1st December

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

Camellia japonica ‘Takanini’ now full out. What a colour!

Camellia japonica ‘Takanini’
Camellia japonica ‘Takanini’
The autumn colours (not much!) on Quercus trojana – a gift from the IDS in 2019.
Quercus trojana
Quercus trojana
Carpinus rankanensis in full leaf.
Carpinus rankanensis
Carpinus rankanensis
Carpinus japonica virtually leafless.
Carpinus japonica
Carpinus japonica
Another storm damaged leylandii. Jaimie will be pleased as he hates them.
damaged leylandii
damaged leylandii
The Sophora ‘Sun King’ died in the drought 2 years ago. Jaimie dug it up and potted it and surprisingly it has revived and reshot from the trunk. We planted it out again in full sun in Kennel Close last October.
Sophora ‘Sun King’
Sophora ‘Sun King’
A newly planted Viburnum foetidum var. rectangulatum with good colour and its first fruits.
Viburnum foetidum var. rectangulatum
Viburnum foetidum var. rectangulatum
Viburnum foetidum var. rectangulatum
Viburnum foetidum var. rectangulatum
Fagus longipetiolata still in leaf in December.
Fagus longipetiolata
Fagus longipetiolata
Sorbus hedlundii with ripe seed now ready to drop.
Sorbus hedlundii
Sorbus hedlundii

2022 – CHW
The very last two flowers on the ancient white and pink Camellia sasanqua’s that I can find which were first in flower 6-7 weeks ago.
Camellia sasanqua’s
Camellia sasanqua’s
Camellia sasanqua’s
Camellia sasanqua’s
First flowers out on Camellia x williamsii ‘Rosemary Williams’ which I saw yesterday.
Camellia x williamsii ‘Rosemary Williams’
Camellia x williamsii ‘Rosemary Williams’
Camellia x williamsii ‘Rosemary Williams’
Camellia x williamsii ‘Rosemary Williams’
Camellia ‘Sugar Dream’ an excellent addition to early December and should be more widely grown.
Camellia ‘Sugar Dream’
Camellia ‘Sugar Dream’
Camellia ‘Sugar Dream’
Camellia ‘Sugar Dream’
Enkianthus serrulatus with its vibrant autumn colours. This was a gifted layer from the Tregrehan plant.
Enkianthus serrulatus
Enkianthus serrulatus
Acer forrestii has little notable autumn colour here. Rather drab.
Acer forrestii
Acer forrestii
Pruning out suckering growth from a sycamore root exposed to the daylight.
sycamore root
sycamore root

2021 – CHW
Garrya eliptica ‘James Roof’ with flower tassels well formed.
Garrya eliptica ‘James Roof’
Garrya eliptica ‘James Roof’
Nerine bowdenii full out on the lawn.
Nerine bowdenii
Nerine bowdenii
Camellia sasanqua ‘Versicolor’ is not that different to ‘Narumigata’.
Camellia sasanqua ‘Versicolor’
Camellia sasanqua ‘Versicolor’
Camellia sasanqua ‘Versicolor’
Camellia sasanqua ‘Versicolor’
Fallen leaves on the drive under Liriodendron tulipifera.
Liriodendron tulipifera
Liriodendron tulipifera
A nice combination of Camellia ‘Takanini’ and Tilia cordata ‘Winter Orange’.
Camellia ‘Takanini’
Camellia ‘Takanini’
Malus prattii has now been staked.
Malus prattii
Malus prattii
Liriodendron chinense in all its autumn splendour.
Liriodendron chinense
Liriodendron chinense
Tilia kiusiana with autumn colour.
Tilia kiusiana
Tilia kiusiana

2020 – CHW
As Lockdown 2 nears its end I am starting to run out of new things to show you. Acute frustration and boredom.Work progresses at the Hovel and the concrete floors are in as well as the floors upstairs with gaps for the staircases. The rain has turned the car parking area into a bit of a quagmire but the main drains are in. Half the roof is slated and we are about three months into a nine month contract.
Hovel
Hovel
Hovel
Hovel
Hovel
Hovel
Hovel
Hovel
Hovel
Hovel
This is a first misshapen flower on what may well be Camellia ‘Debutante’.
Camellia ‘Debutante’
Camellia ‘Debutante’
The parents departed long ago but the one surviving cygnet looks fit and its plumage is changing colour.
cygnet
cygnet
A fine white cock pheasant near the Bottom Lodge.
pheasant
pheasant
Pheasants dry off around the Cedrus atlantica ‘Glauca’ planted by HRH Prince Charles during a visit here.
Cedrus atlantica ‘Glauca’
Cedrus atlantica ‘Glauca’
Tilia cordata ‘Winter Orange’ now finally leafless.
Tilia cordata ‘Winter Orange’
Tilia cordata ‘Winter Orange’
Photinia macrophylla (HWJ 5614) which I suspect is wrongly named (microphylla?) but no answers from Crûg to my query. A fine set of berries now anyway.
Photinia macrophylla
Photinia macrophylla
Photinia macrophylla
Photinia macrophylla
Quercus ‘Belle d’Aquitaine’ with just a few leaves left. This was only planted this year but clearly has potential as an autumn show.
Quercus ‘Belle d’Aquitaine’
Quercus ‘Belle d’Aquitaine’
Sorbus japonica now leafless but still laden with red fruits. I assume we have collected some?
Sorbus japonica
Sorbus japonica
Sorbus japonica
Sorbus japonica
Sorbus japonica
Sorbus japonica
A self-sown seedling of Camellia saluenensis above the greenhouse is just out.
Camellia saluenensis
Camellia saluenensis

