22nd 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

Off to Northern Ireland later today.

Viburnum erosum now in flower.

Viburnum erosum
Viburnum erosum
Viburnum erosum
Viburnum erosum
Euonymus wilsonii hasn’t done much yet. No flowers or new growth.
Euonymus wilsonii
Euonymus wilsonii
Euonymus wilsonii
Euonymus wilsonii
Viburnum phlebotrichum also now in flower.
Viburnum phlebotrichum
Viburnum phlebotrichum
Rhododendron ‘Tinner’s Blush’ at its best.
Rhododendron ‘Tinner’s Blush’
Rhododendron ‘Tinner’s Blush’
Rhododendron ‘Tinner’s Blush’
Rhododendron ‘Tinner’s Blush’
Interesting new growth on Huodendron tibeticum.
Huodendron tibeticum
Huodendron tibeticum
Huodendron tibeticum
Huodendron tibeticum
Also interesting new growth on Sassafras tzumu.
Sassafras tzumu
Sassafras tzumu
Sassafras tzumu
Sassafras tzumu
Sassafras tzumu
Sassafras tzumu
The double flowered Rhododendron ‘Johnny Johnstone’ has lasted in flowers for weeks and weeks this year.
Rhododendron ‘Johnny Johnstone’
Rhododendron ‘Johnny Johnstone’
Rhododendron ‘Johnny Johnstone’
Rhododendron ‘Johnny Johnstone’
Eriobotrya deflexa and Embothrium lanceolatum in flower behind it.
Eriobotrya deflexa
Eriobotrya deflexa
Rhododendron zaleucum has very few flowers after its haircut last year.
Rhododendron zaleucum
Rhododendron zaleucum
Probably the last time we will ever see the original clump of Rhododendron ‘Veryan Bay’ in flower. Jaimie cut down half of it last autumn and what is left is leggy and sick.
Rhododendron ‘Veryan Bay’
Rhododendron ‘Veryan Bay’
New leaves appearing on Carpinus turczaninowii var. turczaninowii. Unusual habit.
Carpinus turczaninowii var. turczaninowii
Carpinus turczaninowii var. turczaninowii
Still loads of flowers on Paulownia fargesii weeks after we saw the first.
Paulownia fargesii
Paulownia fargesii

2023 – CHW
A nursery visit.Trillium grandiflorum in flower. Other species not quite out as yet.

Trillium grandiflorum
Trillium grandiflorum
Boronia crenulate in full flower. We have not stocked this tender species for a while.
Boronia crenulate
Boronia crenulate
Photinia x fraseri ‘Atropurpurea Nana’ particularly striking today.
Photinia x fraseri ‘Atropurpurea Nana’
Photinia x fraseri ‘Atropurpurea Nana’
A novelty Aquilegia now in the Burncoose catalogue this year! A. viridiflora ‘Chocolate Soldier’. Yellowish ‘granny’s bonnets’ then turn brown-black.
Aquilegia viridiflora ‘Chocolate Soldier’
Aquilegia viridiflora ‘Chocolate Soldier’
Rhododendron ‘Bow Jingles’.
Rhododendron ‘Bow Jingles’
Rhododendron ‘Bow Jingles’
Rhododendron ‘Bow Jingles’
Rhododendron ‘Bow Jingles’
Cressy has done an amazing job with propagating scented Rhododendron and we now have hundreds to sell. Here Rhododendron formosum.
Rhododendron formosum
Rhododendron formosum
Rhododendron ‘Michael’s Pride’.
Rhododendron ‘Michael’s Pride’
Rhododendron ‘Michael’s Pride’
Rhododendron ‘Michael’s Pride’
Rhododendron ‘Michael’s Pride’

2022 – CHW

We have rightly been given some stick for selling Magnolia (Michelia) compressa which turned out not to be a Michelia at all but eventually one of our plants produced clusters of small rounded white flowers. The plants were bought in good faith from Holland at least 10 years ago and looked very nice plants. John Marston referred to our cockup in one of his recent regular videos about his garden at Gorwell but was naturally far too polite to lay the blame at Burncoose’s door.

