11th February

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

Honey fungus on a dead Snakebark maple which has recently blown over.

Honey fungus
Honey fungus
Honey fungus
Honey fungus
I had been expecting to see flowers on Camellia japonica ‘Adelina Patti’ a month ago but I must have missed them during the laurel cutting.
Camellia japonica ‘Adelina Patti’
Camellia japonica ‘Adelina Patti’
Then to Penvergate.
Magnolia campbellii ‘Sidbury’ not blown away this year and looking as good as I have ever seen it.
Magnolia campbellii ‘Sidbury’
Magnolia campbellii ‘Sidbury’

Magnolia campbellii ‘Sidbury’

Magnolia campbellii ‘Sidbury’
Magnolia campbellii ‘Sidbury’

Magnolia campbellii ‘Sidbury’

Camellia hedges have made really good windbreaks in Penvergate.
Camellia hedges
Camellia hedges
An ancient Magnolia soulangeana lies on its side but is still going.
Magnolia soulangeana
Magnolia soulangeana
First flower buds on a Magnolia sprengeri ‘Westonbirt’.
Magnolia sprengeri ‘Westonbirt’
Magnolia sprengeri ‘Westonbirt’
The early autumn flowering Tilia henryana was smashed to the ground by a tree but has reshot successfully over the last 5 years.
Tilia henryana
Tilia henryana
Tilia henryana
Tilia henryana
Much evidence of squirrel damage in Penvergate.
evidence of squirrel damage
evidence of squirrel damage
The squirrel traps move from the main garden (which is now open to the public) to Penvergate.
squirrel traps
squirrel traps

2024 – CHW
To Burncoose on a very wet day.Boxes of liner sized plants which have just arrived from France and now need potting on.
Boxes of liner sized plants
Boxes of liner sized plants
Boxes of liner sized plants
Boxes of liner sized plants
A lot of Schefflera taiwaniana liners in the delivery.
Schefflera taiwaniana
Schefflera taiwaniana
Camellia ‘Pink Clouds’ in the sales point – a perfect bloom!
Camellia ‘Pink Clouds’
Camellia ‘Pink Clouds’
The scent from the various species and varieties of Sarcococca was overwhelming.
Sarcococca
Sarcococca
Garrya elliptica ‘James Roof’ with plenty of flower tassels in the nursery. Our mature plant at Caerhays has none this year as we saw a few days ago.
Garrya elliptica ‘James Roof’
Garrya elliptica ‘James Roof’
Our freshly potted roses are surging into leaf.
freshly potted roses
freshly potted roses
Hamamelis mollis ‘Brentry’ is an interesting yellow colour. Relatively new to the Burncoose website.
Hamamelis mollis ‘Brentry’
Hamamelis mollis ‘Brentry’
Nice plants of Beschorneria septentrionalis.
Beschorneria septentrionalis
Beschorneria septentrionalis
Flowers on Othonna cheirifolia which I had not seem out before.
Othonna cheirifolia
Othonna cheirifolia
Canarina canariensis is another new entry for this year which I need to look up. Looks at present rather like a nettle!
Canarina canariensis
Canarina canariensis
Canarina canariensis
Canarina canariensis
Amazingly a flower on Magnolia grandiflora ‘Kay Parris’.
Magnolia grandiflora ‘Kay Parris’
Magnolia grandiflora ‘Kay Parris’

2023 – CHW
Interesting to see what was out and looking good in the nursery today.Abeliophyllum distichum ‘Roseum’ stunning in the early morning sun. An under rated plant.
Abeliophyllum distichum ‘Roseum’
Abeliophyllum distichum ‘Roseum’
Abeliophyllum distichum ‘Roseum’
Abeliophyllum distichum ‘Roseum’
Helleborus ‘Cheryl’s Shine’
Helleborus ‘Cheryl’s Shine’
Helleborus ‘Cheryl’s Shine’
Helleborus ‘Cheryl’s Shine’
Helleborus ‘Penny’s Pink’
Helleborus ‘Penny’s Pink’
Helleborus ‘Emma’
Helleborus ‘Emma’
Helleborus ‘Molly’s White’
Helleborus ‘Molly’s White’
Helleborus ‘Molly’s White’
Helleborus ‘Molly’s White’
Helleborus ‘Moondance’ – gorgeous leaves.
Helleborus ‘Moondance’
Helleborus ‘Moondance’
Helleborus ‘Moondance’
Helleborus ‘Moondance’
Helleborus ‘Moondance’
Helleborus ‘Moondance’
Pulmonaria ‘Opal’ – nice flower but poor foliage as yet.
Pulmonaria ‘Opal’
Pulmonaria ‘Opal’
Pulmonaria ‘Blue Ensign’ – a startling blue for February.
Pulmonaria ‘Blue Ensign’
Pulmonaria ‘Blue Ensign’
The telehandler unloads a lorry – a busy day with 5 arctics in the morning alone.
The telehandler unloads a lorry
The telehandler unloads a lorry
The telehandler unloads a lorry
The telehandler unloads a lorry
Berries on Lonicera alseuosmoides which I have seen before.
Lonicera alseuosmoides
Lonicera alseuosmoides
Black berries on Lonicera crassifolia which I had not. Ripe and juicy!
Lonicera crassifolia
Lonicera crassifolia
Distylium myricoides ‘Blue Cascade’ – I had not seen this properly in flower before.
Distylium myricoides ‘Blue Cascade’
Distylium myricoides ‘Blue Cascade’

