10th 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

Saw the first house martins yesterday when the 3 days of severe gales finally abated to give us a rare glimpse of the sun.

The electric charging points ready to go in the Porthluney car park.

electric charging points
electric charging points
Rhododendron spiciferum (I think) below Burns Bank. An elderly plant which has enjoyed being cut back.
Rhododendron spiciferum
Rhododendron spiciferum
Another Wilson 50 azalea puzzle from Polly Cooke. This may be Azalea ‘Tamafuyo’ (No.23) or it may be Azalea ‘Gosho Zakura’ (No.46). Hopefully this irregular faint pink flecking on the flowers will enable Polly to solve the naming puzzle here and we can then propagate this one properly. (Below Burns Bank beside Azaela ‘Hoo’).
Another Wilson 50 azalea
Another Wilson 50 azalea
Another Wilson 50 azalea
Another Wilson 50 azalea
Another Wilson 50 azalea
Another Wilson 50 azalea
Phillyrea angustifolia is making a good flowering clump in the Isla Rose.
Phillyrea angustifolia
Phillyrea angustifolia
Vaccinium corymbosum nicely in flower.
Vaccinium corymbosum
Vaccinium corymbosum
Vaccinium corymbosum
Vaccinium corymbosum
I am impressed how Magnolia ‘Helena’ has survived the severe weather.
Magnolia ‘Helena’
Magnolia ‘Helena’
Prunus ‘Ichiyo’ (‘Pink Champagne’) at its absolute best in the Isla Rose. Out too late for the spring show.
Prunus ‘Ichiyo’
Prunus ‘Ichiyo’
Amelanchier bartramiana is a shrubby species and rarely seen.
Amelanchier bartramiana
Amelanchier bartramiana
Amelanchier bartramiana
Amelanchier bartramiana
Amelanchier bartramiana
Amelanchier bartramiana
Prunus ‘Matsumae-fuki’ (‘Chocolate Ice’) still not quite fully out as you can see.
Prunus ‘Matsumae-fuki’
Prunus ‘Matsumae-fuki’
Taiwania cryptomerioides has finally developed an upright leading shoot of its own volition instead of its earlier floppiness which we tried to stake up with little success.
Taiwania cryptomerioides
Taiwania cryptomerioides
Amelanchier sanguinea below the path on Sinogrande Walk. Another fairly unexciting variety.
Amelanchier sanguinea
Amelanchier sanguinea
A rare sighting of Rhododendron ponticum in flower above the Fernery. Very little ponticum not destroyed in the SOD outbreak 2003-2010.
Rhododendron ponticum
Rhododendron ponticum
Camellia ‘Spring Festival’ still a wonderful show late in the camellia season. We saw this several times on the show bench last weekend but not from Caerhays.
Camellia ‘Spring Festival’
Camellia ‘Spring Festival’
Camellia ‘Spring Festival’
Camellia ‘Spring Festival’
First flowering of a young replacement Prunus ‘Amanogawa’.
Prunus ‘Amanogawa’
Prunus ‘Amanogawa’
Azalea ‘Saotome’ (?) outside the front gates.
Azalea ‘Saotome’
Azalea ‘Saotome’
Azalea ‘Saotome’
Azalea ‘Saotome’
Azalea ‘Saotome’
Azalea ‘Saotome’