Here are pictures of the true Magnolia (Michelia) compressa which has yet to flower with us but, where I have seen it in flower (Gorwell video and Tregrehan), it is a pretty dull thing with tiny flowers and not really a species to grow except in a magnolia collection.

Magnolia (Michelia) compressa
Magnolia (Michelia) compressa
Magnolia (Michelia) compressa
Magnolia (Michelia) compressa
John Marston now thinks that the errant plant is in fact Cleyera japonica and I entirely agree. Here are pictures of our two Cleyera fortunei (labelled M. compressa). One has been frosted.
Cleyera fortunei
Cleyera fortunei
Cleyera fortunei
Cleyera fortunei
Cleyera fortunei
Cleyera fortunei
Then to Burncoose for a very rare private day talking to my brother about the future and the Copper House development project. Dog walking and a television engineer failed to interrupt us.
Toona sinensi ‘Flamingo’ in the show tunnel was superb but its leaves will have turned green by Chelsea time in a month.
Toona sinensi ‘Flamingo’
Toona sinensi ‘Flamingo’
Malus ‘Red Sentinel’ in full flower and as good as I have seen it in flower.
Malus ‘Red Sentinel’
Malus ‘Red Sentinel’
I have never seen as much flower on Phillyrea angustifolia as on the 75 or so large plants which are due to go to a zoo shortly. Why eat something like this? What animal eats this?
Phillyrea angustifolia
Phillyrea angustifolia
Geum ‘Scarlet Tempest’ looking great.
Geum ‘Scarlet Tempest’
Geum ‘Scarlet Tempest’
Euphorbia epithymoides ‘Bonfire’ is new to our catalogue.
Euphorbia epithymoides ‘Bonfire’
Euphorbia epithymoides ‘Bonfire’
Epimedium x peralchium ‘Frohnleiten’ is another new addition but not that special?
Epimedium x peralchium ‘Frohnleiten’
Epimedium x peralchium ‘Frohnleiten’
The new growth on Tilia henryana is exquisite for a few days as we have seen over the years.
Tilia henryana
Tilia henryana
Centaurea montana ‘Purple Heart’ out well before expected in this early year.
Centaurea montana ‘Purple Heart’
Centaurea montana ‘Purple Heart’
Teucrium lucidrys ‘Lucky Gold’ just coming into proper golden growth. Another new plant on the website with prospects but it will not flower for quite some time.
Teucrium lucidrys ‘Lucky Gold’
Teucrium lucidrys ‘Lucky Gold’
In the Burncoose conservatory a perfectly in flower Geranium maderense. I assume that the sun has bleached the pink-purple flowers white or is this G. palmatum? Either way pure white flowers do not fit the bill!
Geranium maderense
Geranium maderense
Then on into the Burncoose garden for some spectacular sights.
Rhododendron ‘Countess of Haddington’ and Magnolia x loebneri ‘Wildcat’ opposite the conservatory.
Rhododendron ‘Countess of Haddington’
Rhododendron ‘Countess of Haddington’
The white form of Staphylea holocarpa was just coming out. Caerhays does not have this.
Staphylea holocarpa
Staphylea holocarpa
Rhododendron ‘Countess of Haddington’ and Rhododendron ‘High Sheriff’ – stunning!
Rhododendron ‘Countess of Haddington’
Rhododendron ‘Countess of Haddington’
Rhododendron ‘Tinner’s Blush’ and Azalea ‘Amoena’.
Rhododendron ‘Tinner’s Blush’
Rhododendron ‘Tinner’s Blush’
Camellia ‘Anticipation’ and Rhododendron davidsonianum by the lodge.
Camellia ‘Anticipation’
Camellia ‘Anticipation’

