2nd April

CONTRIBUTORS:
FJ Williams Profile Picture
FJW 1955-2007
CH Williams Profile Picture
CHW 2015-
JC Williams Profile Picture
JCW 1897-1939
C Williams Profile Picture
CW 1940-1955


2025 – CHW
Rhododendron ciliicalyx on the Main Ride.

Rhododendron ciliicalyx
Rhododendron ciliicalyx
Magnolia denudata ‘Fragrant Cloud’ (‘Dan Xin’).
Magnolia denudata ‘Fragrant Cloud’ (‘Dan Xin’)
Magnolia denudata ‘Fragrant Cloud’ (‘Dan Xin’)
Magnolia denudata ‘Fragrant Cloud’ (‘Dan Xin’)
Magnolia denudata ‘Fragrant Cloud’ (‘Dan Xin’)
Magnolia ‘Sayonara’.
Magnolia ‘Sayonara’
Magnolia ‘Sayonara’
First flowers on this Magnolia campbellii on Christmas Day and the last ones over 3 months later. A record?
Magnolia campbellii
Magnolia campbellii
Magnolia x loebneri ‘Lucy Carlson’.
Magnolia x loebneri ‘Lucy Carlson’
Magnolia x loebneri ‘Lucy Carlson’
Magnolia x loebneri ‘Lucy Carlson’
Magnolia x loebneri ‘Lucy Carlson’
Magnolia ‘Crescendo’ with very few flowers this year.
Magnolia ‘Crescendo’
Magnolia ‘Crescendo’
Magnolia kobus ‘Esveld Select’ very slow to come out. Some flowers seem to bond back on their stems.
Magnolia kobus ‘Esveld Select’
Magnolia kobus ‘Esveld Select’
Magnolia kobus ‘Esveld Select’
Magnolia kobus ‘Esveld Select’
Magnolia x brooklynensis ‘Titan’ just out.
Magnolia x brooklynensis ‘Titan’
Magnolia x brooklynensis ‘Titan’
Magnolia ‘Apollo’ looking good.
Magnolia ‘Apollo’
Magnolia ‘Apollo’
Prunus ‘Matsumae-beni-yutaka’ out just low down for now.
Prunus ‘Matsumae-beni-yutaka’
Prunus ‘Matsumae-beni-yutaka’

2024 – CHW
An Aucuba with berries and flowers despite deer nibbling lower down.

Aucuba with berries
Aucuba with berries
A smaller growing Magnolia ‘Apollo’ still looking good on the drive.
Magnolia ‘Apollo’
Magnolia ‘Apollo’
This is a long forgotten Acer carpinifolium (the hornbeam maple) just leafing up and flowering the by the Red Linney. There is a younger upright growing plant above the greenhouses but I have never noticed the flowers. I have seen the seeds which are said to be sterile. I had thought at first Ostrya carpinifolia, and the leaves are similar but the fruits/ seeds are not. Investigating further, the Red Linney tree has male flowers and the greenhouse one is a female. The distances involved may well explain the sterility.
Acer carpinifolium
Acer carpinifolium
Acer carpinifolium
Acer carpinifolium
Magnolia x veitchii ‘Columbus’ has survived the deluges pretty much intact on Bond Street.
Magnolia x veitchii ‘Columbus’
Magnolia x veitchii ‘Columbus’
Three grandchildren collecting pheasant eggs.
grandchildren collecting pheasant eggs
grandchildren collecting pheasant eggs
The cock pheasant has the largest ‘horns’ I have ever seen on any cockbird.
cock pheasant
cock pheasant
Around 70 eggs collected in around 40 minutes – one or two cracked!
Around 70 eggs
Around 70 eggs

2023 – CHW
Still at the Cornwall Garden Society Spring Show but now viewing the Caerhays Magnolia exhibits: -Magnolia floribunda.

Magnolia floribunda
Magnolia floribunda
Magnolia ‘Fairy White’.
Magnolia ‘Fairy White’
Magnolia ‘Fairy White’
Magnolia nitida.
Magnolia nitida
Magnolia nitida
Magnolia nitida
Magnolia nitida

The trio of sprays which won 1st prize.

Magnolia ‘Tropicana’.