2023 – CHW
Easter Monday and a good moment to look at the first Malus into flower in the Old Kitchen Garden on a sunny day. All these small trees were planted in January.
Malus ‘Brandkjaer’
Malus ‘Brandkjaer’
Malus floribunda
Malus floribunda
Malus ‘Evereste’
Malus ‘Evereste’
Malus ‘Red Jade’
Malus ‘Red Jade’
Malus ‘Red Jade’
Malus ‘Red Jade’
Malus ‘Cardinal’
Malus ‘Cardinal’ – stand out best in flower so far.
Malus ‘Cardinal’
Malus ‘Cardinal’ – stand out best in flower so far.
Malus ‘Royal Beauty’
Malus ‘Royal Beauty’
Malus ‘Sun Rival’
Malus ‘Sun Rival’
Malus ‘Golden Gem’
Malus ‘Golden Gem’
Malus ‘Red ‘Obelisk’
Malus ‘Red ‘Obelisk’
Malus ‘Fire Glow'
Malus ‘Fire Glow’
Malus ‘Pink Glow’
Malus ‘Pink Glow’
Malus ‘Donald Wyman’
Malus ‘Donald Wyman’ – good
Malus ‘Donald Wyman’
Malus ‘Donald Wyman’ – good
Malus ‘Prairie Fire’
Malus ‘Prairie Fire’ – excellent
Malus ‘Prairie Fire’
Malus ‘Prairie Fire’– excellent
Malus ‘Royalty’
Malus ‘Royalty’
Malus ‘Professor Sprenger’
Malus ‘Professor Sprenger’
Malus ‘Louisa’
Malus ‘Louisa’
Malus ‘White Angel’
Malus ‘White Angel’
Malus ‘Red Sentinel’
Malus ‘Red Sentinel’
The Old Kitchen Garden has filled up a bit but still plenty of room for more Malus varieties. We have now seen 18 of the 65 varieties planted here in their first flowerings. I really do think that, given time, this collection is going to be a major addition to and improvement in the gardens overall.
Old Kitchen Garden
Old Kitchen Garden

2022 – CHW

A newly planted Neolitsea sericea ‘Silver Leaf’. Both our old established N. sericea have died in the last year. Wonderful, but hardly silvery, new growth here. The silver is on the undersides of the leaves as on all N. sericea but especially pronounced in this named form.

Neolitsea sericea ‘Silver Leaf’
Neolitsea sericea ‘Silver Leaf’
Magnolia ‘Genie’ still full out. The flowers last far longer than so many other magnolias. Another scoring point against M. ‘Black Tulip’ which is already nearly over here and faded long since.
Magnolia ‘Genie’
Magnolia ‘Genie’
Pomaderis elliptica flowering for the second time here. A New Zealand / Tasmanian shrub with large panicles (as here) of yellow flowers. Acquired from Nick Lock. Needs full sun and shelter as nearly a conservatory plant.
Pomaderis elliptica
Pomaderis elliptica
Above Higher Quarry Nursery I find another Rhodoleia which was planted only a year ago. Forgetful! This is Rhodoleia parvipetala (FMWJ 13422) rather than R. aff. parvipetala as we have been looking at recently. So the true species with pink flowers? We will have to wait and see. Jaimie needs to put a plastic tube around the trunk as roedeer damage already evident. A plant 10-12ft tall without, as yet, much foliage. So a big plant when it arrived from Crûg Farm and clearly not yet a big seller for them. I suspect this diary may have helped improve demand for this peculiar and spectacular new genus.
Rhodoleia parvipetala (FMWJ 13422)
Rhodoleia parvipetala (FMWJ 13422)
Auklandii Garden camellias beside the main path – a review to help cutting taking in the autumn.
Camellia fraterna (species with a low growing and drooping habit and fleshy leaves – top plant but not on plan so planted later I guess).
Camellia fraterna
Camellia fraterna
Camellia ‘Tiny Princess’ (next one down).
Camellia ‘Tiny Princess’
Camellia ‘Tiny Princess’
Camellia ‘Tiny Princess’
Camellia ‘Tiny Princess’
Camellia japonica ‘Clark Hubbs’ (bottom corner – incorrectly shown on plan as ‘Marinka’ – these two reds have been swoped on the map – both are present and correct but ‘Marinka’ too high up to photograph).
Camellia japonica ‘Clark Hubbs’
Camellia japonica ‘Clark Hubbs’
Camellia x williamsii ‘Elsie Jury’
Camellia x williamsii ‘Elsie Jury’
Camellia x williamsii ‘Elsie Jury’
‘Christmas Daffodil’ is correct on the map but ‘Daintiness’ seems to have gone/died although I fear ‘Tiny Princess’ and/or ‘Daintiness’/fraterna may have been muddled up looking at the original plans in previous cutting collecting?

