15th 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

Another attempt to catch up with magnolias in flower. Today on the Drive.

Magnolia Cylindrica ‘Hohman’ (an August Kerr selection) was new to the Burncoose catalogue last year. A young plant flowering well just above the garden entrance.

Magnolia Cylindrica ‘Hohman’
Magnolia Cylindrica ‘Hohman’
Magnolia denudata ‘Forrest’s Pink’ is rather wind battered.
Magnolia denudata ‘Forrest’s Pink’
Magnolia denudata ‘Forrest’s Pink’
Magnolia ‘Felix Jury’ and Magnolia ‘Atlas’ above it at the Red Linney.
Magnolia ‘Felix Jury’ and Magnolia ‘Atlas’
Magnolia ‘Felix Jury’ and Magnolia ‘Atlas’
Magnolia ‘Purple Platter’ was planted in 2008 and now making a good show. New Zealand bred by Oswald Blumhardt it is M. ‘Iolanthe’ x M. soulangeana ‘Rustica Rubra’.
Magnolia ‘Purple Platter’
Magnolia ‘Purple Platter’
Magnolia x soulangeana ‘Dr Callies’ towards the Top Lodge.
Magnolia x soulangeana ‘Dr Callies’
Magnolia x soulangeana ‘Dr Callies’
Magnolia ‘Iolanthe’ was planted in 1999. A bit wind damaged this year.
Magnolia ‘Iolanthe’
Magnolia ‘Iolanthe’
Magnolia x loebneri ‘Wildcat’ and Magnolia ‘Red as Red’.
Magnolia x loebneri ‘Wildcat’ and Magnolia ‘Red as Red’
Magnolia x loebneri ‘Wildcat’ and Magnolia ‘Red as Red’
Magnolia stellata ‘Water Lily’ and Magnolia x loebneri ‘Wildcat’.
Magnolia stellata ‘Water Lily’ and Magnolia x loebneri ‘Wildcat’
Magnolia stellata ‘Water Lily’ and Magnolia x loebneri ‘Wildcat’
Magnolia ‘Mighty Mouse’ is actually a tiny flower on a dwarf growing shrub.
Magnolia ‘Mighty Mouse’
Magnolia ‘Mighty Mouse’
Magnolia ‘Mighty Mouse’
Magnolia ‘Mighty Mouse’
Magnolia ‘Apollo’ is normally out much later than this but not in this early year.
Magnolia ‘Apollo’
Magnolia ‘Apollo’
Magnolia ‘Cleopatra’.
Magnolia ‘Cleopatra’
Magnolia ‘Cleopatra’
Magnolia ‘Cleopatra’ and Magnolia ‘Apollo’.
Magnolia 'Cleopatra' and Magnolia ‘Apollo’
Magnolia ‘Cleopatra’ and Magnolia ‘Apollo’

2023 – CHW
A Burncoose planting day.Clematis armandii coming out in the nursery.

Clematis armandii
Clematis armandii
Daphne ‘Perfume Princess White’ is a recent new entry to the website.
Daphne ‘Perfume Princess White’
Daphne ‘Perfume Princess White’
Catkins on Salix caprea ‘Kilmarnock’ in the sunshine.
Salix caprea ‘Kilmarnock’
Salix caprea ‘Kilmarnock’
Magnolia sprengeri ‘Diva’ var. Burncoose full out and a little early by Burncoose House.
Magnolia sprengeri ‘Diva’
Magnolia sprengeri ‘Diva’
Beside Burncoose House are Magnolia x loebneri ‘Merrill’ and Magnolia sprengeri. ‘Diva’.
Magnolia x loebneri 'Merrill' and Magnolia sprengeri.‘Diva’
Magnolia x loebneri ‘Merrill’ and Magnolia sprengeri.‘Diva’

Burncoose Nurseries entrance with Magnolia mollicomata seedlings above a hedge of Camellia x williamsii ‘Donation’.

Magnolia mollicomata seedlings
Magnolia mollicomata seedlings
Magnolia mollicomata seedlings
Magnolia mollicomata seedlings

2022 – CHW

Magnolia ‘Burgundy Star’ just out on a warm sunny day (at last). What a colour and what a shape to the flower.

