13th August

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

Flower buds still nowhere near out Hydrangea kawakamii ‘Formosa’.

Hydrangea kawakamii ‘Formosa’
Hydrangea kawakamii ‘Formosa’
Hydrangea ‘Joseph Banks’ and Hydrangea paniculata ‘White Lace’.
Hydrangea ‘Joseph Banks’ and Hydrangea paniculata ‘White Lace’
Hydrangea ‘Joseph Banks’ and Hydrangea paniculata ‘White Lace’
Hydrangea ‘Zorro’ and Hydrangea paniculata ‘Kyushu’.
Hydrangea ‘Zorro’ and Hydrangea paniculata ‘Kyushu’
Hydrangea ‘Zorro’ and Hydrangea paniculata ‘Kyushu’
Hydrangea ‘Zorro’ and Berberis ottawensis ‘Superba’.
Hydrangea ‘Zorro’ and Berberis ottawensis ‘Superba’
Hydrangea ‘Zorro’ and Berberis ottawensis ‘Superba’
The Buddleias colvilei which was felled by a Pinus insignis branch has regrown strongly from the base.
Buddleias colvilei
Buddleias colvilei
Two rhododendrons nearby have not.
Two rhododendrons
Two rhododendrons
Schima superba (Mu He Shu) with now reddish new growth. Earlier it looked much whiter.
Schima superba (Mu He Shu)
Schima superba (Mu He Shu)
Phoebe sheareri settling in well after planting last spring.
Phoebe sheareri
Phoebe sheareri
Zanthoxylum acanthopodium with good new growth as well.
Zanthoxylum acanthopodium
Zanthoxylum acanthopodium
Lindera tonkinensis (FMWJ 13123) is another super-fast grower with delicate and interesting leaves.
Lindera tonkinensis (FMWJ 13123)
Lindera tonkinensis (FMWJ 13123)
Lindera tonkinensis (FMWJ 13123)
Lindera tonkinensis (FMWJ 13123)
One of Asia’s fairly recent aerial layers on Magnolia ‘Mr. Julian’. The moss has sprouted some grass seed and the layer looks promising but far too early to be certain of success.
aerial layers on Magnolia ‘Mr. Julian’
aerial layers on Magnolia ‘Mr. Julian’

2023 – CHW
To Leslie Baker’s garden open day in St Austell to raise funds for the Alzheimer’s charity. Leslie lost his wife, Myra, to this vile disease around Christmas. The garden as pristine and well managed as always.Eucomis bicolor and Phormium ‘Cream Delight’.

Eucomis bicolor and Phormium ‘Cream Delight’
Eucomis bicolor and Phormium ‘Cream Delight’
Eucomis bicolor and Persicaria milletii ‘Aurea’.
Eucomis bicolor and Persicaria milletii ‘Aurea’
Eucomis bicolor and Persicaria milletii ‘Aurea’
Lilium superbum and Podocarpus totara.
Lilium superbum and Podocarpus totara
Lilium superbum and Podocarpus totara
Thalictrum delavayi ‘Hewitt’s Double’ and Podocarpus totara.
Thalictrum delavayi ‘Hewitt’s Double’ and Podocarpus totara
Thalictrum delavayi ‘Hewitt’s Double’ and Podocarpus totara
Geranium ‘Rozanne’ and Geranium ‘Wargrave Pink’.
Geranium ‘Rozanne’ and Geranium ‘Wargrave Pink’
Geranium ‘Rozanne’ and Geranium ‘Wargrave Pink’
Papaver rupifragum ‘Flore Pleno’ and Sedum ‘Purple Emperor’.
Papaver rupifragum ‘Flore Pleno’ and Sedum ‘Purple Emperor’
Papaver rupifragum ‘Flore Pleno’ and Sedum ‘Purple Emperor’
Papaver rupifragum ‘Flore Pleno’ and Crocosmia ‘Paul’s Best Yellow’.
Papaver rupifragum ‘Flore Pleno’ and Crocosmia ‘Paul’s Best Yellow’
Papaver rupifragum ‘Flore Pleno’ and Crocosmia ‘Paul’s Best Yellow’
Crassula arborescens in the greenhouse.
Crassula arborescens
Crassula arborescens
Acanthus mollis and Anemone hupehensis ‘Queen Charlotte’.
Acanthus mollis and Anemone hupehensis ‘Queen Charlotte’
Acanthus mollis and Anemone hupehensis ‘Queen Charlotte’
Kirengeshoma palmata nicely in flower.
Kirengeshoma palmata
Kirengeshoma palmata
The viaduct towers over Leslie’s garden.
The viaduct
The viaduct
Good buds forming for next spring on his Magnolia campbellii.
Magnolia campbellii
Magnolia campbellii
Runner bean seeds already on Leslie’s wisteria.
Runner bean seeds
Runner bean seeds

2022 – CHW

The drought is really starting to bite!