2021 – CHW
Still near frost overnight. 0°C in the car at 6.45am.Prunus ‘Hally Jolivette’ not flowering as well as last year.
Prunus ‘Hally Jolivette’
Prunus ‘Hally Jolivette’
Prunus incisa just coming out properly.
Prunus incisa
Prunus incisa
This is the first time Magnolia ‘Apricot Brandy’ has flowered properly here. Another curious mix of colours which not everyone will like but certainly ‘different’.
Magnolia ‘Apricot Brandy’
Magnolia ‘Apricot Brandy’
Magnolia ‘Apricot Brandy’
Magnolia ‘Apricot Brandy’
Magnolia ‘Sentinel’ is a Gresham hybrid. Not a great colour but shaping up into a decent tree.
Magnolia ‘Sentinel’
Magnolia ‘Sentinel’
Flowers on Magnolia ‘Lemon Star’ just beginning to emerge. Gorgeous yellow.
Magnolia ‘Lemon Star’
Magnolia ‘Lemon Star’
Flowers just starting to open on Rhododendron ‘Countess of Haddington’.
Rhododendron ‘Countess of Haddington’
Rhododendron ‘Countess of Haddington’
Amomyrtus luma (formerly Myrtus lechleriana) absolutely full out and hugely scented.
Amomyrtus luma
Amomyrtus luma
This emerging bamboo shoot should enable me to identify the species conclusively. Last year I photographed it, but the reference books were at Burncoose. After much reading and viewing ‘A Complete Compendium of Chinese Bamboo’ I am not much the wiser. I had always thought this was Phyllostachys flexuosa but it does not seem to marry up with the pictures of the young shoots or the text. This one has large purple hairs which none of the other features Phyllostachys species shoots seem to have. Anyone know the answer please?
bamboo
bamboo
bamboo
bamboo
This is Jaimie’s hybrid between Rhododendron ‘Titness Park’ (a calophytum cross or form I was given by Windsor) and Rhododendron ‘Rebecca’ (a Caerhays bred hybrid) growing and prospering below Slip Rail. Well worth growing but perhaps not quite worthy of naming.
hybrid between Rhododendron ‘Titness Park’ (a calophytum cross or form I was given by Windsor) and Rhododendron ‘Rebecca’
hybrid between Rhododendron ‘Titness Park’ (a calophytum cross or form I was given by Windsor) and Rhododendron ‘Rebecca’
hybrid between Rhododendron ‘Titness Park’ (a calophytum cross or form I was given by Windsor) and Rhododendron ‘Rebecca’
hybrid between Rhododendron ‘Titness Park’ (a calophytum cross or form I was given by Windsor) and Rhododendron ‘Rebecca’

2020 – CHWSo Archbishop Pell has been released from jail for paedophilia by the Australian appeal court. This set me thinking about the almost daily missives from the diocese of Truro which I now seem to get as parish council treasurer. A good few of them are not about COVID and Christianity/Easter but, instead, about ‘safeguarding’ in the church. Parish council officials all have to undergo formal criminal record checks through the parish safeguarding officer under formal and expanding diocese and church rules. Caerhays church has no choir, no children in regular attendance etc so it all seems rather an overreaction. The more we learn about former misdemeanours by clergy involving children the more it seems to me that they should be looking more internally at ‘safeguarding’ rather than closing the door after the horse has bolted long ago. Some of the pompous stuff about church law is pretty horrendous (and expensive) too and one wonders why the anachronism of separate church law still exists today? It perpetuates the hierarchy and administrative costs of the church which parishes paying their annual stipend worry about.

A BBC commentator suggests Boris brought intensive care entirely on himself by working too hard and not ‘resting up’ as he should. Amazing! The sick bastards still criticise a PM who gave his very all to try to save lives and protect the country. Such is the palpable hatred of the government within the BBC that Boris remains damned either way as I have said before. Look forward to much BBC crowing at the economic disaster we now face. No balance and no reason. The BBC is the national disgrace of COVID-19! Not even the footballers come close.

A day at Burncoose trying to get at least part of KPK back to work on selected building sites after Easter and placing out new plants in the Burncoose garden with my brother who was on the phone doing Savills ‘homework’ quite a bit of the time. Some of his children have been drafted into the packing sheds.

