17th 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

2023 – CHW

Secondary flowers on Magnolia ‘Iolanthe’.

Magnolia ‘Iolanthe’
Magnolia ‘Iolanthe’
Already well swollen seed heads on Stewartia rostrata.
Stewartia rostrata
Stewartia rostrata
A few secondary flowers on Rhododendron ‘Winsome’.
Rhododendron ‘Winsome’
Rhododendron ‘Winsome’
Sorbus ‘Pearly King’ already starting to show up well.
Sorbus ‘Pearly King’
Sorbus ‘Pearly King’
Flowers and seed heads on a Magnolia sieboldii.
Magnolia sieboldii
Magnolia sieboldii
The first Hedychium to show here this year is H. yunnanense. I fear that I may have called it H. coronarium in error in previous years.
Hedychium yunnanense
Hedychium yunnanense
Hydrangea aspera ‘Hot Chocolate’ – only 1 of 3 has survived the two droughts and is now making headway.
Hydrangea aspera ‘Hot Chocolate’
Hydrangea aspera ‘Hot Chocolate’
Quercus nuttallii is getting away well now on Sinogrande Walk.
Quercus nuttallii
Quercus nuttallii
Quercus nuttallii
Quercus nuttallii
I have never been able to confirm the name of Carpinus nimpoli (as labelled) on this very dwarf hornbeam plant struggling in too hot a spot.
Carpinus nimpoli
Carpinus nimpoli
Ripening Rehderodendron macrocarpum seeds front the male flower heads on Araucaria araucana.
Rehderodendron macrocarpum seeds front the male flower heads on Araucaria araucana
Rehderodendron macrocarpum seeds front the male flower heads on Araucaria araucana
Fuschia ‘Blacky’ – should sell well!
Fuschia ‘Blacky’
Fuschia ‘Blacky’
A pied wagtail fledgling in the Back Yard.
pied wagtail
pied wagtail
pied wagtail
pied wagtail
pied wagtail
pied wagtail

2022 – CHW

Cyrtanthus elatus, the Scarborough Lily, in full flower on the steps of the Cottage in Yorkshire. This plant has greatly enjoyed the drought although the fields are much greener here than in Cornwall.

Cyrtanthus elatus
Cyrtanthus elatus
I think this is Mentha longifolia or Horse Mint but it might just be Mentha rotundifolia or Apple Scented Mint. The leaves look some way between the two species but I could not smell any apple scent when crushing the leaves in this heatwave.
Mentha longifolia
Mentha longifolia
The commemorative Quercus robur ‘Fastigiata’ has grown about a foot taller.
Quercus robur ‘Fastigiata’
Quercus robur ‘Fastigiata’
Quercus robur ‘Fastigiata’
Quercus robur ‘Fastigiata’