Magnolia ‘Burgundy Star’
Magnolia ‘Burgundy Star’
Magnolia ‘Burgundy Star’
Magnolia ‘Burgundy Star’
The huge Michelia doltsopa by the Acer griseum full out today with only a little damage from the storms last Saturday.
Michelia doltsopa
Michelia doltsopa
Michelia doltsopa
Michelia doltsopa
First colour showing on Magnolia ‘Caerhays Surprise’ in the Ririei Opening. Other plants are further out and the original ‘Caerhays Surprise’ has a few full out flowers high up at 20-25ft.
Magnolia ‘Caerhays Surprise’
Magnolia ‘Caerhays Surprise’
Another Magnolia ‘Felix Jury’ on the drive.
Magnolia ‘Felix Jury’
Magnolia ‘Felix Jury’
Magnolia ‘Iolanthe’
Magnolia ‘Iolanthe’
Magnolia ‘Iolanthe’
Rhododendron kiyosumense comes in a variety of colours. Here a darker one on the drive.
Rhododendron kiyosumense
Rhododendron kiyosumense
Magnolia ‘Tina Durio’ slightly damaged in the wind.
Magnolia ‘Tina Durio’
Magnolia ‘Tina Durio’
Magnolia ‘Tina Durio’ and Trachycarpus fortunei which offset each other nicely.
Magnolia ‘Tina Durio’ and Trachycarpus fortunei
Magnolia ‘Tina Durio’ and Trachycarpus fortunei
First flowers out early on Magnolia ‘Genie’.
Magnolia ‘Genie’
Magnolia ‘Genie’
Magnolia ‘Sunrise’ is yellow in bud but fades to cream with a pronounced red stripe.
Magnolia ‘Sunrise’
Magnolia ‘Sunrise’
Magnolia ‘Sunrise’
Magnolia ‘Sunrise’
Magnolia ‘Sunrise’
Magnolia ‘Sunrise’
Magnolia ‘Avocet’ just out in the Isla Rose Plantation.
Magnolia ‘Avocet’
Magnolia ‘Avocet’
Magnolia ‘Avocet’
Magnolia ‘Avocet’
Flowers nearly over on Buddleia tibetica.
Buddleia tibetica
Buddleia tibetica
A young plant in the nursery bed with its first flower. The impressive dark pink form of Rhododendron moupinense. Never seen this before.
Rhododendron moupinense
Rhododendron moupinense

2021 – CHW
Sunny and still again.The Queen Mother’s 1981 planted Magnolia sargentiana var. robusta seedling.
Magnolia sargentiana var. robusta seedling
Magnolia sargentiana var. robusta seedling
Camellia ‘Italiana Vera’ – a ‘new’ one bought from Stervinou nurseries in France.
Camellia ‘Italiana Vera’
Camellia ‘Italiana Vera’
Slightly battered Magnolia ‘Charles Raffill’.
Magnolia ‘Charles Raffill’
Magnolia ‘Charles Raffill’
Last shots of a perfect Magnolia ‘Philip Tregunna’.
Magnolia ‘Philip Tregunna’
Magnolia ‘Philip Tregunna’
Magnolia ‘Philip Tregunna’
Magnolia ‘Philip Tregunna’
Rhododendron arboreum ssp. zaylanicum (?) tucked away in the former nursery bed by Donkey Shoe.
Rhododendron arboreum ssp. zaylanicum (?)
Rhododendron arboreum ssp. zaylanicum (?)
Rhododendron arboreum ssp. zaylanicum (?)
Rhododendron arboreum ssp. zaylanicum (?)
Rhododendron arboreum ssp. zaylanicum (?)
Rhododendron arboreum ssp. zaylanicum (?)
Magnolia ‘Rebecca’s Perfume’ in the Isla Rose Plantation – scent overpowering!
Magnolia ‘Rebecca’s Perfume’
Magnolia ‘Rebecca’s Perfume’
Magnolia ‘Big Dude’ now a single flower from above.
Magnolia ‘Big Dude’
Magnolia ‘Big Dude’
The best magnolia in the garden today is the Magnolia campbellii alba seedling in the Auklandii Garden.
Magnolia campbellii alba seedling
Magnolia campbellii alba seedling
Magnolia campbellii alba seedling
Magnolia campbellii alba seedling
A windblown branch of Cryptomeria japonica by the front door with last year and the year before’s seed cones.
Cryptomeria japonica
Cryptomeria japonica
In the distance a good magnolia in Old Park – Magnolia sargentiana var. robusta.
Magnolia sargentiana var. robusta
Magnolia sargentiana var. robusta
Magnolia sprengeri ‘Diva Westonbirt’ just coming out. First time proper flowering.
Magnolia sprengeri ‘Diva Westonbirt’
Magnolia sprengeri ‘Diva Westonbirt’
Magnolia sprengeri ‘Diva Westonbirt’
Magnolia sprengeri ‘Diva Westonbirt’
The original Magnolia ‘Kew Surprise’ in the Rookery is splendid today.
Magnolia ‘Kew Surprise’
Magnolia ‘Kew Surprise’

