7th January

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

Seeds (gingers) persist on Zanthoxylum armatum.

Zanthoxylum armatum
Zanthoxylum armatum
Several of the Crataegus species in our new collection are making good headway and becoming established plants.
Crataegus species
Crataegus species
Crataegus species
Crataegus species
Still some leaf on 2023 planted Crataegus cuneata which may or may not be normal?
Crataegus cuneata
Crataegus cuneata
A newly planted Euonymus carnosus appears to be evergreen.
Euonymus carnosus
Euonymus carnosus
Euonymus huangii would seem to be semi-evergreen but this is its first season in the ground.
Euonymus huangii
Euonymus huangii
Jaimie had dealt with another leylandii casualty from Storm Ciaran.
leylandii casualty
leylandii casualty
Carpinus rankanensis still with a fair amount of leaves. Carpinus caroliniana has finally shed all its leaves but only in the last week.
Carpinus rankanensis
Carpinus rankanensis
Callicarpa bodinieri ‘Profusion’ still keeps all its berries and remains a good show.
Callicarpa bodinieri ‘Profusion’
Callicarpa bodinieri ‘Profusion’
While Callicarpa shirasawanum has lost all but a few stragglers and has little to offer.
Callicarpa shirasawanum
Callicarpa shirasawanum
A large bit of the record Laurus azorica has been blown over in the last couple of days. Looks like a root sucker.
Laurus azorica
Laurus azorica
Lots of branches broken off an ancient Abies grandis below Tin Garden.
Abies grandis
Abies grandis
The end of an elderly Magnolia salicifolia or kobus which was nearly dead anyway.
Magnolia salicifolia
Magnolia salicifolia
Just to prove that the largest Camellia x williamsii ‘Monica Dance’ has no hint of colour at all (mentioned yesterday).
Camellia x williamsii ‘Monica Dance’
Camellia x williamsii ‘Monica Dance’
The original 1932 Camellia reticulata ‘Mary Williams’ not yet out below Donkey Shoe but this Camellia reticulata seedling above the Aucklandii Garden is rather large and good. Well worth its position.
Camellia reticulata ‘Mary Williams’
Camellia reticulata ‘Mary Williams’

2023 – CHW
The last flowers on the ancient Camellia sasanqua ‘Narumigata’ on the top wall. Little sign of any pink in these now so I guess what we saw 2 days ago in the Rockery was also s. ‘Narumigata’.
Camellia sasanqua ‘Narumigata’
Camellia sasanqua ‘Narumigata’
The Hedychiums have been frosted and some have now collapsed back to their ground level rhizomes.
Hedychiums
Hedychiums
Hedychiums
Hedychiums
First flowers showing on Narcissus triandrus by the Dining Room window.
Narcissus triandrus
Narcissus triandrus
Camellia x vernalis ‘Dawn’ now full out. This plant has been heavily pruned over the years and is a thick bush with some leaf variegation.
Camellia x vernalis ‘Dawn’
Camellia x vernalis ‘Dawn’
Camellia x vernalis ‘Dawn’
Camellia x vernalis ‘Dawn’
Its neighbour is 15 feet tall and unpruned. A bit straggly in fact and the leaf variegation is less pronounced and more irregular on older growth.
Its neighbour
Its neighbour
The 1897 planted Magnolia stellata has shed the outer coating over its buds. In around 1906 it was out at Christmas in those ‘global warming’ years!
Magnolia stellata
Magnolia stellata
The 2 ancient Camellia x vernalis ‘Dawn’ and the, equally ancient, Magnolia stellata.
Camellia x vernalis ‘Dawn’
Camellia x vernalis ‘Dawn’

2022 – CHW
First flowers have been out about a week on Camellia x williamsii ‘Mary Jobson’ – a faint but pleasant smell.
Camellia x williamsii ‘Mary Jobson’
Camellia x williamsii ‘Mary Jobson’
First flower on Camellia ‘Lady Clare’ but not yet on the one on the castle wall.
Camellia ‘Lady Clare’
Camellia ‘Lady Clare’
Magnolia lacei (Michelia pachycarpa) is clearly an evergreen despite the rather un-Michelia-like shape of its leaves.
Magnolia lacei
Magnolia lacei
Magnolia ‘Bishop Peter’ is often one of the very first out but no real sign of the buds swelling yet.
Magnolia ‘Bishop Peter’
Magnolia ‘Bishop Peter’
Gorgeous scent on the first flowers of Camellia ‘Cinnamon Candy’.
Camellia ‘Cinnamon Candy’
Camellia ‘Cinnamon Candy’
Excellent pruning behind the largest Schefflera taiwaniana.
pruning
pruning
A few lower branches off the Quercus acuta to facilitate visitors underneath and to try to stabilise the tree from collapse due to the weight of its branches.
Quercus acuta
Quercus acuta

2021 – CHW
It has been dry enough this week to start to leaf blow the main paths in the garden and dig out the drains. We can open on time on 14th February as planned but only, according to the Lockdown 3 rules, for outdoor exercise around a historic house and not as a ‘leisure’ or ‘recreational’ activity. I read that as being free entry as things appear to stand at present. In other words a gesture to the local community and not for tourists or visitors from further afield. How do we stop visitors from further afield I wonder? If they paid to park at Porthluney Beach I suppose that would seem a fair deal all round.