2019 – CHW
A few things in flower on the lawn.Salvia x jamensis ‘Hot Lips’ still full out as it has been since August. Its two toned flowers go on and on and still look great in a granite trough outside the estate office as well.
Salvia x jamensis ‘Hot Lips’
Salvia x jamensis ‘Hot Lips’
Salvia x jamensis ‘Hot Lips’
Salvia x jamensis ‘Hot Lips’
The first yellow flowers are just out on the bushy Jasminum humile ‘Revolutum’ which I planted here 40 years ago. The leaf formation suggests it is ‘Revolutum’ and so does the flowering time. It is nothing like the ‘normal’ Jasminum humile which grows so well at Ventnor but this is a very variable species.
Jasminum humile ‘Revolutum’
Jasminum humile ‘Revolutum’
Jasminum humile ‘Revolutum’
Jasminum humile ‘Revolutum’
First flower tassels on Garrya eliptica ‘James Roof’.
Garrya eliptica ‘James Roof’
Garrya eliptica ‘James Roof’
Sunday rest and no room on the sofa! Brock is however still ready to go.
Sunday rest
Sunday rest
Sunday rest
Sunday rest

2018 – CHW
Sorbus alnifolia (BSWJ 10948) holding its berries long after the leaves have fallen. They start orange and then turn red. Asia should collect some before the birds get there.
Sorbus alnifolia
Sorbus alnifolia
Sorbus alnifolia
Sorbus alnifolia
Next door Sorbus japonica (BSWJ 11048) has much larger fruits which are also orange then red when fully ripe. Plenty to collect here too although some are already browning off and dropping.
Sorbus japonica
Sorbus japonica
Sorbus japonica
Sorbus japonica
Further horrors! A youngish 2007 planted Magnolia ‘Apollo’ has several flowers out. They are stunted and frosted but I do not think these are secondary flowers. Yes they have been blown open a bit but all the buds look in the same state.
Magnolia ‘Apollo’
Magnolia ‘Apollo’
Magnolia ‘Apollo’
Magnolia ‘Apollo’
Magnolia ‘Apollo’
Magnolia ‘Apollo’
First flowers on Camellia x williamsii ‘St Ewe’. The same old and fairly recently cut down plant as was first out last year. A week ago nothing but suddenly plenty of flowers some of which have been cut for the house.
Camellia x williamsii ‘St Ewe’
Camellia x williamsii ‘St Ewe’
Camellia x williamsii ‘St Ewe’
Camellia x williamsii ‘St Ewe’

2017 – CHW
This Mahonia japonica was trimmed back hard from the path a year or so ago. Full of new growth and flowers today. Still not quite full out. Flowers a delicate gentle yellow and pendulous not upright.
Mahonia japonica
Mahonia japonica
Mahonia japonica
Mahonia japonica
Mahonia japonica
Mahonia japonica
Mahonia japonica
Mahonia japonica
First flower out on Vinca major growing under and through Picea omorika. Once there was a clump of Magnolia grandiflora here which died of cold but the vinca survived.
Vinca major
Vinca major
Final flowers just coming out on Verbena bonariensis.This is the last stem left in the clump flowering. First flowers in August. What a show for any plant!
Verbena bonariensis
Verbena bonariensis
Magnolia ‘Caerhays Belle’ just beginning to turn colour and drop its leaves. It may well be out in flower in only eight weeks’ time. Not much of a winter break for this tree!
Magnolia ‘Caerhays Belle’
Magnolia ‘Caerhays Belle’
Magnolia ‘Caerhays Belle’
Magnolia ‘Caerhays Belle’

2016 – CHW
The old clumps of Erica arborea are nearly full out on the middle bank as usual. The ones at the Four in Hand have been out for a few weeks already.
Erica arborea
Erica arborea
Erica arborea
Erica arborea
Nearby the men have downed another row of leylandii and bay trees below the greenhouses to let in more light. A good fire.
A good fire
A good fire
A good fire
A good fire
The new medlar has lost its leaves but not yet its fruit. The plaque is now installed on a stone above it and looks fine.
new medlar
new medlar
plaque
plaque

2015 – CHW

Weather forecast wrong yet again and no rain (like yesterday)! The dying aucuba windbreak above Bond Street has been cut back hard but it will probably have to be ripped out before the year is out.

aucuba windbreak
aucuba windbreak
The leaves on the sides of the drive have been half done about a fortnight earlier than usual. This tedious and time consuming job takes three men about three weeks. It looks really good however when finished until the wind blows again.

1940 – CW
First Sutchuenense hybrids out also Arboreum thomsonii x. Camellia sasanqua, double white, speciosa and its light and dark pink hybrids, also Oleifera very good. Some fuchsias still nice. Erica hybrida out and the yellow Maddeni we have had several vases here for a week.

1926 – JCW
Lapagerias remain nice and C sasanqua are good yet, no real frost above the top terrace so far. Daffs just show a little. Some Iris stylosa. Several Maddeni hybrids show.

1906 – JCW
Some lapagerias very good. C sasanqua at its best. Solanum and rose, Papa Gontier, hold on.