2021 – CHW
A visit to Tregrehan yesterday. Alice Boyd, Richard & Mary Carew-Pole and Andrew & Vanessa Leslie. We all enjoyed a garden together for the first time in a year. A three-hour ramble amongst the usual array of new plants.Photinia serrata ‘Pink Crispy’ is not to everyone’s taste (this in St Austell Garden Centre).
Photinia serrata ‘Pink Crispy’
Photinia serrata ‘Pink Crispy’
Rehderodendron kwangtungense full out against a blue sky.
Rehderodendron kwangtungense
Rehderodendron kwangtungense
A new and unnamed species of Cephalotaxus. [Perhaps Torreya jackii – thanks Wolfgang Keidel for pointing this out]
Cephalotaxus
Cephalotaxus
Rhododendron hanceanum; a very different and far less compact growing form than ours.
Rhododendron hanceanum
Rhododendron hanceanum
Camellia x williamsii ‘Fair Jury’ – the near white form of ‘Elsie Jury’.
Camellia x williamsii ‘Fair Jury’
Camellia x williamsii ‘Fair Jury’
Camellia x williamsii ‘Fair Jury’
Camellia x williamsii ‘Fair Jury’
Rhododendron genestrianum
Rhododendron genestrianum
Rhododendron genestrianum
Rhododendron genestrianum
Rhododendron genestrianum
Camellia ‘Hooker’ was bred by Gillian Carlyon. It is almost a Higo camellia in the shape of its stamens.
Camellia ‘Hooker’
Camellia ‘Hooker’
Camellia ‘Hooker’
Camellia ‘Hooker’
Lonicera korokowii
Lonicera korokowii
Lonicera korokowii
Lonicera korokowii
Lonicera korokowii
This looks like a holly, but it is in fact Griselinia jodonifolia.
Griselinia jodonifolia
Griselinia jodonifolia
Griselinia jodonifolia
Griselinia jodonifolia
Cryptocarya alba
Cryptocarya alba
Cryptocarya alba
Another unknown Podocarpus species. Podocarpus milanjianus.
Podocarpus milanjianus
Podocarpus milanjianus
Podocarpus milanjianus
Podocarpus milanjianus
Podocarpus spinulosus
Podocarpus spinulosus
Podocarpus spinulosus
Primnopitys ferrugineus. One of the only two species of Primnopitys from New Zealand. Formerly called Podocarpus. Tom’s Primnopitys andinus is just like ours – virtually leafless with trailing stems.
Primnopitys ferrugineus
Primnopitys ferrugineus
Primnopitys ferrugineus
Primnopitys ferrugineus
Pseudopanax ‘Chainsaw’
Pseudopanax ‘Chainsaw’
Pseudopanax ‘Chainsaw’
Pseudopanax ‘Chainsaw’
Pseudopanax ‘Chainsaw’
Nestegis cunninghamii
Nestegis cunninghamii
Nestegis cunninghamii
Nestegis cunninghamii
Nestegis cunninghamii
Pittosporum colensoi
Pittosporum colensoi
Pittosporum colensoi
Clethra faberi
Clethra faberi
Clethra faberi
Clethra faberi
Clethra faberi
Viburnum erubescens (perhaps now called Viburnum chingii).
Viburnum erubescens
Viburnum erubescens
Viburnum erubescens
Viburnum erubescens
Rhododendron seingkhuense (in the Rhododendron edgeworthia group).
Rhododendron seingkhuense
Rhododendron seingkhuense
Rhododendron seingkhuense
Rhododendron seingkhuense
An old plant with a label saying, ‘Hodges Pink Argenteum’. Mr Hodge visited JCW in 1924. Perhaps a niveum x argenteum cross?
‘Hodges Pink Argenteum’
‘Hodges Pink Argenteum’
Jasminum duclouxii in the greenhouse.
Jasminum duclouxii
Jasminum duclouxii
Grevillea ‘Fireworks’
Grevillea ‘Fireworks’
Grevillea ‘Fireworks’
Grevillea ‘Fireworks’
Grevillea ‘Fireworks’
Rhododendron nuttallii x Rhododendron edgeworthii quite superb in the greenhouse.
Rhododendron nuttallii x Rhododendron edgeworthii
Rhododendron nuttallii x Rhododendron edgeworthii
Rhododendron nuttallii x Rhododendron edgeworthii
Rhododendron nuttallii x Rhododendron edgeworthii
Bartlettiana sordida
Bartlettiana sordida
Bartlettiana sordida
Tom’s tamarillo with tomato like fruit.
tamarillo
tamarillo
Magnolia ‘Hot Flash’ in the walled garden.
Magnolia ‘Hot Flash’
Magnolia ‘Hot Flash’
Magnolia ‘Hot Flash’
Magnolia ‘Hot Flash’
The very dark red Camellia ‘Night Rider’ which also grows at Burncoose. Here a huge bush near the house.
Camellia ‘Night Rider’
Camellia ‘Night Rider’
Camellia ‘Night Rider’
Camellia ‘Night Rider’