2021 – CHW
A visit to Braithwaite & Sons just off the A1 at Leeming. An old fashioned family run nursery business which actually grows things and acts as a florist as well! Mr Braithwaite senior grafts the trees while his son has developed a good display of newer and more novel herbaceous plants. So very much a nursery and not a garden centre. Among the novelties seen were:Achillea ‘Summer Fruits Lemon’ and Achillea ‘Lilac Beauty’
Achillea ‘Summer Fruits Lemon’ and Achillea ‘Lilac Beauty’
Achillea ‘Summer Fruits Lemon’ and Achillea ‘Lilac Beauty’
Achillea ‘Summer Fruits Carmine’ and Agastache ‘Golden Jubilee’
Achillea ‘Summer Fruits Carmine’ and Agastache ‘Golden Jubilee’
Achillea ‘Summer Fruits Carmine’ and Agastache ‘Golden Jubilee’
Anemone ‘Pretty Lady Susan’
Anemone ‘Pretty Lady Susan’
Anemone ‘Pretty Lady Susan’
Anemone ‘Pretty Lady Susan’
Anemone ‘Pretty Lady Susan’
Monarda ‘Knight Violet’ and Eryngium planum ‘Magical Purple Falls’
Monarda ‘Knight Violet’ and Eryngium planum ‘Magical Purple Falls’
Monarda ‘Knight Violet’ and Eryngium planum ‘Magical Purple Falls’
Lobelia siphilitica ‘Blue’and Lobelia ‘Fanship Burgundy’
Lobelia siphilitica ‘Blue’and Lobelia ‘Fanship Burgundy’
Lobelia siphilitica ‘Blue’and Lobelia ‘Fanship Burgundy’
Lobelia ‘Fanship Scarlet’ and Lobelia ‘Fanship Blue’
Lobelia ‘Fanship Scarlet’ and Lobelia ‘Fanship Blue’
Lobelia ‘Fanship Scarlet’ and Lobelia ‘Fanship Blue’
Monarda ‘Melua Pink’ and Monarda ‘Melua Violet’
Monarda ‘Melua Pink’ and Monarda ‘Melua Violet’
Monarda ‘Melua Pink’ and Monarda ‘Melua Violet’
Rudbeckia ‘Enchanted Forest’
Rudbeckia ‘Enchanted Forest’
Rudbeckia ‘Enchanted Forest’
Rudbeckia ‘Enchanted Romance’
Rudbeckia ‘Enchanted Romance’
Rudbeckia ‘Enchanted Romance’
Rudbeckia ‘Enchanted Embers’
Rudbeckia ‘Enchanted Embers’
Rudbeckia ‘Enchanted Embers’
Rudbeckia ‘Enchanted Flame’
Rudbeckia ‘Enchanted Flame’
Rudbeckia ‘Enchanted Flame’
Clematis ‘Fascination’
Clematis ‘Fascination’
Clematis ‘Fascination’
Clematis ‘Aromatica’
Clematis ‘Aromatica’
Clematis ‘Aromatica’
Scabiosa caucasica ‘Fama Deep Blue’
Scabiosa caucasica ‘Fama Deep Blue’
Scabiosa caucasica ‘Fama Deep Blue’
Scabiosa caucasica ‘Fama White’
Scabiosa caucasica ‘Fama White’
Scabiosa caucasica ‘Fama White’

2020 – CHW
Jaimie spots Sorbus chamaemespilus with its first fruits in Kennel Close. Planted in 2019.
Sorbus chamaemespilus
Sorbus chamaemespilus
Sorbus chamaemespilus
Sorbus chamaemespilus
Jaimie thinks this is a Castanopsis below the borehole but I believe it is actually an oak. Cannot remember which but we will see who is right when the fruits or seeds develop. I think probably Quercus castaneifolia.
oak
oak
oak
oak
oak
oak

2019 – CHW
The Robinia slavinii ‘Hillieri’ shattered in the wind and rain. We saw this earlier in the summer in this diary and commented that a collapse was near.
Robinia slavinii ‘Hillieri’
Robinia slavinii ‘Hillieri’

2018 – CHW
Head Gardener Jaimie has been keeping up with the daily diary while I have been away in the north.Echium seedlings coming up in the gravel drive after the rain – a few potted up before we have to spray off the Castle Drive.
Echium seedlings
Echium seedlings
Echium seedlings
Echium seedlings
My magnolia hybrids from 2017 coming on nicely.
magnolia hybrids
magnolia hybrids
Malus hupehensis has a nice crop in the Isla Rose Plantation despite the lack of rain.
Malus hupehensis
Malus hupehensis
Callicarpa psilocalyx – in the Isla Rose Plantation. A new species to us not seen before.
Callicarpa psilocalyx
Callicarpa psilocalyx

2017 – CHW
The new machine has done a nice job cutting the banks outside the front door for the second time this summer. The machine mulches the grass which saves raking it up.
cutting the banks
cutting the banks
cutting the banks
cutting the banks

2016 – CHW
No entry.
2015 – CHWBack from Yorkshire to find the house unrecognizable and full of film kit but 72 emails have to come first. Just a quick trip out to find Wisteria ‘Black Dragon’ still has a single flower on it above the gents’ loo. Very late for any wisteria let alone a double flowered form.
Wisteria ‘Black Dragon’
Wisteria ‘Black Dragon’