Magnolia ‘Tropicana’
Magnolia ‘Tropicana’
Magnolia ‘Caerhays Surprise’.
Magnolia ‘Caerhays Surprise’
Magnolia ‘Caerhays Surprise’
Magnolia ‘Apollo’.
Magnolia ‘Apollo’
Magnolia ‘Apollo’

Also on the Magnolia show bench (not ours).

Magnolia ‘Phelan Bright’.

Magnolia ‘Phelan Bright’
Magnolia ‘Phelan Bright’
Magnolia ‘Phelan Bright’
Magnolia ‘Phelan Bright’
Tom & Jo Hudson’s superb Michelia maudiae ‘Golden Temple’.
Michelia maudiae ‘Golden Temple’
Michelia maudiae ‘Golden Temple’
Magnolia ‘Livingstone’.
Magnolia ‘Livingstone’
Magnolia ‘Livingstone’
The Scamp daffodil display as good as usual.
The Scamp daffodil display
The Scamp daffodil display
The Burncoose Nurseries stand.
Burncoose Nurseries stand
Burncoose Nurseries stand
The Great Gardens of Cornwall stand.
Great Gardens of Cornwall stand
Great Gardens of Cornwall stand

2022 – CHW

Nearly a frost last night and some hailstones which did not bode well for show entries today.

Rhododendron schlippenbachii just coming out on the drive. The clump in the garden is hardly showing yet.

Rhododendron schlippenbachii
Rhododendron schlippenbachii
Amelanchier lamarckii just out by the fernery with no young leaves showing just yet.
Amelanchier lamarckii
Amelanchier lamarckii
Magnolia x loebneri ‘Merrill’ and Magnolia x loebneri ‘Raspberry Ice’ below the fernery.
Magnolia x loebneri ‘Merrill’
Magnolia x loebneri ‘Merrill’
Then off to the Royal Cornwall Showground to judge at the Cornwall Garden Society spring show 2022. I was the stand in judge for Jim Gardiner (who had covid) and was only able to do so as Caerhays were not able to enter any classes this year as Jaimie and Michael are tied up with digging trenches for the new three phase electric supply from the castle to the café (plus new waterpipe). Quite a few road crossings and hand digging.
A superb entry of camellias but magnolias rather sparse and the rhododendrons not as good as usual. I judged the latter two. Excellent entries however in the amateur classes. All now taking place in the Royal Cornwall cattle shed with about half the trade stands (including Burncoose) thankfully inside. A much better use of space than our first visit to the shed in 2019; and no shows of course since.
The light was odd this evening in the cattle shed for photography – apologies in advance.
The Burncoose Nurseries stand beside the front entrance and the selling tables. Molly’s first show outing with Justin.
Burncoose Nurseries stand
Burncoose Nurseries stand
Burncoose Nurseries stand
Burncoose Nurseries stand
Trewithen’s fine display vase of Camellia x williamsii ‘E G Waterhouse’, Camellia japonica ‘Matterhorn’ and Camellia japonica ‘Lady Loch’.
Camellia x williamsii ‘E G Waterhouse’
Camellia x williamsii ‘E G Waterhouse’
The cup winning display from Bonallack of Magnolia ‘JC Williams’, ‘Star Wars’ and ‘Yellow Lantern’.
Magnolia ‘JC Williams’
Magnolia ‘JC Williams’
Werrington’s Abiss cup award winning entry of rhododendron species – the award for the best exhibit in any class in the show (and me judging! Not that I knew at the time of course).
rhododendron species
rhododendron species
A superb vase of Camellia japonica ‘Desire’ – absolutely perfect on the show bench.
Camellia japonica ‘Desire’
Camellia japonica ‘Desire’
Camellia japonica ‘Desire’
Camellia japonica ‘Desire’
Equally good was a vase of Camellia japonica ‘Margaret Davies’.
Camellia japonica ‘Margaret Davis’
Camellia japonica ‘Margaret Davis’
Camellia japonica ‘Margaret Davis’
Camellia japonica ‘Margaret Davis’
AND a vase of Camellia japonica ‘Kramer’s Supreme’.
Camellia japonica ‘Kramer’s Supreme’
Camellia japonica ‘Kramer’s Supreme’
Camellia x williamsii ‘E G Waterhouse’ in a vase.
Camellia x williamsii ‘E G Waterhouse’
Camellia x williamsii ‘E G Waterhouse’
Camellia x williamsii ‘Debbie’ and Camellia japonica ‘Paul’s Apollo’.
Camellia x williamsii ‘Debbie’
Camellia x williamsii ‘Debbie’
Camellia japonica ‘Vittoro Emanuele II’
Camellia japonica ‘Vittoro Emanuele II’
Camellia japonica ‘Vittoro Emanuele II’
Camellia x japonica ‘Anticipation’ as a vase.
Camellia x japonica ‘Anticipation’
Camellia x japonica ‘Anticipation’
A fine show of Rhododendron macabeanum – the yellow has not come out properly in this photograph.
Rhododendron macabeanum
Rhododendron macabeanum