2020 – CHW
How much longer can the BBC keep the death panic going?Clearly they are itching to get the death statistics ever upward from corona from the latest interpretation of care home deaths being yet another government disgrace. Only 17% of the increased death totals of care home residents as compared to a ‘normal’ year are listed as being corona related. The BBC and the new labour front bench absolutely love this.However:1. Hospitals are refusing to admit patients from care homes2. Doctors and nurses are refusing to visit care homes in person to treat ‘those presenting symptoms’3. It would seem that death certificates are not always being completed by doctors4. All of this is of course because of the unavailability of PPE5. Can private healthcare homes actually afford the repriced PPE?Or does it really show the incompetence of National Health England and of the medical profession managers? Are the additional care home deaths actually the result of poor care, lack of staff in the care homes themselves, doctors ‘forcing’ residents to sign DN Resuscitate forms and not actually corona? I say, again, that secondary consequences of lockdown may be worse than corona itself and here is more evidence.Meanwhile it is now a fact that UK manufacturers of PPE are shipping and selling it in Europe having first offered it to the NHS but been ignored. Is this really the fault of the government or is our ‘blessed’ NHS actually run by complete bureaucratic incompetents? Wonderful nurses in intensive care but the rest of the NHS management is actually responsible for not coping itself with its own supply lines. When will someone dare to say this publicly as the PPE outrage grows, and the NHS passes the buck to Hancock.I suspect, in due course, Hancock will be forced to fall on his sword and resign but how many NHS bigwigs will he take with him? None presumably!Larix kaempferi, Japanese larch, just coming into leaf. As attractive now as is its striking autumn colour.

