4th April

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

A visit by Paul Johnson and Andy Ansell from the National Memorial Arboretum in Staffordshire. The point of their trip was to view our Amelanchier collection. They have the national collection which was given to them by Chris Lane. Embarrassingly none of our plants were out! Theirs were in Staffordshire so Cornwall is not early in the world of Amelanchier.

Absurdly a bud showing already on Magnolia sieboldii.

Magnolia sieboldii
Magnolia sieboldii
Rehderodendron kwangtungense.
Rehderodendron kwangtungense
Rehderodendron kwangtungense
More pictures of the impressive Paulownia fortunei.
Paulownia fortunei
Paulownia fortunei
Paulownia fortunei
Paulownia fortunei
The first deciduous azalea to show in Kennel Close.
deciduous azalea
deciduous azalea
Plagianthus betulinus in flower by Slip Rail.
Plagianthus betulinus
Plagianthus betulinus
Embothrium lanceolatum ‘Ñorquinco’ showing colour on a young plant below Donkey Shoe.
Embothrium lanceolatum ‘Ñorquinco’
Embothrium lanceolatum ‘Ñorquinco’
Magnolia ‘Helena’ flowering well in the Isla Rose.
Magnolia ‘Helena’
Magnolia ‘Helena’
Magnolia ‘Yellow Lantern’ in the sun beside the old playhouse.
Magnolia ‘Yellow Lantern’
Magnolia ‘Yellow Lantern’
Magnolia ‘Yellow Lantern’
Magnolia ‘Yellow Lantern’
Magnolia ‘Apricot Brandy’ has been cut for the show.
Magnolia ‘Apricot Brandy’
Magnolia ‘Apricot Brandy’
Magnolia ‘Rose Marie’ x M. ‘Black Tulip’ below Donkey Shoe. No hybrid name as far as I can see.
Magnolia ‘Rose Marie’ x M. ‘Black Tulip’
Magnolia ‘Rose Marie’ x M. ‘Black Tulip’
Magnolia ‘Rose Marie’ x M. ‘Black Tulip’
Magnolia ‘Rose Marie’ x M. ‘Black Tulip’
Bluebottle flies hatched and sunning themselves on the trunk of this magnolia.
Bluebottle flies
Bluebottle flies

2023 – CHW

Annoyingly I have broken my camera lens when it ‘fell off’ my desk. Much less focus and definition on this old lens and poor pictures for a bit.

I have looking to find where we planted Salix purpurea ‘Nancy Saunders’ as I need pictures for the website. It is going to become a small tree but the catkins are rather small and uninteresting. Hopefully the leaves and shoots will be better!

Salix purpurea ‘Nancy Saunders’
Salix purpurea ‘Nancy Saunders’
Salix purpurea ‘Nancy Saunders’
Salix purpurea ‘Nancy Saunders’
The Gunnera manicata beds are growing inches a day as this very wet, but mild, period continues.
Gunnera manicata
Gunnera manicata
Rhododendron strigillosum with one flower left on one of the 3 plants moved from the nursery bed 2 years ago. Incredible hairs on the stems and around the new shoots.
Rhododendron strigillosum
Rhododendron strigillosum
Rhododendron strigillosum
Rhododendron strigillosum
Rhododendron strigillosum
Rhododendron strigillosum
A few final pictures of Michelia doltsopa (or manipurensis if you prefer) and Michelia doltsopa ‘Silver Cloud’. Michael has still to give us his preferred name to register the seedling he raised. Then we can try to get it registered. These pictures may help. A large tree already. The chosen name is ‘White Phantom’.
Michelia doltsopa
Michelia doltsopa
Michelia doltsopa
Michelia doltsopa
Michelia doltsopa
Michelia doltsopa
Michelia doltsopa
Michelia doltsopa
After the strong winds a complete carpet of windblown flowers under the Rhododendron sutchuenense clump.
Rhododendron sutchuenense clump
Rhododendron sutchuenense clump

2022 – CHW

Bluebells now appearing in flower all over.