2021 – CHW
One of those days where all was well in the world (even if it still is not). Warm and sunny with birdsong, lambs bleating and scent after a long Hook Norton board meeting.Many magnolias are now old enough to be making a show as you see here today:Magnolia ‘Sunray’
Magnolia ‘Sunray’
Magnolia ‘Sunray’
Magnolia ‘Lu Shan’
Magnolia ‘Lu Shan’
Magnolia ‘Lu Shan’
Magnolia ‘Lu Shan’
Magnolia ‘Lu Shan’
Rhododendron hodgsonii – this plant flowering for the first time that I have seen
Rhododendron hodgsonii
Rhododendron hodgsonii
Magnolia ‘Lucy Carlson’ (M. loebneri ‘Leonard Messel’ x Magnolia salicifolia)
Magnolia ‘Lucy Carlson’
Magnolia ‘Lucy Carlson’
Magnolia ‘Lucy Carlson’
Magnolia ‘Lucy Carlson’
Magnolia ‘Crystal Chalice’
Magnolia ‘Crystal Chalice’
Magnolia ‘Crystal Chalice’
Magnolia ‘Crystal Chalice’
Magnolia ‘Crystal Chalice’
Magnolia ‘Black Tulip’ x Magnolia ‘Serene’ (no name as yet)
Magnolia ‘Black Tulip’ x Magnolia ‘Serene’
Magnolia ‘Black Tulip’ x Magnolia ‘Serene’
Magnolia ‘Hot Lips’ (much better than ‘Hot Pants’). [I fear this is actually ‘Hot Pants’!]
Magnolia ‘Hot Pants’
Magnolia ‘Hot Pants’
Magnolia ‘Spring Rite’
Magnolia ‘Spring Rite’
Magnolia ‘Spring Rite’
Magnolia ‘Spring Rite’
Magnolia ‘Spring Rite’
Magnolia ‘Paul Cook’
Magnolia ‘Paul Cook’
Magnolia ‘Paul Cook’
Magnolia ‘Paul Cook’
Magnolia ‘Paul Cook’
Magnolia kobus ‘Octopus’
Magnolia kobus ‘Octopus’
Magnolia kobus ‘Octopus’
Magnolia kobus ‘Octopus’
Magnolia kobus ‘Octopus’
Magnolia ‘Asian Artistry’
Magnolia ‘Asian Artistry’
Magnolia ‘Asian Artistry’
Magnolia ‘Asian Artistry’
Magnolia ‘Asian Artistry’
Magnolia ‘Anya’
Magnolia ‘Anya’
Magnolia ‘Anya’
Magnolia ‘Amethyst’
Magnolia ‘Amethyst’
Magnolia ‘Amethyst’
Magnolia x veitchii ‘Isca’ at 100ft+
Magnolia x veitchii ‘Isca’
Magnolia x veitchii ‘Isca’
The end of the fallen beech tree above Green Gate after two days’ work.
fallen beech tree
fallen beech tree

2 thoughts on “2nd April”

  1. Could you tell me more about Magnolia Tinkerbelle. I am going to be acquiring one for my garden from the UBC Botanical gardens in Vancouver Canada through the . Unfortunately I have not been able to find information online about this plant, except pictures on your website

    1. Dear Ms Bert

      It is a hybrid between M. soulangeana ‘Sweet Simplicity’ and the New Zealand bred M. ‘Cameo’.

      The New Zealand breeder of M. ‘Cameo’ was Vance Hooper.

      Best wishes

      Charles Williams

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