2020 – CHW
Last Saturday I spent some time admiring the alpine glasshouse at Rosemoor.Cyclamen repandum
Cyclamen repandum
Cyclamen repandum
Ipheion ‘Rolf Fiedler’
Ipheion ‘Rolf Fiedler’
Ipheion ‘Rolf Fiedler’
Ozothamnus coralloides
Ozothamnus coralloides
Ozothamnus coralloides
Ipheion uniflorum
Ipheion uniflorum
Ipheion uniflorum
Ipheion uniflorum ‘Charlotte Bishop’
Ipheion uniflorum ‘Charlotte Bishop’
Ipheion uniflorum ‘Charlotte Bishop’
Narcissus bulbicodum (as we saw naturalising so well in the garden)
Narcissus bulbicodum
Narcissus bulbicodum
Anemone pavonina
Anemone pavonina
Anemone pavonina

2019 – CHW
Flowering male catkins on Sinowilsonia henryi. The female catkins are in pendant racemes but none are visible yet. I have never seen catkins on this smallish spreading tree before. This is a very rare Wilson introduction and is related to Hamamelis.
Sinowilsonia henryi
Sinowilsonia henryi
Sinowilsonia henryi
Sinowilsonia henryi
First full out leaves on a sycamore.
sycamore
sycamore
Our first ever flower here on a young Melliodendron xylocarpum. We have planted about half a dozen plants out in recent years but nearly all have failed to survive which is maddening. Hopefully this one and a couple of others will now develop into smallish erect trees. Tom Hudson’s plant is in full shade on a steep bank. Perhaps ours were in too much sun to start with? The rarer the plant the more difficult it is to get it going.
Melliodendron xylocarpum
Melliodendron xylocarpum
The flowers on Magnolia nitida are now nicely out. Note the reddish stripe up the centre of the petals. A good show this year unlike last.
Magnolia nitida
Magnolia nitida
Magnolia nitida
Magnolia nitida
The first yellow magnolia to flower this year is Magnolia ‘Sunray’. Two flowers out today.
Magnolia ‘Sunray’
Magnolia ‘Sunray’
A nice clearing for a batch of specie rhododendrons which have lifted well from Higher Quarry Nursery.
specie rhododendrons
specie rhododendrons
specie rhododendrons
specie rhododendrons
A Magnolia rostrata which was planted in 1999 has developed attractive bark on its main trunk. Here resplendent in the sun.
Magnolia rostrata
Magnolia rostrata
A nice empty nursery bed and the next lot to be planted to grow on.
empty nursery bed
empty nursery bed
empty nursery bed
empty nursery bed

2018 – CHW
Another fine planting day after yesterday’s deluge. We still however need another day to finally complete this year’s planting programme. Still the Drive to do and Old Park. The odds and ends take rather longer to sort out and carry around than the main new planting areas.Attached is a list of the latest influx of plants from Burncoose and other nurseries. Some large enough to plant out, while some need growing on for another year or more in the greenhouse.Another load of plants from the frames ready to go out.

plants from the frames ready to go out
plants from the frames ready to go out
Lindera sericea just coming out. Not seen properly before. Multi-stemmed and vigorous.
Lindera sericea
Lindera sericea
Lindera sericea
Lindera sericea
Lindera sericea
Lindera sericea
Rhododendron barbatum was just showing colour before the cold. Largely untouched and full out now.
Rhododendron barbatum
Rhododendron barbatum
Rhododendron barbatum
Rhododendron barbatum
A new Camellia ‘Fire ‘n’ Ice’ with its first flowers.
Camellia ‘Fire ‘n’ Ice’
Camellia ‘Fire ‘n’ Ice’
Camellia ‘Hooker’ is another new one – an odd shaped single. I wonder about the origins of the name?
Camellia ‘Hooker’
Camellia ‘Hooker’
Camellia ‘Carolyn Tuttle’ is also new.
Camellia ‘Carolyn Tuttle’
Camellia ‘Carolyn Tuttle’
Camellia ‘Carolyn Tuttle’
Camellia ‘Carolyn Tuttle’
The Forsythia which we saw out unusually early in November is now out again but with only a very few flowers.
Forsythia
Forsythia
Peace and quiet again after the excitements of the VMH yesterday. Jaimie’s hangover held up well, mine is still developing!
2017 – CHW
A rest from magnolias!Some tiny flowered narcissi by the side door – nice scent.
tiny flowered narcissi
tiny flowered narcissi
The ancient bergenia clumps touching the castle drive are waking up and into flower.
bergenia clumps
bergenia clumps
Primroses galore now on the bank.
Primroses
Primroses
Apologies; I could not resist yet more of ‘Caerhays Belle’ in the sun.
‘Caerhays Belle’
‘Caerhays Belle’
‘Caerhays Belle’
‘Caerhays Belle’
‘Caerhays Belle’
‘Caerhays Belle’
‘Caerhays Belle’
‘Caerhays Belle’
‘Caerhays Belle’
‘Caerhays Belle’
‘Caerhays Belle’
‘Caerhays Belle’
‘Caerhays Belle’
‘Caerhays Belle’

2016 – CHW
The bluebells are coming on well outside the front gate.

bluebells
bluebells

Magnolia x loebneri ‘Wildcat’ has two flowers. Its second flowering. ‘Wildcat’ is a huge advance on x loebneri ‘Donna’ which now looks dull by comparison but a larger and floppier flower than Magnolia x loebneri ‘Mags Pirouette’ which is, I think, the best selection from a very good bunch to grace any smaller garden.