Nearly dead Hydrangeas on the drive planted 19 years ago. The clumps by the top lodge are even worse.

Nearly dead Hydrangeas
Nearly dead Hydrangeas
The Miscanthus in the cliff fields has only grown to half its normal height and the tops are brown.
Miscanthus
Miscanthus
Not much green in the cliff fields above Portholland. We are now feeding hay to the 40 cows and calves in this field. Good job it was a massive silage harvest year.
cliff fields above Portholland
cliff fields above Portholland
The number of dead elms (and dieing younger ash trees) in the hedgerows is alarming this year. The usually resilient Cornish elms on the Vean drive have already got 9 casualties to take down.
dead elms
dead elms
dead elms
dead elms
What a glorious day for a Beach Meadow wedding. Tepees rather than tents seem to be the trend. This is the second lot of tepees in a fortnight.
Beach Meadow wedding
Beach Meadow wedding

2021 – CHW
Seven hour drive (450 miles) and we arrive at ‘The Cottage’.
‘The Cottage’
‘The Cottage’
Anemone x hybrida ‘September Charm’ in the chimney pot at the door.
Anemone x hybrida ‘September Charm’
Anemone x hybrida ‘September Charm’
Buddleia ‘Lochinch’ performing well in the Cottage garden.
Buddleia ‘Lochinch’
Buddleia ‘Lochinch’
Buddleia ‘Lochinch’
Buddleia ‘Lochinch’
Harebells on the wildflower bank (Campanula rotundifolia).
Campanula rotundifolia
Campanula rotundifolia
Knautia arvensis – field scabious nearby.
Knautia arvensis
Knautia arvensis
Moth on greater knapweed. A different seed head to our Centaurea nigra. This is Centaurea scabiosa with brown hairs surrounding the scales on the seedpod.
Centaurea scabiosa
Centaurea scabiosa
Nothofagus antarctica about 30 years old with a fine crop of beechmast just forming.
Nothofagus antarctica
Nothofagus antarctica
Nothofagus antarctica
Nothofagus antarctica
Some insect has formed cobwebbed cocoons all over a Prunus avium. A few unformed wild cherries in evidence here and there.
Prunus avium
Prunus avium
Very little fruit or seed on any of the hedgerow trees this year as it was frosty and cold in April and early May. Even the Sorbus aucuparia are sparse. The hazels do however have a heavy crop untouched as yet by squirrels.
hazels
hazels
hazels
hazels

2020 – CHW
Cyrtanthus elatus, the Scarborough Lily, greets us at The Cottage in Yorkshire. Another tender South African lily of some note with scarlet flowers.
Cyrtanthus elatus
Cyrtanthus elatus

The field has not been cut for hay this year so even more wildflowers in evidence.

Trifolium fragiferum, Strawberry Clover.

Trifolium fragiferum
Trifolium fragiferum
Stachys officionalis, Betony, which had grown rather taller without the sheep nibbling.
Stachys officionalis
Stachys officionalis
Stachys officionalis
Stachys officionalis
Potentilla reptans, Creeping Cinquefoil, was much in evidence.
Potentilla reptans
Potentilla reptans
Knautia arvensis, Field Scabious, perhaps late into flower.
Knautia arvensis
Knautia arvensis
Knautia arvensis
Knautia arvensis
Campanula rotundifolia, Harebell, which were nearly over.
Campanula rotundifolia
Campanula rotundifolia
Centauria scabiosa, Greater Knapweed, which seems brown in bud unlike ours at Caerhays which has black surrounds to the bud. Perhaps this is Scabiosa jacea, Brown Knapweed?
Centauria scabiosa
Centauria scabiosa
Centauria scabiosa
Centauria scabiosa
Ranunculus acris, Meadow Buttercup, with a geranium like leaf.
Ranunculus acris
Ranunculus acris
Ranunculus acris
Ranunculus acris