We put out for planting Michelia ‘Fairy Lime’, M. ‘Touch of Pink’, M. martinii and M. ‘Allspice’ as well as a Manglietia insignis. Most of them tucked away in sheltered microclimates along the drive. A few scented rhododendron clumps including Rhododendron lindleyi, Rhododendron edgeworthii and Rhododendron ‘Praecox’.

The Burncoose garden is looking great and we plot clearance of the area around the two huge beech trees which fell in the winter. Ready for a major replant next spring when all the stumps dug out. Nevertheless sad evidence of cold damage to several mature big leafed rhodos and some more honey fungus casualties amongst smaller growing ones especially down by the pond.

Rhododendron williamsianum x martinianum looking splendid on the Burncoose drive.

Rhododendron williamsianum x martinianum
Rhododendron williamsianum x martinianum
Rhododendron williamsianum x martinianum
Rhododendron williamsianum x martinianum
Rhododendron williamsianum x martinianum
Rhododendron williamsianum x martinianum
The climber tunnel pristine and beautifully cared for by Ruta and Arturas.
climber tunnel
climber tunnel
Viburnum ‘Eskimo’ looking superb.
Viburnum ‘Eskimo’
Viburnum ‘Eskimo’
Different acers coming into leaf have wonderful contrasting colours. Here we have:
Acer shirasawanum ‘Jordan’ and Acer palmatum ‘Moonrise’
Acer shirasawanum ‘Jordan’ and Acer palmatum ‘Moonrise’
Acer shirasawanum ‘Jordan’ and Acer palmatum ‘Moonrise’
Acer shirasawanum ‘Jordan’ and Acer palmatum ‘Kamagata’
Acer shirasawanum ‘Jordan’ and Acer palmatum ‘Kamagata’
Acer shirasawanum ‘Jordan’ and Acer palmatum ‘Kamagata’
Acer palmatum ‘Okagami’ and Acer shirasawanum ‘Jordan’
Acer palmatum ‘Okagami’ and Acer shirasawanum ‘Jordan’
Acer palmatum ‘Okagami’ and Acer shirasawanum ‘Jordan’
A nice leaf combination too with Aralia elata ‘Aureovariegata’ and Aralia elata ‘Variegata’.
Aralia elata ‘Aureovariegata’ and Aralia elata ‘Variegata’
Aralia elata ‘Aureovariegata’ and Aralia elata ‘Variegata’
Michelia maudiae nicely out in a pot. A better form than ours at Caerhays flower wise.
Michelia maudiae
Michelia maudiae
Michelia maudiae
Michelia maudiae

Wonderful Telopeas in full flower too in the nursery:‘Shady Lady White’

TELOPEA ‘Shady Lady White’
TELOPEA ‘Shady Lady White’
TELOPEA ‘Shady Lady White’
TELOPEA ‘Shady Lady White’
‘Braidwood Brilliant’
TELOPEA ‘Braidwood Brilliant’
TELOPEA ‘Braidwood Brilliant’
TELOPEA ‘Braidwood Brilliant’
TELOPEA ‘Braidwood Brilliant’
speciosissima
TELOPEA speciosissima
TELOPEA speciosissima
Rhododendron ‘Lady Alice Fitzwilliam’ on the drive.
Rhododendron ‘Lady Alice Fitzwilliam’
Rhododendron ‘Lady Alice Fitzwilliam’
Rhododendron ‘Lady Alice Fitzwilliam’
Rhododendron ‘Lady Alice Fitzwilliam’
Rhododendron ‘Lady Alice Fitzwilliam’
Rhododendron ‘Lady Alice Fitzwilliam’
Rhododendron burmanicum equally good beside it.
Rhododendron burmanicum
Rhododendron burmanicum
Rhododendron burmanicum
Rhododendron burmanicum
First flower out ridiculously early (in the hot sun this week) and high up on Rhododendron loderi ‘King George’. Four to six weeks early I think.
Rhododendron loderi ‘King George’
Rhododendron loderi ‘King George’
Gorgeously scented flowers on a Michelia ‘Touch of Pink’ in the, now emptied, cash point. You can see the ‘touch’ here rather well.
Michelia ‘Touch of Pink’
Michelia ‘Touch of Pink’
Michelia ‘Touch of Pink’
Michelia ‘Touch of Pink’
Rhododendron augustinii ‘Penheale Blue’ down by the pond.
Rhododendron augustinii ‘Penheale Blue’
Rhododendron augustinii ‘Penheale Blue’
Rhododendron augustinii ‘Penheale Blue’
Rhododendron augustinii ‘Penheale Blue’
First flower out on the pure white form of Staphylea holocarpa. We do not have the white form (yet) growing at Caerhays.
Staphylea holocarpa
Staphylea holocarpa
In the mist houses I find (hidden away) a bowl of Pleione bulbocodiodes belonging to one of the staff. Not something which the nursery stocks and a temperamental plant to grow well.
Pleione bulbocodiodes
Pleione bulbocodiodes

