosporum dallii – looks more like a pseudopanax.
Pittosporum dallii
Pittosporum dallii
Pittosporum dallii
Pittosporum dallii
Pittosporum dallii
Pittosporum dallii
Chionodoxa forbesii ‘Blue Giant’ would make an easy spring bulb pot sale with little effort.
Chionodoxa forbesii ‘Blue Giant’
Chionodoxa forbesii ‘Blue Giant’
Chionodoxa forbesii ‘Blue Giant’
Chionodoxa forbesii ‘Blue Giant’
Chionodoxa forbesii ‘Blue Giant’
Chionodoxa forbesii ‘Blue Giant’
Rhododendron Nimrod Group was very fine. A Rhododendron barbatum cross?
Rhododendron Nimrod Group
Rhododendron Nimrod Group
Forsystia x intermedia ‘Goldrush’ – huge flowers on this excellent form which was also for sale in their garden centre. I saw this last year too.
Forsystia x intermedia ‘Goldrush’
Forsystia x intermedia ‘Goldrush’
Forsystia x intermedia ‘Goldrush’
Forsystia x intermedia ‘Goldrush’
Forsystia x intermedia ‘Goldrush’
Forsystia x intermedia ‘Goldrush’
Xanthocyparis nootkatensis ‘Pendula’ – a superb and rare tree but could you ever grow it into a saleable state in a pot? (Recently reclassified as xanthocyparis rather than chamaecyparis.)
Xanthocyparis nootkatensis ‘Pendula’
Xanthocyparis nootkatensis ‘Pendula’
Xanthocyparis nootkatensis ‘Pendula’
Xanthocyparis nootkatensis ‘Pendula’
Xanthocyparis nootkatensis ‘Pendula’
Xanthocyparis nootkatensis ‘Pendula’
Xanthocyparis nootkatensis ‘Pendula’
Xanthocyparis nootkatensis ‘Pendula’
Aucuba japonica ‘Dentata’ – for shape and density as a large evergreen this was quite a surprise even if you do not like aucuba!
Aucuba japonica ‘Dentata’
Aucuba japonica ‘Dentata’
Aucuba japonica ‘Dentata’
Aucuba japonica ‘Dentata’
Aucuba japonica ‘Dentata’
Aucuba japonica ‘Dentata’
Chionodoca ‘Pink Giant’ – a good light pink form too which appeared to self sow itself.
Chionodoca ‘Pink Giant’
Chionodoca ‘Pink Giant’
Chionodoca ‘Pink Giant’
Chionodoca ‘Pink Giant’
Chionodoca ‘Pink Giant’
Chionodoca ‘Pink Giant’

And a few more novelties in the show itself when the judges eventually finished (late!).Magnolia (Michelia) maudiae – much larger flowers than I have ever seen before from Tregye.

Magnolia (Michelia) maudiae
Magnolia (Michelia) maudiae
Magnolia (Michelia) maudiae
Magnolia (Michelia) maudiae
Rhododendron vialii – almost a vireya but what a red!
Rhododendron vialii
Rhododendron vialii
Rhododendron vialii
Rhododendron vialii
Our Camellia ‘Lipstick’ is well worth propagating – no prize for this though.
Camellia ‘Lipstick’
Camellia ‘Lipstick’
Camellia ‘Sweet Jane’ a new Camellia transnokoensis hybrid so probably very tender. Better just opening than full out as you can see.
Camellia ‘Sweet Jane’
Camellia ‘Sweet Jane’

