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


2025 – CHW

Planted 10 graft birch trees from Stone Lane Gardens which has the national collection of birch trees. All have gone into the Aucklandii Garden where the Turkey oak was felled.

– Betula utilis ssp jacquemontii ‘Sacred Scroll’
– Betula utilis ssp jacquemontii ‘Himalayan Spirit’
– Betula utilis ssp albosinensis ‘Pink Champagne’
– Betula utilis ssp albosinensis ‘Red Panda’
– Betula ‘Fascination’
– Betula ermanii ‘Mt Zao Purple’
– Betula ermanii ‘Hakkoda Orange’
– Betula ‘Polar Bear’
– Betula utilis ssp utilis ‘Bhutan Sienna’
– Betula utilis ssp utilis ‘Nepalese Orange’

Now that the conker has gone you can see Magnolia ‘Lanarth Surprise’ from the back yard. What a good colour it is.

Magnolia ‘Lanarth Surprise’
Magnolia ‘Lanarth Surprise’
Magnolia ‘Caerhays Belle’ also from the back yard. Nearly at its best.
Magnolia ‘Caerhays Surprise’
Magnolia ‘Caerhays Surprise’
So little time to appreciate this amazing magnolia year. Dear Monica Trudgeon’s funeral was well attended at the church and then at The Vean. Despite it being Lent the church was full of magnolias and camellias.
The primroses are lovely – the thing I detest hearing most from garden visitors!
primroses
primroses
primroses
primroses
Magnolia ‘Caerhays Splendour’ and Camellia japonica ‘Magnoliaeflora’.
Magnolia ‘Caerhays Splendour’ and Camellia japonica ‘Magnoliaeflora’
Magnolia ‘Caerhays Splendour’ and Camellia japonica ‘Magnoliaeflora’
Many of the smaller growing and miniature daffodils are either ‘blind’ or flowering very sparsely. The wet summer we are told. Here only one flower on Narcissus ‘Mr Julian’.
Narcissus ‘Mr Julian’
Narcissus ‘Mr Julian’
Magnolia dawsoniana just out outside the front gates.
Magnolia dawsoniana
Magnolia dawsoniana
Magnolia dawsoniana and Rhododendron ‘Ostara’.
Magnolia dawsoniana and Rhododendron ‘Ostara’
Magnolia dawsoniana and Rhododendron ‘Ostara’
Magnolia × loebneri ‘Wildcat’ and Rhododendron ‘Cornish Red’.
Magnolia × loebneri ‘Wildcat’ and Rhododendron ‘Cornish Red’
Magnolia × loebneri ‘Wildcat’ and Rhododendron ‘Cornish Red’
A few late but very dark flowers on Magnolia ‘Delia Williams’.
Magnolia ‘Delia Williams’
Magnolia ‘Delia Williams’
The sister seedling to Magnolia ‘Queen Elizabeth’ on the drive. Is it different enough to register in its own right? Perhaps but lets see a few more years of flowering first.
Magnolia ‘Queen Elizabeth’
Magnolia ‘Queen Elizabeth’
Magnolia ‘Queen Elizabeth’

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’