2019 – CHW
An RHS lecture tour to look at ‘unusual evergreen trees’ with eight in the audience.

Picea bicolor var. acicularis (Picea alcoquiana var. acicularis) with vibrant reddish cones on a young tree.

Picea bicolor var. acicularis
Picea bicolor var. acicularis
Picea bicolor var. acicularis
Picea bicolor var. acicularis
Rhododendron burmanicum just out. The parent of many yellow hybrids.
Sophora japonica ‘Sun King’ absolutely full out. The flowers crowd out the few visible leaves.
Sophora japonica ‘Sun King’
Sophora japonica ‘Sun King’
Sophora japonica ‘Sun King’
Sophora japonica ‘Sun King’
Acer fabri is evergreen. Here, for the first time, I see the attractive inflorescences on full show.
Acer fabri
Acer fabri
Acer fabri
Acer fabri
Acer fabri
Acer fabri
Attractive red new growth fading to bronze on the rare Photinia glomerata.
Photinia glomerata
Photinia glomerata
Photinia glomerata
Photinia glomerata

2018 – CHW
‘Magnolia Mania’ on the drive at last even if in the rain.

Magnolia liliiflora ‘Holland Red’ with a single flower in a pot. Destined to be planted in Old Park.

Magnolia liliiflora ‘Holland Red’
Magnolia liliiflora ‘Holland Red’
Camellia forrestii has had its leaves browned in the cold but still flowering nicely. These plants are to be grown on in Rookery Nursery.
Camellia forrestii
Camellia forrestii
Magnolia ‘Margaret Helen’; one of two on the drive.
Magnolia ‘Margaret Helen’
Magnolia ‘Margaret Helen’
Magnolia ‘Margaret Helen’
Magnolia ‘Margaret Helen’
Magnolia ‘Apollo’ just coming out. One of several but this one largely unblemished.
Magnolia ‘Apollo’
Magnolia ‘Apollo’
By popular request from Rod White here are a few more pictures of the extraordinary deciduous azalea which flowers at Christmas or in January. There is one at Burncoose too. It came out and was well frosted at the top but has now started to perform again. A stronger colour mix than usual with more of a red tinge to add to the orange.
deciduous azalea
deciduous azalea
deciduous azalea
deciduous azalea
deciduous azalea
deciduous azalea
We thought the Magnolia ‘Caerhays Splendour’ on the drive had had its buds destroyed but the odd one has now come out and more to follow. Not bad even if high up the tree.
Magnolia ‘Caerhays Splendour’
Magnolia ‘Caerhays Splendour’
One of Dad’s hybrids by Red Linney which he refused to name. Magnolia mollicomata x Magnolia dawsoniana from memory but it is perhaps better than both?
One of Dad’s hybrids
One of Dad’s hybrids
Magnolia ‘Iolanthe’ is now full out. We showed this at Windsor.
Magnolia ‘Iolanthe’
Magnolia ‘Iolanthe’
Rhododendron schlippenbachii just coming out. Some plants are a gentler pink than others which are nearer white.
Rhododendron schlippenbachii
Rhododendron schlippenbachii
Rhododendron schlippenbachii
Rhododendron schlippenbachii
A cold damaged flower on a huge Magnolia campbellii ‘Alba’ seedling by the drive. Most buds destroyed in the wind and frost.
Magnolia campbellii ‘Alba’
Magnolia campbellii ‘Alba’
A hybrid which flowered for the first time last year quite nice again. An unnamed cross which I need to look up from last year as the label was pinched shortly after I photographed it for the diary. It must have been a good thing! [Edit: It is Magnolia ‘Rose Marie x Black Tulip’]
A hybrid
A hybrid
Magnolia ‘Atlas’ on the drive.
Magnolia ‘Atlas’
Magnolia ‘Atlas’
Magnolia ‘Shirraz’ which we showed at Windsor.
Magnolia ‘Shirraz’
Magnolia ‘Shirraz’
Magnolia ‘Shirraz’
Magnolia ‘Shirraz’
The first Spanish bluebells. A month later than last year?
Spanish bluebells
Spanish bluebells