2022 – CHW

Flowers nearly over on a young Camellia transnokoensis.

Camellia transnokoensis
Camellia transnokoensis
A gift from Margaret Miles of an unknown species of Eriobotrya collected originally in North Vietnam. Fully evergreen but not very like any of the other two species of Eriobotrya which we grow.
Eriobotrya
Eriobotrya
Eriobotrya
Eriobotrya
We are constantly urged by environmentalists to leave piles of deadwood to rot away and decay naturally. Here the insects, birds, fungi and bacteria are doing their stuff. This beech tree blew down, I guess, 10 or so years ago. The stump has nearly rotted away but honey fungus all around no doubt.
beech tree
beech tree
beech tree
beech tree
Lithocarpus harlandii getting away with high deer protection after planting a year ago.
Lithocarpus harlandii
Lithocarpus harlandii
Pittosporum glabratum has some recent secondary new growth and is also doing well so far.
Pittosporum glabratum
Pittosporum glabratum
First flowers out on a Pieris this this. This is Pieris ‘Dorothy Wykoff’ from memory.
Pieris ‘Dorothy Wykoff’
Pieris ‘Dorothy Wykoff’
Pieris ‘Dorothy Wykoff’
Pieris ‘Dorothy Wykoff’
First flowers full out on the American Oemleria cerasiformis.
Oemleria cerasiformis
Oemleria cerasiformis
The Camellia ‘Adelina Patti’ on the Main Ride has a few pure red flowers but, as yet, no pure white ones. It sports both colours on the same bush.
Camellia ‘Adelina Patti’
Camellia ‘Adelina Patti’
Camellia ‘Adelina Patti’
Camellia ‘Adelina Patti’
The yellowish Magnolia campbellii ‘Valentine’s Torch’ is now properly out.
Magnolia campbellii ‘Valentine’s Torch’
Magnolia campbellii ‘Valentine’s Torch’
Below is a full list of the plants delivered via Burncoose earlier this week. Boring perhaps but this diary is a useful record.
Magnoliastore
Coates
Darkest Purple x Betty Jessel
First Love
cylindrica Hohman
J.C. Williams x Apollo
John Bond
Katja Landner
Lilac Chalice
virginiana Ludoviciana
Melon Sky
Peter Dummer
Purple Breeze
Purple Eye
Purple Star
Rose Marie
Rominas Pink
Sybille
dawsoniana Valley Splendour
stellata Wisley Stardust