Bluebells
Bluebells
A few pictures from the Four Burrow Hunt meet at Porthluney last Saturday. My granddaughter Lamorna is strapped to Neil’s back. About 45 riders and a good enough crowd of spectators. No sign of antis or the police as everyone enjoyed the sunshine. No sign of the first house martins either flying in from the sea as I have seen on this day in past years. The first beach meet for three years.
Four Burrow Hunt meet
Four Burrow Hunt meet
Four Burrow Hunt meet
Four Burrow Hunt meet
Four Burrow Hunt meet
Four Burrow Hunt meet
Four Burrow Hunt meet
Four Burrow Hunt meet
Four Burrow Hunt meet
Four Burrow Hunt meet
First flowers out on Rhododendron loderi ‘King George’ – I saw a truss at the show and could not believe it would be out yet.
Rhododendron loderi ‘King George’
Rhododendron loderi ‘King George’
Camellia ‘Fairy Wand’ which Forrest Latta, from the International Camellia Society, said had been much improved on in China.
Camellia ‘Fairy Wand’
Camellia ‘Fairy Wand’
Magnolia ‘Pastel Sunset’ x Magnolia ‘Genie’ flowering for the first time. Disappointing! Never heard of ‘Pastel Sunset’ before but it is a quick growing vigorous tree and not like ‘Genie’ in habit at all.
Magnolia ‘Pastel Sunset’ x Magnolia ‘Genie’
Magnolia ‘Pastel Sunset’ x Magnolia ‘Genie’
Magnolia campbellii var. mollicomata ‘Peter Borlase’ is as usual one of the very last campbellii forms to flower.
Magnolia campbellii var. mollicomata ‘Peter Borlase’
Magnolia campbellii var. mollicomata ‘Peter Borlase’

2021 – CHW
Easter Day and time for a look at the new gifted and bought in plants (50 to 60) which have arrived here mainly in the last fortnight or so. The frames are filling up again with many new things after our planting out sprees in the last six weeks. A welcome diversion from the grandchildren and easter egg hunts.Viburnum calvum with huge leaves and reddish petioles and new growth.
Viburnum calvum
Viburnum calvum
Myrsine divaricata – another genus of little merit except to the collector. Goes in with Schimus and Melicytus. Burncoose grew a few species years ago.
Myrsine divaricata
Myrsine divaricata
Myrsine divaricata
Myrsine divaricata
A gift from Raf Lenaerts – Magnolia laevifolia x M. maudiae ‘Eternal Spring’ is flowering away with large flowers and good scent. Exceptional growth in two years as a grafted plant. A very special sheltered spot for this Michelia cross in time. Just a hint of pink at the base of the tepals.
Magnolia laevifolia x M. maudiae ‘Eternal Spring’
Magnolia laevifolia x M. maudiae ‘Eternal Spring’
Magnolia laevifolia x M. maudiae ‘Eternal Spring’
Magnolia laevifolia x M. maudiae ‘Eternal Spring’
Magnolia laevifolia x M. maudiae ‘Eternal Spring’
Magnolia laevifolia x M. maudiae ‘Eternal Spring’
Another from Raf is Magnolia laevifolia x M. maudiae (BKR 201300) which has rather tiny flowers by comparison and is less good.
Magnolia laevifolia x M. maudiae
Magnolia laevifolia x M. maudiae
A new (to us) Magnolia ‘Practically Magic’ which is similar, I think, to ‘Coral Pink’.
Magnolia ‘Practically Magic’
Magnolia ‘Practically Magic’
Magnolia ‘Simple Pleasures’ – very simple and not much of a pleasure so far.
Magnolia ‘Simple Pleasures’
Magnolia ‘Simple Pleasures’
Magnolia x loebneri ‘Pink Stardust’ had largely dropped already. Not as pink as ‘Raspberry Fun’.
Magnolia x loebneri ‘Pink Stardust’
Magnolia x loebneri ‘Pink Stardust’
Coprosma grandiflora
Coprosma grandiflora
Coprosma grandiflora
Surprised to find Daphne bholua ‘Garden House Ghost’ still out in full flower.
Daphne bholua ‘Garden House Ghost’
Daphne bholua ‘Garden House Ghost’
Picea schrenkiana purchased from Mallet Court.
Picea schrenkiana
Picea schrenkiana
Another new ilex species for the collection – Ilex colchica.
Ilex colchica
Ilex colchica
I have nearly missed the first flowerings of these two buddleia species:
Buddleia pteracaulis longifolia
Buddleia pteracaulis longifolia
Buddleia pteracaulis longifolia
Buddleia tibetica
Buddleia tibetica
Buddleia tibetica