2017 – CHW
Magnolia ‘Randy’ (one of the stellata girls) is a good colour this year and much darker than most of the others.
Magnolia ‘Randy’
Magnolia ‘Randy’
Magnolia ‘Randy’
Magnolia ‘Randy’
Another Rhododendron arizelum pink in bud fading to white. Nice indumentum under the leaf.
Rhododendron arizelum
Rhododendron arizelum
Rhododendron arizelum
Rhododendron arizelum
More large rhododendrons going into a clearing above the Crinodendron Hedge. As I waited for the trailer to arrive a large roe buck sauntered down the path below me eating bluebell leaves. He could see me but was unworried.
More large rhododendrons
More large rhododendrons
The rare, short lived, temperamental and tender Rhododendron johnstoneanun ‘Johnny Johnstone’ with its odd double flowers was planted today by Georges Hut as a group of three. Doubt more than one will live!
Rhododendron johnstoneanun ‘Johnny Johnstone’
Rhododendron johnstoneanun ‘Johnny Johnstone’
Three Rhododendron ‘Wine and Roses’ were planted out today with their wine coloured leaf undersides. This is the second clump out now. One of the parents of this Glendoick cross was our Rhododendron ‘Polgrain’.
Rhododendron ‘Wine and Roses’
Rhododendron ‘Wine and Roses’
Rhododendron ‘Wine and Roses’
Rhododendron ‘Wine and Roses’
Rhododendron ‘Wine and Roses’
Rhododendron ‘Wine and Roses’
Daphnephyllum macropodum var humile in flower for the first time and a genuine dwarf. First flowering with us.
Daphnephyllum macropodum var humile
Daphnephyllum macropodum var humile
Daphnephyllum macropodum var humile
Daphnephyllum macropodum var humile
Rhododendron ‘Elizabeth’ absolutely stunning and full out in the sun.
Rhododendron ‘Elizabeth’
Rhododendron ‘Elizabeth’
Rhododendron ‘Elizabeth’
Rhododendron ‘Elizabeth’
Eriobotrya deflexa with its first set of reddish-brown new growth.
Eriobotrya deflexa
Eriobotrya deflexa
Eriobotrya deflexa
Eriobotrya deflexa
Rhododendron flavidum full out. Another one we saw in the autumn with the odd flower.
Rhododendron flavidum
Rhododendron flavidum
Rhododendron flavidum
Rhododendron flavidum
An elderly Rhododendron fargesii looking marvellous too.
Rhododendron fargesii
Rhododendron fargesii
Rhododendron fargesii
Rhododendron fargesii
Rhododendron fargesii
Rhododendron fargesii
Azaleodendron ‘Hardijzer Beauty’ always looks perfect in a pot but is usually a scruffy plant when mature. Short lived too.
Azaleodendron ‘Hardijzer Beauty’
Azaleodendron ‘Hardijzer Beauty’
Azaleodendron ‘Hardijzer Beauty’
Azaleodendron ‘Hardijzer Beauty’
A young Osmanthus yunnanensis with its first flowers. Some leaves have spines and some do not.
Osmanthus yunnanensis
Osmanthus yunnanensis
Osmanthus yunnanensis
Osmanthus yunnanensis
This clump of narcissi on Hovel Cart Road are always the very last daffodils to come out each year. The clump used to be nearly blind but, now, with more light, they are recovering. Plenty of buds still to open in April!
narcissi
narcissi
Jaimie has found a first flower on another first time flowering for us of Magnolia ‘Sunset Twirl’. A bit like ‘Peachy’ or ‘Peaches and Cream’ but arguably better. We bought this from Cherry Tree Nursery two or three years ago. Several flowers more to come.