Magnolia x loebneri ‘Wildcat’
Magnolia x loebneri ‘Wildcat’
Nothing quite beats Rhododendron ‘Cornish Red’ for size and scale. We have seen odd branches out since November but this is now the ‘real deal’ by Four in Hand.
Rhododendron ‘Cornish Red’
Rhododendron ‘Cornish Red’
The best (and truest) of the two Magnolia dawsoniana seedlings is just out at the very top of the tree outside the front gate. The birds have really started their spring chorus and the swans are fighting off the Canada geese on the lake. I will give them a little help with the battle later this week.
Magnolia dawsoniana
Magnolia dawsoniana

A distance shot from the front door of the magnolia above the wall (see yesterday).

magnolia above the wall
magnolia above the wall
A hectic week ahead. Speech at the Cornwall Red Squirrel Project dinner at Boconnoc on Thursday, RHS lecture here on magnolias on Friday, then guests for the gardening weekend (three from Holland).
2015 – CHW
The story of Magnolia sargentiana (pure) is an odd one. The original plant at Caerhays has flowered only once, in 2012, when it had narrow extremely floppy tepals which hung down from the flower. It flowered on just one branch. It had not flowered before in my father’s or my lifetime but, when it did, the flowers were exactly as depicted in the watercolour in George Johnstone’s 1950s book on magnolias. We purchased from Eisenhut Magnolia sargentiana pure thinking it was from scions we had supplied and planted it in pride of place where the original Magnolia sprengeri ‘Diva’ had died. Hillier Manual (2014 edition) continues to describe the flowers of Magnolia sargentiana as upright, cup shaped and like ‘large water lilies’. John Hillier observed the new plant in 2013 at an early flowering and confirmed the flower was exactly like the plants in the Hillier arboretum of Magnolia sargentiana pure. Clearly this can now be demonstrated to be a huge and enduring case of mistaken identity. The real flowers of Magnolia sargentiana pure are not even faintly like a water lily although the ‘rogue’ is very nice indeed and well worth a name in its own right which should probably be ‘Caerhays Water Lily’ to amuse future generations. However Jaimie says it is actually Philip Tregunna.
Magnolia 'Philip Tregunna'
Magnolia ‘Philip Tregunna’ named after an old head gardener at Caerhays.

1988 – FJW
Gales after 6 dry warm weeks – Magnolias first class but ruined today.

1919 – JCW
Rhodo’s much as in 1917 it may be a bit further on, daffodils well ahead with a good bulge on the bud of our early poets (red and white). Prunus conradinae is over. Subhirtella not yet open.

1917 – JCW
Not a yellow bud in the Tin Garden, the first Caerhays opened yesterday. The following Rhodo’n species open or show colour – barbatum, davidii, sutchuenense, moupinense, scabrifolium, lutescens, argeteum, arboreum, irroratum (only just), mucronulatum. Cerasus conradinae just opening.

1914 – JCW
One Cam reticulata on wall by Library. R argenteum and most arboreums at their best. Some trumpets but a few incomps open. The best white Arboreum is hardly open. Barbatums well on, a few P Mary.

1913 – JCW
A few reticulata, and bad ones, open. We have nearly reached the poets in daffodils. Ciliatums going over, the best white Arboreum is well out, some Barbatums over some partly out – half the Tin Garden P Mary open.

1908 – JCW
We are just as in 1902 bar the Reticulata.

1906 – JCW
We are distinctly ahead of 1903. R shilsoni on the wane, White Queen fit to force for pollen. Many reticulatas open.

1904 – JCW
Rather later, say five days, than in 1903.

1903 – JCW
Sir Watkins, Emperor, Horsfieldii, 116, Artemis all out and Princep Mary, Albatross, Seagull, Caerhays, G Spur, H Irving, Maximus and Victoria at their best, King A, Sirius, G Bell and RRB well out. [?] at their best and so are R wilsonii, barbatum and most of the arboreums.

1902 – JCW
Sir Watkin open, some Artemis (23), Maximus nearly all, Caerhays nearly all also G Spur, some few Reticulata and Ciliatum. Picked the first Southern Star, many Victoria out.

1901 – JCW
An odd Victoria open, 23 nearly open, one Ciliatum early seedling, but hardly any of the above are even near opening.

1899 – JCW
Very few Sir Watkins open, a few K Spurrell, Horsfieldii, Emperor, 116, several 23, maximus going over. Caerhays at its best, also G Spur, no ciliatum or reticulata properly open.