2020 – CHW
Another side to the pandemic is the great rush to support ‘our’ NHS. A visit to Treliske hospital earlier this week shows car parks totally empty, ambulances lined up outside A&E doing nothing and nobody about. A close friend’s brother trips over a supermarket delivery on his doorstep and breaks his arm/shoulder. Off they go to Torbay A&E where there is no waiting at all (no one there) and nurses/doctors with none of the PPE equipment which we hear so much about. Nor were they social distancing either. Car parks and hospital deserted. We hear so much of cancelled routine operations, staff reallocations, old folks being sent home/away and all overworked, overstressed, government not doing ‘enough’, too few tests of NHS staff etc etc. To listen to the BBC the NHS is at breaking point or beyond. A great national crisis and newsworthy drama.Then one hears that 20% of NHS staff are ‘absent’. The normal ‘absence’ rate is apparently 4-5%. Of course they are absent because they are self-isolating (all the fault of no tests) or are already ‘ill’ (COVID implied). Might some not be enjoying a bit of furloughing?After having been foolish enough to have circulated what was apparently ‘fake news’ myself recently (as you will have seen) the silence at these two hospitals may be masking the true reality of the real emergency wards. However, in Truro and Torbay at least, the public appear to be doing what they are told and keeping well away from hospitals. However, it would seem that some parts of the NHS may not actually yet be as stretched and busy as we are all led to believe by the media.I do not ‘do’ social media but Twitter has thousands and thousands of tweets about deserted hospitals with pictures and videos to prove the point. Where is the fake news in all this really?While common sense suggests that while this well may be the calm before the forthcoming storm the ‘panic’ may well have caused more misery and hardship for those with more routine ailments and impending operations or cancer treatments than COVID-19 itself yet has! The BBC has yet to make this newsworthy point but will not of course. ITV was even worse and only Sky News had some vestiges of common sense.Magnolia ‘Rouged Alabaster’ is hidden away but is doing well at 18ft or so. The bit of ‘rouge’ is only evident on the buds as here. This is a US Gresham hybrid but no longer much grown or admired.
Magnolia ‘Rouged Alabaster’
Magnolia ‘Rouged Alabaster’
Another magnolia split out, for the second time in five or six years, in an autumn gale.
magnolia split out
magnolia split out
The mini digger is levelling the paths to and in Old Park where they have got muddy and a scrape back to the stone base is needed.
mini digger
mini digger
Rhododendron ‘Countess of Haddington’ just opening. A bit earlier than usual perhaps.
Rhododendron ‘Countess of Haddington’
Rhododendron ‘Countess of Haddington’
Rhododendron ‘Countess of Haddington’
Rhododendron ‘Countess of Haddington’
An ancient Chaenomeles japonica with old rotten fruit and flowers!
Chaenomeles japonica
Chaenomeles japonica
Chaenomeles japonica
Chaenomeles japonica
Chaenomeles japonica
Chaenomeles japonica
Our one surviving Daphniphyllum macropodum just about to flower profusely.
Daphniphyllum macropodum
Daphniphyllum macropodum
Daphniphyllum macropodum
Daphniphyllum macropodum
Some flowers on this Camellia reticulata ‘William Hertrich’ are single but most are semi-double. The colour does fade as you can perhaps see here.
Camellia reticulata ‘William Hertrich’
Camellia reticulata ‘William Hertrich’
Camellia reticulata ‘William Hertrich’
Camellia reticulata ‘William Hertrich’
Camellia reticulata ‘William Hertrich’
Camellia reticulata ‘William Hertrich’
Magnolia ‘Rose Marie’ x Magnolia ‘Black Tulip’ has three flowers coming out. Small but not bad and lots more to come.
Magnolia ‘Rose Marie’ x Magnolia ‘Black Tulip’
Magnolia ‘Rose Marie’ x Magnolia ‘Black Tulip’
Magnolia ‘Rose Marie’ x Magnolia ‘Black Tulip’
Magnolia ‘Rose Marie’ x Magnolia ‘Black Tulip’
First time flowering (that I have seen) of Lindera angustifolia (FMWJ 13156). The tree has grown extraordinarily quickly, is semi-evergreen, and absolutely plastered in flower high up at 15-18ft. Attractive yellow flowers against the reddish stems.
Lindera angustifolia
Lindera angustifolia
Lindera angustifolia
Lindera angustifolia
Another Magnolia x brooklynensis ‘Titan’ above the Auklandii Garden. The flowers are exactly the same as the one in Kennel Close which I was dubious about as being correctly named a few days ago. I still wonder if it really is a x brooklynensis variety but the balance of probability is rising! I am waiting to hear more about this from Barbara Oozeerally the well-known artist who has produced a wonderful magnolia book of her paintings and is planning another next year.
Magnolia x brooklynensis ‘Titan’
Magnolia x brooklynensis ‘Titan’
Magnolia x brooklynensis ‘Titan’
Magnolia x brooklynensis ‘Titan’
Magnolia x brooklynensis ‘Titan’
Magnolia x brooklynensis ‘Titan’
Rhododendron ‘High Sheriff’ (Caerhays/FJW bred) is just opening.
Rhododendron ‘High Sheriff’
Rhododendron ‘High Sheriff’
Rhododendron ‘High Sheriff’
Rhododendron ‘High Sheriff’
The Magnolia x loebneri ‘Leonard Messel’ is nearly full out outside the back yard in front of the bins which soon will not show up.
Magnolia x loebneri ‘Leonard Messel’
Magnolia x loebneri ‘Leonard Messel’