2016 – CHW
A howling south easterly gale is battering the castle front but no trees down anywhere yet. The sea rages. This will be the end of the Magnolia mollicomatas and sargentiana robustas which were just going over anyway. Barbara Oozeerally is here to paint Magnolia ‘Caerhays Splendour’ which I hope she managed to pick and photograph yesterday with Jaimie. She was also going to try Michelia ‘Touch of Pink’ and perhaps Magnolia ‘Philip Tregunna’ which are not in her first book of magnolia paintings.
The sea rages.
The sea rages.
gale is battering the castle front
gale is battering the castle front
Meanwhile, in the gale, a byzantine cock pheasant happily munches his way through the primrose flowers outside the front door. This is his territory and, although I have yet to see any hens nearby, he certainly sees off several other cocks from his primrose bank delicatessen in the mornings and evenings.
byzantine cock pheasant
byzantine cock pheasant

Should we shut the gardens to the public? I do not quite rate the wind as strong enough and once in the top of the garden it is fine. Lizzy has been and checked.Then off to Trewidden to celebrate Elizabeth Bolitho’s 90th birthday. Trewidden was lived in by my great aunt Mary after 1955 when Uncle Charles died. Today it is owned by Alverne Bolitho. Too filthy to venture into the garden after the drinks party which was very jolly. Sir John Nott, my former boss/chairman at Lazards, told me he was unable to remember people’s names but could remember mine!

Elizabeth had worked at Caerhays from 1952 and had met and married Major Simon Bolitho shortly afterwards. Edward Bolitho made an excellent speech.

2015 – CHW
A garden tour and lecture on ‘Planting a Woodland Garden’ with 10 takers for a three hour walk including Old Park. All but two or three are well known to Caerhays and two very probably want to plant woodland gardens so well worth the effort.  Two may do so in Ladock (near Truro).
Magnolia accuminata ‘Fertile Myrtle’ x Magnolia sprengeri ‘Diva’ 02
Now named M. ‘Tropicana’
Magnolia accuminata ‘Fertile Myrtle’ x Magnolia sprengeri ‘Diva’
M. accuminata ‘Fertile Myrtle’ x M. sprengeri ‘Diva’ – now named ‘Tropicana’

We look at the unnamed Magnolia accuminata ‘Fertile Myrtle’ x Magnolia sprengeri ‘Diva’, now in full flower, which we grew from seed from the Magnolia Society International hybrids seed list.  The Magnolia Society International have asked us to name it so I try it out on the tour party.  One suggests ‘Fruit Salad’ which is not bad (I said 8/10) but surely not a descriptive name for a magnolia really!  Perhaps someone reading my scribblings here can do better?  ‘After a bad night on the piss’ or ‘Multi-coloured yawn’ would of course be equally inappropriate!

RHODODENDRON irroratum 'Polkadot' 02
RHODODENDRON irroratum ‘Polkadot’
RHODODENDRON irroratum 'Polkadot'
RHODODENDRON irroratum ‘Polkadot’

The rhododendron season is gathering pace and the best things in the garden are no longer magnolias, sadly.Rhododendron irroratum ‘Polkadot’ behind Georges Hut (five plants put out last year) are superb.  Rhododendron irroratum (with less spots) is still a harbinger of spring at Burncoose by the garden crossroads but completely over three weeks ago.  These plants came from Millais Nurseries so I must ask David Millais how he or his father came to name this special form of irroratum?  It is presumably not a hybrid so possibly wild collected in China?

RHODODENDRON bahuiniflorum
RHODODENDRON bahuiniflorum

Rhododendron bahuiniflorum is a little known species but its yellow flowers are better than Rhododendron lutescens.  If there is ever time (!) this would be the species to cross with something with even more yellow flowers, possibly Rhododendron concatenans or Rhododendron cinnabarinum?  Is it lepidote or elepidote – need to check.

MAGNOLIA 'Raspberry Fun'
MAGNOLIA ‘Raspberry Fun’
MAGNOLIA 'Raspberry Fun' 02
MAGNOLIA ‘Raspberry Fun’ aka ‘Leonard Messel’!!