Larix kaempferi
Larix kaempferi
Larix kaempferi
Larix kaempferi
Berberis x ottawensis ‘Superba’ in full flower and 8ft tall with a similar spread.
Berberis x ottawensis ‘Superba’
Berberis x ottawensis ‘Superba’
Berberis x ottawensis ‘Superba’
Berberis x ottawensis ‘Superba’
Berberis x ottawensis ‘Superba’
Berberis x ottawensis ‘Superba’
A paleish but very striking form of Rhododendron augustinii.
Rhododendron augustinii
Rhododendron augustinii
Rhododendron augustinii
Rhododendron augustinii
Jaimie has been doing a bit of rhododendron layering as you can see from these pictures.
rhododendron layering
rhododendron layering
rhododendron layering
rhododendron layering
rhododendron layering
rhododendron layering
rhododendron layering
rhododendron layering
rhododendron layering
rhododendron layering
Rhododendron ‘Elizabeth’ full out now.
Rhododendron ‘Elizabeth’
Rhododendron ‘Elizabeth’
Michelia martinii has dropped its old leaves as the new growth comes. I have looked at it several times for flowers but I can now see that I missed them!
Michelia martinii
Michelia martinii
Michelia martinii
Michelia martinii
This is Magnolia ‘Golden Goblet’ which will not be winning any prizes! Not one of the yellows that has made the grade.
Magnolia ‘Golden Goblet’
Magnolia ‘Golden Goblet’
Magnolia ‘Golden Goblet’
Magnolia ‘Golden Goblet’
Still a few decent flowers on the now nearly leafless Michelia doltsopa.
Michelia doltsopa
Michelia doltsopa
Michelia doltsopa
Michelia doltsopa
Michelia x foggii ‘Jack Fogg’ has opened a bit more.
Michelia x foggii ‘Jack Fogg’
Michelia x foggii ‘Jack Fogg’
Rhododendron macabeanum is only just starting to drop its flowers. A good long show in a hot period of weather.
Rhododendron macabeanum
Rhododendron macabeanum
Michelia foveolata now decently out – strong scent.
Michelia foveolata
Michelia foveolata
Michelia foveolata
Michelia foveolata
I tried cutting through one of Asia’s three aerial layers on Rhododendron moulmainense from two years ago. Just a very few aerial roots had come from the twig into the (still wet) moss ball. In another season we may have success. Our Irish friends told us that aerial layers took only a few months. Irish optimism! Our experience so far has been poor but we need to persevere and do more as well as being more patient for results.
Rhododendron moulmainense
Rhododendron moulmainense
Michelia ‘Mixed up Miss’ is leafless at the top of the tree but a great sight and smell today.
Michelia ‘Mixed up Miss’
Michelia ‘Mixed up Miss’
Michelia ‘Mixed up Miss’
Michelia ‘Mixed up Miss’
Michelia ‘Mixed up Miss’
Michelia ‘Mixed up Miss’
Michelia ‘Mixed up Miss’
Michelia ‘Mixed up Miss’
A young Magnolia ‘Honey Liz’ with its first flower – two others frosted in bud.
Magnolia ‘Honey Liz’
Magnolia ‘Honey Liz’
Quercus fleuryi struggles on – too tender I fear.
Quercus fleuryi
Quercus fleuryi
Michelia ‘Touch of Pink’ is a mass of flower and scent.
Michelia ‘Touch of Pink’
Michelia ‘Touch of Pink’
Rhododendron ‘Damaris’ was Dad’s pride and joy but it died at least 30 years ago. Here are the replacements looking good but now elderly too. One of this group of four died last year.
Rhododendron ‘Damaris’
Rhododendron ‘Damaris’
Azalea ‘Melina’ wonderful in a group. Well worth propagating.
Azalea ‘Melina’
Azalea ‘Melina’
Azalea ‘Melina’
Azalea ‘Melina’

2019 – CHW
I think those fuchsias beside the house have flowered all autumn and all winter. Now they are off again. Just shows what an ultra-mild winter means.

fuchsias
fuchsias
I have been watching Rhododendron desquamatum for several days. The wind has speeded its opening and what a sight it is if you like mauve-purple in profusion. One I must remind Asia to propagate as this is a short lived species due to over flowering as you can see.
Rhododendron desquamatum
Rhododendron desquamatum
Rhododendron desquamatum
Rhododendron desquamatum
First flowers out on Rhododendron moorei which is another that I know we have had to replace twice in 60 years. Fortunately three replacements went in last year as this clump looks pretty ‘over mature’.
Rhododendron moorei
Rhododendron moorei
Pittosporum eugenoides ‘Variegatum’ gave itself away from afar with its strong scent. The flowers go nicely with the foliage.
Pittosporum eugenoides ‘Variegatum’
Pittosporum eugenoides ‘Variegatum’
Pittosporum eugenoides ‘Variegatum’
Pittosporum eugenoides ‘Variegatum’
Rhododendron ‘Wine and Roses’ making a nice clump. The leaf undersides are a bonus.
Rhododendron ‘Wine and Roses’
Rhododendron ‘Wine and Roses’
Rhododendron ‘Wine and Roses’
Rhododendron ‘Wine and Roses’
Rhododendron ‘Wine and Roses’
Rhododendron ‘Wine and Roses’
Another couple of Dad’s hybrids – Rhododendron decorum ‘High Sheriff’ x Rhododendron williamsianum and ‘Tinners Blush’ (paler) which we need to propagate for the Tin Garden plantings next spring. Both were launched at Chelsea 20+ years ago but they will be well over by 19th May this year.
Rhododendron decorum ‘High Sheriff’ x Rhododendron williamsianum and ‘Tinners Blush’
Rhododendron decorum ‘High Sheriff’ x Rhododendron williamsianum and ‘Tinners Blush’