R&G
Celtis sinensisPavia
Euonymus americanusAvaxa
1 Acer macrophyllum
1 Berberis jamesiana
1 Berberis kawakamii
1 Callicarpa dichotoma
1 Callicarpa membranacea
3 Hydrangea involucrata
3 Hydrangea serr. Mount Aso
1 Ilex pedunculosa
1 Mahonia sheridaniana
1 Myoporum laetum
1 Nothofagus cunninghamii
1 Stewartia Anne
1 Syringa protolaciniata
1 Syzygium aff. Griisii
1 Cryptomeria jap. AraucarioidesBurncoose stock
Prunus Shimidsu/Shogestsu x 2
Davidia Sonoma x 2. Requested one and billing for one. Sent two as small.
Abies concolor x 3 one needs replacing, I am aware. Not on attached list.
Carya ovata
Corylopsis pauciflora x 3
Hippophae Leikora
Hipophae Pollmix
Ilex Sunny Foster
Pittosporum napaulaensis
Pseudowintera Moulin Rouge
Rhus Tiger Eyese large
Ribes speciosum x 3
Sophora Dragon’s Gold
Sorbaria Sem x 3
Viburnum cinnamomifolium
Viburnum sieboldiiFrank Matthews
Prunus x per Spring Glow 125cm + bare-root
Malus Admiration (Adirondack) 7L container
Malus baccata 12L
Malus florentina 12L
Malus Prairie Fire® 12L
Malus tor Aros® 7L
Malus trilobata 12LLunaplant magnolia
Gorgeous C3 60/80
Illini Gold C7,5 120/140
Illini Moonlight C7,5
Bronwyne C7,5 100
Ian’s Cerise C20 250
Dark Shadow C3 60/80
Dennis Ledvina C3 60/80
Eternal Flames C3 100
Fire C7,5 120
Nancy C12 180
Pickard’s Schmetterling C7,5 140
Pink Pyramid C12 120/140
Romina’s Pink C3 60/80
Rose Quartz C3 60/80
Snow Goose C3 120
Spring Peppermint C20 140/160
Toro C20 160
Ula C7,5 160/180
Badenweiler C3 60/80
Flaming Heart C12 140
Romance C12 180
Miss Marble (fastigiate) C3 80/100
Nelly C3 80/100
Pink Butterfly C7,5 140
Summer Lady C7,5 120/140
April Melody C3 80/100
Avalon C3 60/80
Black Tulip x Ian’s Red #01 C3 80/100
Cassiopeia C12 100
Anne Leitner C12 200
Pink Flanell C3 100
Summer Rose C12 220
Vulcan’s Forge C12 160
Diana C12 160
Livia C3 100
Snowblood C20 180
Dimas Giant C3 60/80
Lesa Purple C3 100
Freya C3 100
Jost Wallis C3 100
Angels Landing C7,5 120
Tjebbe Talsma C3 80/100

2021 – CHW
Quite a bit of snow at Burncoose which, after two hours of plotting the planting programme in the garden, finally spurred me to go home for fear of the roads. Nearer Truro no snow at all but The Beast is with us and just as bad now as in March 2018. So strong is the east wind that it is totally unsafe in the garden this afternoon. Grim!

9am and a smattering of powdery snow through the nursery.

snow
snow
Even the euonymus in the tunnels are showing their displeasure.
euonymus
euonymus
Nevertheless lifting and despatching orders goes on apace.
orders
orders
I find a plant in the nursery which I have never heard of. Campylotropis macrocarpa. When I look it up it is a Chinese shrub with trifoliate leaves and long racemes of flowers which are purple to pinkish white. One goes in the car for Caerhays. I wonder where Clare, the nursery buyer, found this?
Campylotropis macrocarpa
Campylotropis macrocarpa
Amazingly a Kniphofia ‘Ice Queen’ is just coming into flower in a pot. I do not fancy its chances in the howling gale.
Kniphofia ‘Ice Queen’
Kniphofia ‘Ice Queen’
Pseudopanax laetus in the garden with its first flowers out in the snow. The flower buds and seed heads look much the same.
Pseudopanax laetus
Pseudopanax laetus
Pseudopanax laetus
Pseudopanax laetus
A quite well grown Ilex yunnanensis behind the pond. Totally un-holly-like leaves.
Ilex yunnanensis
Ilex yunnanensis
A fallen flower of Camellia ‘Little Bit’ on a snowy bench.
Camellia ‘Little Bit’
Camellia ‘Little Bit’
Rhododendron ‘Seta’ just showing by the tennis court. A short lived hybrid and on its last legs.
Rhododendron ‘Seta’
Rhododendron ‘Seta’
Rhododendron ‘Bo Peep’ (pink form) just coming out. A few days ahead of ours here.
Rhododendron ‘Bo Peep’
Rhododendron ‘Bo Peep’
Rhododendron ‘Bo Peep’
Rhododendron ‘Bo Peep’
An elderly Rhododendron rirei on the drive just out. A very different colour to ours.
Rhododendron rirei
Rhododendron rirei
Camellia x williamsii ‘Gay Time’ on the drive.
Camellia x williamsii ‘Gay Time’
Camellia x williamsii ‘Gay Time’
Camellia x williamsii ‘Gay Time’
Camellia x williamsii ‘Gay Time’
Wonderful bark and masses of flower on Rhododendron barbatum by the lodge.
Rhododendron barbatum
Rhododendron barbatum
Rhododendron barbatum
Rhododendron barbatum