Betula utilis subsp. albosinensis ‘China Ruby’ (as it is now called rather than Betula albosinensis) is getting established. The bark matures to coppery red after peeling to reveal creamy white bark flushed grey and pink. A little of all the bark forms is shown here.

Betula utilis subsp. albosinensis ‘China Ruby’
Betula utilis subsp. albosinensis ‘China Ruby’
Betula utilis subsp. albosinensis ‘China Ruby’
Betula utilis subsp. albosinensis ‘China Ruby’
Betula utilis subsp. albosinensis ‘China Ruby’
Betula utilis subsp. albosinensis ‘China Ruby’
We left this old yew tree in the Isla Rose Plantation to try to grow climbing roses up it. Two failures so far in dry summers. The bark has all dropped off and it looks a bit odd in the evening light.
old yew tree
old yew tree
Berberis xanthoclada has some good red winter colour on parts of the bush. A quick growing and robust species here in the teeth of the wind.
Berberis xanthoclada
Berberis xanthoclada
Another young beech tree now nicely pruned up to make a decent, upright shade and windbreak tree one day.
beech tree
beech tree
Azalea ‘Hoo’ with a few rogue flowers. ‘Hoo’ is pale pink with a white throat but these rogues are clearly pure white which is rather a surprise. Perhaps a branch or two have sported?
Azalea ‘Hoo’
Azalea ‘Hoo’
Cyclamen hederifolium foliage has a wonderful marbled appearance. Large clumps all over the bank now but the earlier autumn flowers were not as impressive. Perhaps our late grass cutting removed some of the blooms.
Cyclamen hederifolium
Cyclamen hederifolium

2020 – CHW
I have noticed a few ripe cones on Cedrus libani falling to the ground with viable seed for Asia. The dogs have been chewing them up and bringing them into the house to make a mess recently. The bigger question is whether this tree on the bank is Cedrus atlantica (the ‘Atlas cedar’ from the Atlas mountains in Algeria and Morocco or the ‘Cedar of Lebanon’). C. atlantica is thought to be a subspecies of C. libani.So a bit of research and I conclude that I am still not really sure since both have similar barrel-shaped cones and both can have green leaves. On balance I think the leaves are more grey-green than green to I plump for C. libani which is what I bought it as 25 to 30 years ago.Some cones are ripe and dropping while others are still hard and maturing having only formed last summer.
Cedrus libani
Cedrus libani
Cedrus libani
Cedrus libani
Have a look at these pictures and correct me if need be!?
Cedrus libani
Cedrus libani
Cedrus libani
Cedrus libani

2019 – CHW
A young (planted 2012) Quercus canariensis has had some major storm damage in Kennel Close. One of the principal side branches has split badly and the tree has had to be completely reshaped with the whole side branch pruned out. In fact, as you can see, the small young tree now has a better leader and will become a far better tree as a result.
Quercus canariensis
Quercus canariensis
Quercus canariensis
Quercus canariensis
Serious rabbit damage to the base of a large 10 year old multi-stemmed Sorbus commixta which has now been surrounded (again) with rabbit netting. Fortunately they have only bitten through the outer bark and not penetrated to the bare wood so the tree should be able to recover. The roots as well as the trunk were attacked. At this time of the year rabbits do attack bark on trees as the grass seems not to have adequate nutrients for them. A bloody nuisance. However unsightly the rabbit netting is this is what can so quickly happen when you remove it!
Sorbus commixta
Sorbus commixta
Sorbus commixta
Sorbus commixta