Podocarpus macrophyllus ‘Aureus’ has become a stunted spreading shrub after some 35 to 40 years. It is the new growth which turns yellowish but there is still a tinge here in last year’s.

Podocarpus macrophyllus ‘Aureus’
Podocarpus macrophyllus ‘Aureus’
Podocarpus macrophyllus ‘Aureus’
Podocarpus macrophyllus ‘Aureus’

Camellia reticulata ‘Den Burton’ with its first enormous flower by Red Linney. A new one to us from France.

The rare white form of Rhododendron racemosum (near Tin Garden) which needs propagating by Asia later in the summer.

A particularly good form of Rhododendron ‘Sir Charles Lemon’ (arboreum). Better than 2 or 3 others in the garden.

Rhododendron ‘Lady Montagu’ (Exbury Group) nicely in flower and developing into a big bush which may reach 20-30 feet.

Daphniphyllum macropodum var. humile nicely in flower with contrasting yellowish new growth.

First flowering of Rhododendron tanastylum (an Alan Clarke collection). Another one on the ‘rarely in cultivation or of doubtful provenance’ list. I doubt Alan would agree!
The first grass cut in Kennel Close is now complete and the spraying around individual
trees has also been done. Very early perhaps but it has taken Tim 3 days with the
machine now whereas it would have taken double the time by late June or early July. It
looks much better for visitors too. Hopefully a warm windless week to follow to get on
top of more of the spraying although the Rosemoor Show will interrupt proceedings
leading up to next weekend.

2018 – CHW
Another trip to Old Park to view new young magnolias flowering for the first time.

Magnolia ‘Gold Cup’ was admired at Mount Congreve. Ours has faded a bit now full out but still not bad. We have another somewhere I think but cannot remember.

Magnolia ‘Gold Cup’
Magnolia ‘Gold Cup’
Magnolia ‘Gold Cup’
Magnolia ‘Gold Cup’
Magnolia ‘Gold Cup’
Magnolia ‘Gold Cup’
First flower on Magnolia ‘Livingstone’ is a bit battered but a fine colour. A New Zealand hybrid I assume. A bit like ‘Serene’? Never seen before here. Worth buying from New Zealand for the next catalogue.
Magnolia ‘Livingstone’
Magnolia ‘Livingstone’
An unnamed present from Tony Kirkham at Kew in 2014. Must ask him what it is? Probably not a viburnum but not a crataegus either. Perhaps a photinia?
present from Tony Kirkham
present from Tony Kirkham
present from Tony Kirkham
present from Tony Kirkham
Magnolia ‘Theodora’ is one of Vance Hooper’s introductions I suspect. We have another on the drive. A nicely shaped flower but going over a bit here with the new leaves appearing. You can see the Magnolia soulangeana shape in the parentage as with Magnolia ‘Genie’.
Magnolia ‘Theodora’
Magnolia ‘Theodora’
Magnolia ‘Theodora’
Magnolia ‘Theodora’
A wild collected form of Rhododendron rubiginosum from Alan Clarke’s collection. Very pale to the norm but pleasant none the less. I would not have guessed what it was without the label and collection number.
Rhododendron rubiginosum
Rhododendron rubiginosum
Rhododendron rubiginosum
Rhododendron rubiginosum
A young Rhododendron thompsonii flowering for the first time. One survivor from three planted. This species is always difficult with us and our high rainfall.
Rhododendron thompsonii
Rhododendron thompsonii
Frankie has scraped off and levelled the bottom track with his swing shovel which is excellent. Good thinking by Jaimie as Frankie moves down the valley to start clearing dykes.
bottom track
bottom track
Attractive early new growth on the three Aesculus wilsonii (40 to 50 years old) at the entrance to Old Park. It is too high up on the 1903 Wilson introduction to see properly.
Aesculus wilsonii
Aesculus wilsonii
Aesculus wilsonii
Aesculus wilsonii
So nothing startling but Magnolia ‘Livingstone’ well worth its rather good place high up on the bank above the old kennels. Is it better than the Magnolia campbellii ‘Peter Borlaise’ seen yesterday? Too early to say.
Magnolia ‘Livingstone’
Magnolia ‘Livingstone’