Jim Gardiner puts me firmly right in an email on Magnolia ‘Raspberry Fun’ which I got so excited about last week and said I would look up.  As he pointed out it is clearly listed in the new Hillier’s as a x loebneri ‘Leonard Messel’ seedling raised in Korea at the Chollipo Arboretum who generously send us their seed list every year and then the seeds too.  Jim must think I am a twit but there we are and, who cares, it was bloody good when first out although, today, it has faded and is merely a bit of a tired but improved Leonard Messel.

MAUVE flowered branches
Mauve flowered branches on white Azalea ‘Pakestrina’

Non gardeners love a puzzle and there is no better example of ‘sporting’ in azaleas than the clump of Azalea ‘Palestrina’ under the main Magnolia campbellii.  Palestrina often produces a branch with mauve flowers rather than the predominant normal white.  A couple of plants here have not only mauve flowered branches but also branches with white rimmed light reddish flowers.  Sporting is a phenomenon presumably showing weakness in the genetic makeup of the hybrid so that it reverts to its parents or siblings. Good fun!  Whoever saw a Norwegian with a brown arm?

RHODODENDRON 'Mrs J C Williams'
R. ‘Mrs J C Williams’
RHODODENDRON 'Mrs J C Williams' 02
RHODODENDRON ‘Mrs J C Williams’

Better mention Rhododendron ‘Mrs J C Williams’ which still survives as an entry in the new Hillier’s.  An RHS award in 1960 but rather passé today in terms of colour and impact but not hardiness.  My great grandmother died well before my great grandfather so I must look up the parentage of this old Caerhays hybrid and ask Asia, our new Polish propagator from Poznan, to take cuttings in July.

STAPHYLEA holicarpa 'Rosea' 02
STAPHYLEA holicarpa ‘Rosea’
STAPHYLEA holicarpa 'Rosea'
STAPHYLEA holicarpa ‘Rosea’

Tomorrow we have a  visitation  from Tregullow  and  Trematon  near  Saltash  on  Grand National day.  Lizzie may be going to her last hunt meet – certainly on old Josh – but I think we will interest the non horsers with a look at Staphylea during our tour.  The  Staphylea holocarpa ‘Rosea’ behind the greenhouse are quite a sight.

RHODODENDRON pseudochrysanthum
Rhododendron pseudochrysanthum which was so good in bud has faded to a dullish white. Let us await the new growth.

2004 – FJW
House martins seen.

1995 – FJW
2 martins seen – dry spell. Azaleas early, Magnolias on time and Rhodo’s normal.

1990 – FJW
Very dry and has been so since March – oaks in leaf, beeches coming into leaf.

1941 – CW
Some cherries over, most not out. Still a flower on Green Gate Campbellii. Mag Veitchii just coming out. Denudata past its best, also Sargentiana and Mollicomata almost over. Daffs well past. Auklandii red and white hybrids beginning.

1933 – JCW
Much as in 1929. Augustinii in shelter remains very good.

1929 – JCW
Reticulata good. Mag denudata wanes but has been wonderful. Magnolia kobus very very good.

1928 – JCW
Davidsoniana, Calophytums, Augustinii and Augustinii hybrids very good. Mag alba superba is very striking though only lately planted. Camellia reticulata at its best, the double cherries and the common primrose also.

1924 – JCW
De Graaf in the Drive not open. Poets hardly open. Mag halleana (nursery window) most of it open. Erica arborea very good. Standard reticulatas not open.

1923 – JCW
Daffs are all over excepting a few last poets. The white Auklandii hybrids are at their best, the Orbiculare hybrids are very good. No frost as yet to do real harm. Prunus caloneura is over its best.

1920 – JCW
No poets out but nearly the best day of the season.

1915 – JCW
Engelheart was here yesterday, and the daffs were good, but there were no poets out then he declared them to be 30% above average.

1905 – JCW
J C W and Mary saw the first swallow.

1901 – JCW
Bob saw the first swallow.

1900 – JCW
Griflamme open one flower, and nearly all the Princep Mary has the pollen out.

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