2018 – CHW
Lindera obtusiloba will soon be breaking bud. A deciduous species of great merit. There is an elderly plant near the house at Rosemoor.
Lindera obtusiloba
Lindera obtusiloba
Lindera obtusiloba
Lindera obtusiloba
Mahonia leschenaultia is just coming into flower.
Mahonia leschenaultia
Mahonia leschenaultia
Mahonia leschenaultia
Mahonia leschenaultia
Still the odd flower on Eucryphia lucida ‘Pink Cloud’.
Eucryphia lucida ‘Pink Cloud’
Eucryphia lucida ‘Pink Cloud’
Flowers soon to emerge on Aextoxicon punctatum.
Aextoxicon punctatum
Aextoxicon punctatum
Aextoxicon punctatum
Aextoxicon punctatum
A magnolia flower out in every month continues to be a reality. Here a Magnolia grandiflora hybrid.
Magnolia grandiflora hybrid
Magnolia grandiflora hybrid
And the seed head which we thought earlier might actually be setting seed (which is unheard of here for M. grandiflora) is still looking good. Asia needs to monitor it until fully ripe which may well be soon.
seed head
seed head
Stewartia sinensis continues to lean alarmingly. I wonder if we could not tie it back to a dead yew tree above it?
Stewartia sinensis
Stewartia sinensis
Just see how the bark formation has changed since we last looked at the trunk of S. sinensis which was then peeling at the base. Now splitting and fissuring to reveal different colours beneath.
Stewartia sinensis
Stewartia sinensis
Stewartia sinensis
Stewartia sinensis
Stewartia sinensis
Stewartia sinensis
Stewartia sinensis
Stewartia sinensis
Stewartia sinensis
Stewartia sinensis
Huge numbers of old seed pods remain on the S. sinensis tree. They all appear to be sterile on inspection.
S. sinensis
S. sinensis
S. sinensis
S. sinensis
Alarmingly early new growth on [???]. Some other leaves still there.
Alarmingly early new growth
Alarmingly early new growth
Alarmingly early new growth
Alarmingly early new growth
Totally dormant but healthy is Pentapanax verticillatus with rhus-like bark and buds.
Pentapanax verticillatus
Pentapanax verticillatus
Pentapanax verticillatus
Pentapanax verticillatus
Athrotaxus laxifolia looks to be dying from a distance but close up the new growth tips are green. Wind damage or on the way out? Not sure.
Athrotaxus laxifolia
Athrotaxus laxifolia
Athrotaxus laxifolia
Athrotaxus laxifolia
Athrotaxus laxifolia
Athrotaxus laxifolia
Mahonia japonica now full out with its lemon yellow flowers. In bud about two to three weeks ago.
Mahonia japonica
Mahonia japonica
Mahonia japonica
Mahonia japonica
Still plenty of young leaves on the banksian rose hard pruned last spring to revive it.
banksian rose
banksian rose
banksian rose
banksian rose

2017 – CHW
Stachyurus chinensis full of hanging flower tassels. The odd drop of rain still hangs there looking like an early flower but not quite yet!
Stachyurus chinensis
Stachyurus chinensis
Rhododendron lindleyi with huge buds to flower in April. Very swollen already.
Rhododendron lindleyi
Rhododendron lindleyi
Rhododendron lindleyi
Rhododendron lindleyi

2016 – CHW
The garlic is in full growth a good month early under the largest Magnolia veitchii. Not the common one – this one is a stinker!

The garlic
The garlic

Camellia ‘Jurys Yellow’ is full out on the bank above.

Camellia ‘Jurys Yellow’
Camellia ‘Jurys Yellow’
Camellia ‘Jurys Yellow’
Camellia ‘Jurys Yellow’
As is Camellia ‘Lady Clare’; perhaps the second japonica variety to show. The old one by the front door is not out yet but many of its buds have been blown off in the wind.
Camellia 'Lady Clare'
Camellia ‘Lady Clare’
Camellia 'Lady Clare'
Camellia ‘Lady Clare’

1968 – FJW
David picked first snowdrops of year.

1967 – FJW
Cold started.

1963 – FJW
Few flowers on Nov Pink – no sign of anything else. Snow but we missed the big blizzard.

1934 – JCW
Just as in 1932 C speciosa gives us the best flowers now but no Rhodo’s.

1932 – JCW
Caucasicums good again after late frost, Speciosa first open in the wood ( note, not quite over on May 12th), then on the wall new planting C speciosa, latest of all, Hamamelis are better than ever.

1930 – JCW
Late year C speciosa nice in the wood not on the wall. C sasangua over, Coums are late, mucronulatum good, lutescens fair, Erica hybrida fair.

1924 – JCW
Rather behind 1922, Coums are starting but most things are a fortnight later.

1922 – JCW
Hamamelis and mucronulatum v g, some Camellias are nice, C speciosa particularly so, C Coum is showing, C sasanqua is over, a few snowdrops.

1921 – JCW
Hamamelis and Erica hybrida are near their best and very fine. R mucronulatum is only fair. None of the 1912 stuff is good.

1912 – JCW
Aconites showing colour. Camellia sasanqua is yet very good, Coums nice, Ericas good, the first seedling trumpet show colour.

1907 – JCW
Measured Tree Fern frond broken by recent wind 10 feet 6 in by 3 feet 6 in.

1901 – JCW
Another Camellia, several roses about, frost for two nights.

1900 – JCW
I saw the first Lent Lily breaking ground – several roses going now, a snowdrop or two.