2017 – CHW Rhododendron ‘Ginny Gee’ in The Rockery is nearly over in the shade. Light pink when it opens, fading quickly. The other plant in full sun is long over.

Rhododendron ‘Ginny Gee’
Rhododendron ‘Ginny Gee’
Rhododendron ‘Ginny Gee’
Rhododendron ‘Ginny Gee’
Rhododendron ‘Wee Bee’ is smaller growing and less plastered in flower than its neighbour.
Rhododendron ‘Wee Bee’
Rhododendron ‘Wee Bee’
Rhododendron ‘Wee Bee’
Rhododendron ‘Wee Bee’
These Rhododendron russatum are the last survivors of a once large old clump. Interesting colour variation. The podocarpus needs cutting back from the paler plant.
Rhododendron russatum
Rhododendron russatum
Rhododendron russatum
Rhododendron russatum
Rhododendron russatum
Rhododendron russatum
This is the deciduous Rhododendron reticulatum. A very old plant in full shade in The Rockery and performing well today. This is a reddish-purple form without the dark purple spots or blotches which you see in some others which can also be purple or rose-purple. One for Asia to propagate. Today it looks one of the nicest of the deciduous species. Schlippenbachii is over as it quinquefolium and albrechtii. Only weyrichii is still to come out.
Rhododendron reticulatum
Rhododendron reticulatum
Rhododendron reticulatum
Rhododendron reticulatum
Rhododendron neriiflorum died out on the drive and this is one slow growing replacement. More dwarf than I remember and less floriferous.
Rhododendron neriiflorum
Rhododendron neriiflorum
Rhododendron neriiflorum
Rhododendron neriiflorum
Now we come to a problem. This is labelled Magnolia ‘Daybreak’ but I think it may well be ‘Peachy’ based on younger flowering plants in the garden. Certainly we have two different plants but which is which? This certainly looks more ‘peachy’ than the big tree below Tin Garden which looks, to me anyway, more like a much paler ‘daybreak’. What does everyone else think?
Magnolia ‘Daybreak’
Magnolia ‘Daybreak’
Magnolia ‘Daybreak’
Magnolia ‘Daybreak’
Magnolia ‘Daybreak’
Magnolia ‘Daybreak’
Rhododendron oldhamii is a sparse flowerer but the new growth shoots are attractive in themselves. Very ‘furry’ leaves too.
Rhododendron oldhamii
Rhododendron oldhamii
The Euphorbia mellifera outside the library window is now massive and in full flower all over. Soon for the chop I expect.
Euphorbia mellifera
Euphorbia mellifera
Euphorbia mellifera
Euphorbia mellifera
Euphorbia mellifera
Euphorbia mellifera
Another picture of Isla Rose!
Isla Rose
Isla Rose