2019 – CHW
A few wild flowers out on a dry south facing bank in a meadow at The Cottage in Yorkshire. The field had been ungrazed this year and was full of interest and colour. So many of these plants are sold by Burncoose as improved garden forms or different species of these fairly common wild plants.Betony, Stachys officinalis, which I had not seen before.
Stachys officinalis
Stachys officinalis
Stachys officinalis
Stachys officinalis
Stachys officinalis
Stachys officinalis
Harebell, Campanula rotundifolia, which you often see on moorland edges.
Campanula rotundifolia
Campanula rotundifolia
Campanula rotundifolia
Campanula rotundifolia
Campanula rotundifolia
Campanula rotundifolia
Field scabious, Knautia arvensis, which would be fine in a pot in the nursery.
Knautia arvensis
Knautia arvensis
Knautia arvensis
Knautia arvensis
Greater knapweed, Centaurea scabiosa (or more probably common knapweed), which grows well in full sun on the bank opposite the front door at Caerhays.
Centaurea scabiosa
Centaurea scabiosa
Centaurea scabiosa
Centaurea scabiosa
Yarrow, Achillea millefolium. The white forms which we sell are not so different.
Achillea millefolium
Achillea millefolium
Achillea millefolium
Achillea millefolium
Red clover, Trifolium pratense.
Trifolium pratense
Trifolium pratense
Trifolium pratense
Trifolium pratense
Hare’s foot clover, Trifolium arvense.
Trifolium arvense
Trifolium arvense
Trifolium arvense
Trifolium arvense
Common birds-foot-trefoil, Lotus corniculatus.
Lotus corniculatus
Lotus corniculatus
Lotus corniculatus
Lotus corniculatus
Meadow crane’s-bill, Geranium pratense.
Geranium pratense
Geranium pratense
A dead black rabbit hanging in a lilac tree.
dead black rabbit
dead black rabbit

2018 – CHW
The rare and tender Brachychiton populneus has done fairly well in the drought after being planted this spring. Quite a nice crop of new growth.
Brachychiton populneus
Brachychiton populneus
Brachychiton populneus
Brachychiton populneus
Firmania simplex has got away in the heat too although I fear it will be cut back to 4-6in from ground level again next winter. Only when it gets a woody trunk will it have a real chance. Not in a hot enough spot here perhaps.
Firmania simplex
Firmania simplex
A nasty orange fungal growth from the base of an elderly Quercus coccinea.
orange fungal growth
orange fungal growth

2017 – CHW
A big leafed young Rhododendron sinogrande grossly over seeding in Old Park. A good example of why the seeds need removing once flowering has finished. However we might as well harvest these in October and grow them on.
Rhododendron sinogrande
Rhododendron sinogrande
Rhododendron sinogrande
Rhododendron sinogrande
Rhododendron sinogrande
Rhododendron sinogrande
Rhododendron sinogrande
Rhododendron sinogrande

2016 – CHW
It may well not be a gardening holiday as such but you cannot help admiring Daphne’s Northumbrian garden which Burncoose supplied many plants for some 15 to 20 years ago when it was first started on the edge of Newbiggin Moor near Blanchland. The pond area was getting overrun with gunnera but these have been removed to good effect. This year the roses were in their prime which puts the garden two to three weeks later than in recent years when they were all going over. Despite all the rabbit fencing we were able to remove another three during our visit without the dogs racing through the borders.
Daphne’s Northumbrian garden
Daphne’s Northumbrian garden
Daphne’s Northumbrian garden
Daphne’s Northumbrian garden
Daphne’s Northumbrian garden
Daphne’s Northumbrian garden
Daphne’s Northumbrian garden
Daphne’s Northumbrian garden
Daphne’s Northumbrian garden
Daphne’s Northumbrian garden
Daphne’s Northumbrian garden
Daphne’s Northumbrian garden
Daphne’s Northumbrian garden
Daphne’s Northumbrian garden
Daphne’s Northumbrian garden
Daphne’s Northumbrian garden
Daphne’s Northumbrian garden
Daphne’s Northumbrian garden
Daphne’s Northumbrian garden
Daphne’s Northumbrian garden
Daphne’s Northumbrian garden
Daphne’s Northumbrian garden
Daphne’s Northumbrian garden
Daphne’s Northumbrian garden
Daphne’s Northumbrian garden
Daphne’s Northumbrian garden
Daphne’s Northumbrian garden
Daphne’s Northumbrian garden
Daphne’s Northumbrian garden
Daphne’s Northumbrian garden
Daphne’s Northumbrian garden
Daphne’s Northumbrian garden
2015 – CHW
No entry.

2000 – FJW
Heavy rain.

1983 – FJW
Harvest all in – very good yield – hotter than 1976?

1976 – FJW
Harvest all in – including Pencoose – very dry year.

1954 – CW
Still rain every day. Pinnatifolia nearly at best. A few on Nymansii. Whites good but some over also most of Auriculatum pink hybrids but a third not out of white. Mag delavayi on big wall over 160 flowers. Wall climbing hydrangea covered V.G. Our hay in but a lot out. A little corn cut on way to Truro. One lapageria out. Most dead.

1946 – CW
Very wet for long and now terrific storms. Auriculatum not out and also many of its hybrids. Eucryphia pinnatifolia at its best 2 days ago. Nymansii good. Pinnatifolia not yet all out. All magnolias, rhododendrons, and camellias grown well. Hardly any corn cut. First lapageria out.