2019 – CHW
Staphylea holocarpa ‘Innocence’ just coming out. Pink in bud opening white. This is a small single stemmed tree which is 12-15ft in height and 25 or so years old.
Staphylea holocarpa ‘Innocence’
Staphylea holocarpa ‘Innocence’
The new window in the Tin Garden shed. We have started a little planting up today but the bulk will now have to wait until next spring.
new window
new window
Prunus matsumae ‘Beni-Yutaka’ looking very fine.
Prunus matsumae ‘Beni-Yutaka’
Prunus matsumae ‘Beni-Yutaka’
Prunus matsumae ‘Beni-Yutaka’
Prunus matsumae ‘Beni-Yutaka’
Another Magnolia ‘Genie’ still looking very fine outside the front gate.
Magnolia ‘Genie’
Magnolia ‘Genie’
Magnolia ‘Genie’
Magnolia ‘Genie’
Enkianthus perulatus out early and covered in bells.
Enkianthus perulatus
Enkianthus perulatus
Enkianthus perulatus
Enkianthus perulatus
First flowering of Rhododendron oreodoxa var. fargesii.
Rhododendron oreodoxa var. fargesii
Rhododendron oreodoxa var. fargesii

2018 – CHW The first Aesculus hippocastanum leaves and flowers showing. Rather later than last year?

Aesculus hippocastanum
Aesculus hippocastanum
Taiwania cryptomeroides is a rare tree with a supposedly conical habit. Here it seems to have lost its leader but the branches drop nicely. Another rare conifer which I had forgotten on Sinogrande Walk. One for Asia to take cuttings from in the autumn.
Taiwania cryptomeroides
Taiwania cryptomeroides
Taiwania cryptomeroides
Taiwania cryptomeroides
Taiwania cryptomeroides
Taiwania cryptomeroides
The view from the drive over Lower Hellens field to Giddle Orchard and the best way into Old Park Wood.
view from the drive over Lower Hellens field to Giddle Orchard
view from the drive over Lower Hellens field to Giddle Orchard
view from the drive over Lower Hellens field to Giddle Orchard
view from the drive over Lower Hellens field to Giddle Orchard
The repaired kitchen garden wall beside Giddle Orchard.
repaired kitchen garden wall
repaired kitchen garden wall
Camellia ‘Grandiflora Alba’ now full out and good even after Sunday night’s heavy rain.
Camellia ‘Grandiflora Alba’
Camellia ‘Grandiflora Alba’
Camellia ‘Grandiflora Alba’
Camellia ‘Grandiflora Alba’
Another thriving plant of Rhododendron sutchuenense full out. Not hugely floriferous.
Rhododendron sutchuenense
Rhododendron sutchuenense
Rhododendron sutchuenense
Rhododendron sutchuenense
Rhododendron sutchuenense
Rhododendron sutchuenense
Magnolia ‘Sayonara’ about to come out.
Magnolia ‘Sayonara’
Magnolia ‘Sayonara’
The south facing side of Michelia doltsopa is leafless but the buds and new shoots hold on I think. Time will tell.
Michelia doltsopa is leafless
Michelia doltsopa is leafless
More difficult to know how to cope with is the now leafless Rhododendron stenaulum. Some new growth buds survive intact while some are clearly dead too. The plant was in flower when The Beast struck. Fortunately the plant behind this one still has leaves as it was slightly more sheltered.
Rhododendron stenaulum
Rhododendron stenaulum
Rhododendron stenaulum
Rhododendron stenaulum
Magnolia soulangeana ‘Beugnon’ with its first flowers with us – unexciting as yet!
Magnolia soulangeana ‘Beugnon’
Magnolia soulangeana ‘Beugnon’
This columnar prunus had no label when planted. Rather a sparse flowerer. White with a tinge of pink. More flowers to come.
columnar prunus
columnar prunus
columnar prunus
columnar prunus