2016 – CHW
Another six boring hours (now 20 in all) on the Single Payment Scheme forms which have now been submitted in part electronically and in part on paper due to the Rural Payments Agency omissions on our field parcels which were entirely their fault and which we were unable to amend online. In the 95 page rule book a field of miscanthus has to be coded PC01 but it will not accept this online. When we ring the RPA they say the rule book is out of date and the code is in fact S01. They only sent the rule book last week! This famous online system failed totally last year and sent us all back to paper form filling having wasted many hours online. It has so far cost £200m and still has many glitches. The most annoying one is that you have to go back to the top of the field list every time you fill in and confirm a field rather than jumping back to where you were in the list. Childishly simple you would have thought. Too tired to bore you any more with this euro trash nonsense and bureaucratic fascism perpetrated by incompetents.2015 – CHW
Banbury Town Hall for ‘The Pride of Hooky’ awards.  Hook Norton Brewery’s annual pissup for its publicans.  The one sitting next to me is taking the week off to recover.  Lunch and the awards end at 5pm when the publicans lurch uncertainly to the two Hooky pubs in walking distance to carry on the bash while we have a five hour drive home.
Hooky Gold from Hook Norton Brewery
Hooky Gold from Hook Norton Brewery
During the (very slow) lunch word comes of an invitation (a summons actually) to attend a speech from the PM at 9am next morning in West Cornwall.  The email comes at 6.30am saying it is at Penzance and be there by 8am.  Impossible to make Penzance and back in time for the visitation of the Scottish Rhododendron Society (26 people) at 10.30am so Scotland’s gain and Cameron’s loss!  Preferring the Scots to the PM has a strong whiff of topical amusement but I do not let on to the Scots.

1984 – FJW
Open Day 2500 people. Very fine not a gum boot in sight.

1922 – JCW
Far behind 1918-19-20-21. Auklandii not started, Augustinii hardly started, Orbiculare not started. Only ½ Calophytum open, Cherries in drive are ½ out, Subhirtella and dependens on the wane.

1921 – JCW
About the same as 1920 but only one flower of Orbiculare open and the reds are scarce.

1920 – JCW
Japanese maples good. New Planting Rhodo’s wane. Augustinii is yet good. Orbiculare very good. Auklandii has passed the best.

1918 – JCW
Daffs are nearly over and the rhodo’s mentioned in 1917 are all over now, we are nearly three weeks ahead of last year. Saw the first swallow.

1917 – JCW
Daffs just coming out well, very fine and dry. Rhodo 1350 just opening for the first time. R oleifolium is the best of the species now, red violet is very nice.

1915 – JCW
Daffs are turning back and we never saw so good a lot, or so many good things, or such fine weather for them. The white and pinky white Arboreum x Auklandii are opening and are very nice. R calophytum is very good indeed. Sir Charles Lemon is nice. A few buds of Auklandii are left by the frost, they are opening. Cherries are good.

1910 – JCW
Cherries about their best. Also Auklandii x Arboreum. Some nice late daffs now, but not many, beautiful moist weather for a week past. Clematis montana rubra good. Iris van T’s fine.

1906 – JCW
Only about 3 daffs left to open. Recurvas is open, Iris lusiana, Korolkowi and cushion hybrids are all open, the last are the earlier. R falconeri and thomsonii open also R campylocarpum. Auklandii, Niveum and Yunnanense nearly. R augustinii opened for the first time.

1904 – JCW
Primroses good. Grandis nearly all open and so Langtry, recurvas well up, the first Auklandii just opening. Thomsonii very good. Daffodils have nearly all gone. Go to Dinton and Birmingham tomorrow.

1899 – JCW
Primroses at their best. A few Montana have been open for a week. Camellia reticulata going by. The last (Narcissi) Beacon is open. Sol is yet a long way off. Waterlilies growing well.

3 thoughts on “22nd April

  1. Naming of Podocarpus and Quercus, pictures 22nd April,
    the Podocarpus should read milanjianus, a species widespread in tropical Africa from South Sudan to Zambia and further ( may without fruits be mixed up with Afrocarpus falcatus).
    The valid name of Quercus fleuryi is Q. macrocalyx from Laos, Vietnam and SW China.
    Georg Ruf

  2. Hello,
    I think your unknown Cephalotaxus on this side must be Torreya jackii, the Torreya with the longest needles.
    Regards
    Wolfgang, Arboretum Fraulund,Germany
    collector of Taxodiaceae and other conifers

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