2016 – CHW
Berries linger in profusion on a sorbus tree (one of three in a row) above The Hovel. I think this was a Werrington plant from 40 plus years ago and the name may come to me. The original is in the Chinese Garden at Werrington. I have watched these berries since November and the pheasants as well as other birds have ignored them completely. On balance I do not think I will taste one.
sorbus tree berries
sorbus tree berries
The newish unnamed magnolia nearby (photographed last Sunday) is now full out and, despite being in the teeth of Wednesday’s northerly gales, there are still some good flowers. It is nice but my confirmed view is that it is not worth naming and registering as I had suspected previously. It may of course improve with age and it has been partly blown open early.
unnamed magnolia
unnamed magnolia
unnamed magnolia
unnamed magnolia
Evergreen Azalea ‘Shin-sekai’ with its white ‘hose-in-hose’ flowers is out very early by Red Linney. The last survivor of a once large clump.
Azalea ‘Shin-sekai’
Azalea ‘Shin-sekai’
Azalea ‘Shin-sekai’
Azalea ‘Shin-sekai’
The last few flowers on Rhododendron ‘Winter Intruder’ hang on in the sun. It must be nearly two months since I first pictured this group of young plants coming out below the drive.
Rhododendron ‘Winter Intruder’
Rhododendron ‘Winter Intruder’
Azalea ‘Greenway’ has a few rogue flowers out two months early. I saw this too on a plant near Trewithen House in early February and at Burncoose.
Azalea ‘Greenway’
Azalea ‘Greenway’
Magnolia ‘Pickards Garnet’ (possibly ‘Pickards Ruby’) has taken a heavy wind battering. The inside of the tepals will be white when fully open as are the tips now.
Magnolia ‘Pickards Garnet’
Magnolia ‘Pickards Garnet’
Magnolia denudata ‘Forrests Pink’ has also been more or less blasted away. Interesting to remember that we saw secondary (and darker) flowers on the same tree only last October.
Magnolia denudata ‘Forrests Pink’
Magnolia denudata ‘Forrests Pink’
The Meliosma flexuosa up Hovel Cart Road has still got most of last year’s leaves on the small tree. Bizarre! So we will not easily see the wonderful orange downing on the new leaf buds as they open soon which are one of the best features of this new and rare tree which we have yet to see flower.
Meliosma flexuosa
Meliosma flexuosa
The tangled mess that was the Higher Quarry Nursery bed can now be inspected in safety. The huge beech tree has pulverised everything including the rare Lyonia ovalifolia in the middle of the nursery. I guess this may well reshoot if cut back to near the base. That is about all that is left of it anyway. I see that my three Rhododendron calophytum have only been hit by twigs so those at least can now be moved as planned to a newly cleared site for them above the veitchii. It will take four men at least three days to carefully clear this mess and save whatever small rhododendrons that have not been crushed. The nursery bed fence will need to be completely rebuilt and quite where to have the bonfire is not obvious as yet without doing even more damage. We cannot have a fire in the nursery and expect to carry on using it for this purpose since the fire will sterilise the soil for decades. The only positive which comes from this disaster is that the nursery will, in future, have much more daylight and plants will grow better in it.
tangled mess that was the Higher Quarry Nursery bed
tangled mess that was the Higher Quarry Nursery bed
tangled mess that was the Higher Quarry Nursery bed
tangled mess that was the Higher Quarry Nursery bed
Above Higher Quarry Nursery and the mess are two rather delicate semi evergreen azaleas: one pink and one mauve. I have now idea of their names so need to consult the planting records again. Planted pre 1997 anyway.
Pink azalea
Pink azalea
Mauve azalea
Mauve azalea

Adjacent I find the first pieris of the year in flower.