2017 – CHW
Twenty five magnolias placed out for planting in Forty Acres. Deer protection essential.On the trip we discover a good clump of FJW’s last rhododendron hybrids. They look Rhododendron griffithianum x Rhododendron arboreum. Planted out in 2002/3.
FJW’s last rhododendron hybrids
FJW’s last rhododendron hybrids
FJW’s last rhododendron hybrids
FJW’s last rhododendron hybrids
Also an ancient old white Rhododendron arboreum which has survived here since before WWI. Nicely pink in bud, opening white but not as pure white as the equally old clumps on Burns Bank which are now on their last legs. There is still our last blood red arboreum in the pheasant pen nearby but a tree has just hit it.
white Rhododendron arboreum
white Rhododendron arboreum
white Rhododendron arboreum
white Rhododendron arboreum
white Rhododendron arboreum
white Rhododendron arboreum
white Rhododendron arboreum
white Rhododendron arboreum
Betula albosinensis ‘Bowling Green’ in Penvergate has enormous catkins of tiny flowers. This Werrington plant is starting to have a nice peeling stem but I have never noticed the catkins before. We now have several of these superb plants growing away at various ages.
Betula albosinensis ‘Bowling Green’
Betula albosinensis ‘Bowling Green’
Betula albosinensis ‘Bowling Green’
Betula albosinensis ‘Bowling Green’
Betula albosinensis ‘Bowling Green’
Betula albosinensis ‘Bowling Green’
Outside my study window the Arum lillies have at least half a dozen flower stems appearing with one showing colour. Not quite as early as last year but another product of a mild winter.
Arum lillies
Arum lillies
And now on to the annual Basic Payment Scheme computer quiz. The Rural Payments Agency have still to agree our entitlements (ie land we actually farm) from the 2015 returns. We know the 2017 forms are bollocks too. They have lost 70 entitlements (hectares) this year rather than just 20 last year and awarded us two fields which we do not own and never have. This is why we voted Brexit to rid us of this bureaucratic nightmare of wasted time and incompetence. We do actually know the land we farm but when dealing with eurotrash bureaucrats, who never answer or respond to letters, their assumption is that we are all liars and cheats. Even the minister’s direct intervention has not yet worked!