first pieris of the year in flower
first pieris of the year in flower
Below Donkey Shoe is another storm casualty I mentioned on Wednesday. One of three mature Pieris ‘Charles Michael’ which has already had to be cut up to clear the path for visitors.
another storm casualty
another storm casualty
Another small Magnolia ‘J C Williams’ has a slightly blasted bud but what a colour. Its colleague was pictured on Sunday but had blown open prematurely and was far too pale and pink. This one is more like it yet no colour on the original tree on the drive.
Magnolia ‘J C Williams’
Magnolia ‘J C Williams’
On the bank at Hovel Cart Road is Lindera cercidifolia (planted 2002) coming nicely into flower and growing well in full sun. According to the reference books this is now Lindera obtusiloba (seen in bud last week). To me its growth habit is quite different to Lindera obtusiloba as are its flowers. Need to check the leaves later on. I suspect there is a good botanical muddle amongst the new lindera species found fairly recently mainly in China and introduced to the UK via the USA and Crug Farm. An interesting and appealing genus of which half are evergreen and half deciduous. Lindera megaphylla has been a survivor here for 100 years as has Lindera communis which now looks sick. ‘New Trees’ again records Lindera communis as ‘new’ when it clearly is not. I lose track of how many times we can prove this. If only the authors had consulted us a bit more before publication of such a valuable reference book! So called experts disagreeing is great fun.
Lindera cercidifolia
Lindera cercidifolia
Lindera cercidifolia
Lindera cercidifolia

2015 – CHW

MAGNOLIA Bishop Peter
MAGNOLIA ‘Bishop Peter’
MAGNOLIA Bishop Michael
MAGNOLIA ‘Bishop Michael’

My father named two very early flowering Magnolia ‘Lanarth’ seedlings ‘Bishop Peter’ and‘Bishop Michael’ (two bishops of Truro from the 1980s). Peter is darker purple and sometimes the first magnolia to show colour in the garden by Georges Hut; but not this year although it is full out today. There has been much recent debate as to what has happened to the much paler ‘Bishop Michael’ and where he is today? Michael used to be in Rogers Quarry but was cut down 15 years ago to make room for the Magnolia campbellii Alba and a much darker but more true to type and later flowering Magnolia ‘Lanarth’ seedling. However scions must have been sent to Eisenhut in Switzerland for propagation since there are very pale upright growing Lanarth seedlings at Caerhays and Burncoose. At Burncoose the plant is on the edge of the front lawn at 8 to 10 feet. At Caerhays the newer plant, which is undoubtedly also ‘Bishop Michael’ (although just labelled Lanarth), is 10 to 12 feet with 30 plus flowers full out. Both plants are worthy of proper naming and registration with the international Magnolia Society. The original ‘Bishop Peter’, in keeping with its parentage, is slow growing and compact but no more than 15 to 18 feet tall after 50 years. Jim Gardiner wants plants of each for Wisley.

2000 – FJW
Magnolias at their peak. Very good year indeed.

1958 – FJW
Cold continues 8-10 degrees of frost.

1931 – JCW

We had a frost last night which cleared the best lot of bloom we ever had on Rhodo’s on this day in March.

1928 – JCW

A frost on Friday night (9th) cut out almost all our argenteum blooms and some others but no hope in the ground.

1915 – JCW
A late daff year, a few trumpets red 32 and 197 trumpet open. The first buds of Auklandii x Arboreum opening, a bud or two Mrs Butler x Arboreum, several opening. Thomsonii x Arboreum just about there. Prunus pissardi moderate, too much bullfinch and a bad bad year for them. Some reticulatas show colour, many Lady Clares open.

1912 – JCW
(see 1897 the earliest year) CJ Backhouse over, many coloured flat eyes open and Magnolia halleana (stellata) is good. The red ribes are opening, Berberis darwinii shows colour, Prunus pissardi is well over. R ciliatum good, R barbatum going back.

1909 – JCW
None of the 1905 things open, plants have been at a standstill for a long while and we have a cold north gale now.

1905 – JCW
Narcissi King A open, also early de Graaff and white Princeps.

1899 – JCW
Narcissi horsfieldii one flower open, M Mume ditto, all G Spur, many Rho praecox, Mag halleana several, Dauntlep well out, flowers of 23, all the Italian.

1897 – JCW
Some Narcissi Emperor out, CJ Backhouse, M mume, K Spurrell (nearly), all the Golden Spur and Rho praecox seedlings. Jacko out.