2016 – CHW
The first flowering of any new magnolia is always a moment of excitement but usually disappoints. This was planted as Magnolia J C Williams in 2008 and it might yet turn out to be a dark purple as it should be but not as yet here. The shape looks wrong for JCW but early rogue flowers do not yet condemn it to the chainsaw.
Magnolia J C Williams
Magnolia J C Williams
In the same year we planted a few Magnolia sargentiana robusta and a few Magnolia mollicomata seedlings along Bond Street in the windbreak planting. Most died or were crowded out but a couple are now flowering and this one is not a bad backdrop.
Magnolia sargentiana robusta
Magnolia sargentiana robusta
Magnolia stellata ‘Rose King’ below the fernery is just out. Pink in bud, opening white which is nice when you catch it properly. Strangely it is much later into flower than straight Magnolia stellata. The earliest M stellata on the lawn was planted in 1895.
Magnolia stellata ‘Rose King’
Magnolia stellata ‘Rose King’
Back to Magnolia ‘Caerhays Splendour’ without the rain on the lens and a hint of sun amid the showers. Absolutely outstanding in colour, shape and floriferousness. This hybrid will take quite some bettering and will be a top Burncoose seller for decades.
Magnolia ‘Caerhays Splendour’
Magnolia ‘Caerhays Splendour’
Magnolia ‘Caerhays Splendour’
Magnolia ‘Caerhays Splendour’
The Magnolia campbellii Alba seedling on the drive is also at its best today.
Magnolia campbellii Alba seedling
Magnolia campbellii Alba seedling
Magnolia campbellii Alba seedling
Magnolia campbellii Alba seedling
Below the small fernery the daffodils I photographed as emerging shoots in December are now full out. Clearly once a well known variety but not to me today! Any ideas?
daffodils
daffodils
Another 2010 magnolia flowering for the first time and clearly recorded and labelled as Magnolia ‘Lanarth’ (top walled garden). So it was from a batch of scions from the six original plants at Lanarth (near St Kevern) which we sent to Eisenhut in Switzerland for grafting. Is it conceivable this will flower true in the years to come or is it a Swiss labelling cock up? Very probably the latter when one looks at its growth habit and leaf buds but we have been astounded before by the transformation of M ‘Lanarth’s.
Magnolia ‘Lanarth’
Magnolia ‘Lanarth’
Three Rhododendron arboreum ‘Tony Shilling’ planted in 2007 are looking good today at the end of Bond Street. Presumably collected in the wild by Tony and a nice translucent pink.
Rhododendron arboreum ‘Tony Shilling’
Rhododendron arboreum ‘Tony Shilling’
Magnolia stellata ‘Centennial’ has the faintest of pink tinges but is really an exceptionally large flowered stellata hybrid also just coming out beside the tower.
Magnolia stellata ‘Centennial’
Magnolia stellata ‘Centennial’
Magnolia stellata ‘Centennial’
Magnolia stellata ‘Centennial’
The afternoon is spent with the architect and contractor restoring the old dog kennels and the kitchen garden walls. We get caught in a massive hailstorm which wrecks the magnolias in Giddle Orchard before our eyes. Not a good start to the Garden of the Year celebrations.
2015 – CHW
The Rhododendron grande are now making a huge statement as a backdrop to the castle. Rhododendron grande is about a month later than usual and also late out at Burncoose. Normally this species flowers very early and, as there are normally no winged pollinators in February, its seedlings come true.  These appear in a covered cold frame below the plants from time to time in profusion.So to the centre of 40 Acres Wood to see how the American Gresham and Pickard magnolias are getting on here.  Some casualties due to deer damage but many are getting away nicely.  The trouble with these breeders is that they named far too many seedlings which are broadly similar rather than picking and naming the very best.  Just have a look and these and make your own mind up!  Even the names are an exaggeration:
MAGNOLIA Candy Cane
MAGNOLIA ‘Candy Cane’
MAGNOLIA Pink Diamond
MAGNOLIA ‘Pink Diamond’
MAGNOLIA Pickards Opal
MAGNOLIA ‘Pickards Opal’
MAGNOLIA Delicatissima
MAGNOLIA ‘Delicatissima’
MAGNOLIA Eleanor May
MAGNOLIA ‘Eleanor May’
MAGNOLIA Frank Gladney
MAGNOLIA ‘Frank Gladney’

The best thing today in this 15 year old planting is Magnolia x loebneri ‘Mags Pirouette’ which is entirely properly in many people’s top 10 magnolias and a better x loebneri than ‘Wildcat’.

MAGNOLIA loebneri 'Mags Pirouette'
M. x loebneri ‘Mags Pirouette’
MAGNOLIA loebneri 'Mags Pirouette' 02
M. x loebneri ‘Mags Pirouette’ close-up

1990 – FJW
Snow and frost came.

1931 – JCW
Magnolia sargentiana came into flower. It is the finest magnolia bloom of any here.

1930 – JCW
No Augustinii or Triflorum excepting Lutescens. Some of this has shown bloom since Nov 20th.

1917 – JCW
The hardest winter since 1895, frost on most nights. Now almost all the Rhodo’s cut but the Oreodoxa, Fargesii, Fortunei lines of blood have tougher blooms.

1912 – JCW
The show is this day next week.

1911 – JCW
The Show day rather too early as daff flowers rather small, hardwood stuff good, Rhodo’s other than branches moderate.

1908 – JCW
Truro show 3 days hence, de Graaf is far off, a late cold year after a ditto. Sunless summer gives us few Rhodo buds and a lot of small rough daffodils. A few Reticulatas open.

1905 – JCW
Truro show, many de Graaf’s there, also Homer in several places. Prince good, Auklandii there all of 4 things open, the show was about the best we have ever had. Picked some pot minimus seed.

1904 – JCW
Weardale, Monarch a few Frian ???, a few Jonquil ???, many P M de G, also out Siren, Torch, Incognita, Homespun, 336, M P, Cardinal, Moonbeam etc etc, go to the Drill Hall.

1902 – JCW
All of the above have some flowers well out. I have picked most of the Lulworth seedlings and saucer eyes for the Show on the 15th. A very bad season for Poets, picked a rose Clamoise.

1901 – JCW
C indivisa been out a full week, Glory of Leiden bursting, also G Bell and 223, Weardale and 999 show colour etc etc.

1899 – JCW
Picked a Madam de Graaf and a [?].