26th 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


2024 – CHW

One cannot really let the RHS get away with this article about out 1902 large scale Gunnera beds in Old Park. They have demonstrably not spread or invaded anything in 122 years and yet Gunnera manicata x Gunnera tinctoria hybrids are now deemed to be invasive and now banned from sale by nurseries.

Gunnera article RHS
Gunnera article RHS

How do we know that these original plants are (apparently) now a hybrid and not Gunnera manicata? In 2015 the RHS asked us to send them samples for testing. Nine years on we see the end result. We will not be bothering with the time or expense of future RHS investigations of this sort.

Over the last 40 years Burncoose Nurseries must have sold thousands of these plants all over the country. Graciously the RHS and Defra say we need not destroy our existing plants but cannot sell them anymore.

Gunnera beds in Old Park
Gunnera beds in Old Park
Gunnera beds in Old Park
Gunnera beds in Old Park
Gunnera beds in Old Park
Gunnera beds in Old Park
Gunnera x cryptica, as we must now call the 150 year old import, originally from Brazil, which we knew as G. manicata is, by the RHS’s own admission, NOT invasive.
The reason for the ban apparently is the interpretation of old European legislation.
Bans on all sorts of things often reflect the arrival of wokedom in organisations which see themselves as being on a self-satisfying crusade which they must impose on us all for our own good.
Jaimie’s new Magnolia ‘Atlas’ x ‘Lanarth’ starts to come out at the bottom of the bank in Old Park.
Magnolia ‘Atlas’ x ‘Lanarth’
Magnolia ‘Atlas’ x ‘Lanarth’
Just a hint of colour on the original Magnolia campbellii var. alba in Old Park.
Magnolia campbellii var. alba
Magnolia campbellii var. alba
One flower on a young Magnolia sprengeri ‘Marwood Spring’ above the Gunnera beds.
Magnolia sprengeri ‘Marwood Spring’
Magnolia sprengeri ‘Marwood Spring’
Magnolia sprengeri ‘Marwood Spring’
Magnolia sprengeri ‘Marwood Spring’
Views across the magnolia bank at Old Park.
Views across the magnolia bank at Old Park
Views across the magnolia bank at Old Park
Views across the magnolia bank at Old Park
Views across the magnolia bank at Old Park
A decent young Magnolia ‘Caerhays Belle’ below White Styles.
Magnolia ‘Caerhays Belle’
Magnolia ‘Caerhays Belle’
Obvious close up hail damage on a Magnolia campbellii seedling but still fine from a distance.
Mangolia campbellii seedling
Mangolia campbellii seedling
Cock pheasants fighting it out on the lawn and oblivious to visitors. The hens are keeping well out of the way amid the frequent hail storms.
Cock pheasants fighting it out
Cock pheasants fighting it out

2023 – CHW
The magnolia outside the front arch now splendid!

magnolia outside the front arch
magnolia outside the front arch
Camellia ‘Scentuous’(japonica ‘Tiffany’ x lutchuensis raised in New Zealand) by George’s Hut.
Camellia ‘Scentuous’(japonica ‘Tiffany’ x lutchuensis raised in New Zealand)
Camellia ‘Scentuous’(japonica ‘Tiffany’ x lutchuensis raised in New Zealand)
Camellia ‘Scentuous’(japonica ‘Tiffany’ x lutchuensis raised in New Zealand)
Camellia ‘Scentuous’(japonica ‘Tiffany’ x lutchuensis raised in New Zealand)
Camellia ‘High Fragrance’ certainly is although only showing at the very top of the bush as yet.
Camellia ‘High Fragrance’
Camellia ‘High Fragrance’
More Camellia lutchuensis with flowers showing up better.
Camellia lutchuensis
Camellia lutchuensis
Camellia ‘Fairy Blush’ incredibly scented and absolutely perfect today.
Camellia ‘Fairy Blush’
Camellia ‘Fairy Blush’
Camellia ‘Fairy Blush’
Camellia ‘Fairy Blush’
An odd red rhododendron flowering out of season on just one branch.
red rhododendron
red rhododendron
The New Zealand form of Magnolia ‘Lanarth’ just showing at Donkey Shoe.
Magnolia ‘Lanarth’
Magnolia ‘Lanarth’
One of the seedlings from the same seed pan as M. ‘Caerhays Splendour’ (I think?) starting to be pretty good above the Old Kennels.
seedling from the same seed pan as M. ‘Caerhays Splendour’
seedling from the same seed pan as M. ‘Caerhays Splendour’
Clear evidence of squirrels biting off magnolia buds on the top path in Old Park.
Clear evidence of squirrels biting off magnolia buds
Clear evidence of squirrels biting off magnolia buds
And here they have chewed a large rhododendron bud.
squirrels biting off rhododendron buds
squirrels biting off rhododendron buds
Like everything else the catkins on the hazels are later this year.
catkins
catkins

2022 – CHW

My aunt Leo’s 80th birthday party today at The Vean with a garden tour for all the Clarke family.

The debate has raged since the 1960s as to whether Camellia x williamsii ‘Delia Williams’ is the same thing as Camellia x williamsii ‘Citation’. Delia was exhibited at an RHS show in 1963 by Trewithen where it won an award. It was named by Trewithen but it was later deemed that the two were the same and that the correct name was ‘Citation’.

The question arose again recently and here are the pictures which Jaimie has taken. Although ‘Citation’ has very variable flowers (as we have seen in this diary recently) it does not take a genius to see here that the two plants have very different flowers and that they are NOT the same.

Camellia x williamsii ‘Delia Williams’
Camellia x williamsii ‘Delia Williams’
Camellia x williamsii ‘Delia Williams’
Camellia x williamsii ‘Delia Williams’
Camellia x williamsii ‘Delia Williams’
Camellia x williamsii ‘Delia Williams’
Camellia x williamsii ‘Citation’
Camellia x williamsii ‘Citation’
Camellia x williamsii ‘Citation’
Camellia x williamsii ‘Citation’
Camellia x williamsii ‘Citation’
Camellia x williamsii ‘Citation’
Magnolia ‘Philip Tregunna’ and Magnolia sargentiana var. robusta.
Magnolia ‘Philip Tregunna’ and Magnolia sargentiana var. robusta
Magnolia ‘Philip Tregunna’ and Magnolia sargentiana var. robusta
Magnolia ‘Philip Tregunna’ at its absolute best.
Magnolia ‘Philip Tregunna’
Magnolia ‘Philip Tregunna’
Magnolia ‘Philip Tregunna’
Magnolia ‘Philip Tregunna’
Magnolia ‘Philip Tregunna’
Magnolia ‘Philip Tregunna’
Magnolia ‘F J Williams’ and Magnolia campbellii var. mollicomata.
Magnolia ‘F J Williams’
Magnolia ‘F J Williams’
Magnolia ‘Shirazz’ just coming out. In other years this has been one of the earliest.
Magnolia ‘Shirazz’
Magnolia ‘Shirazz’
Magnolia ‘Shirazz’
Magnolia ‘Shirazz’

2021 – CHW
At last a still and sunny day!One of the new tanks to be installed in the nursery to capture roof water.
tanks
tanks
The new multi span tunnel is now covered but the base still needs final levelling and covering with myopex.
multi span tunnel
multi span tunnel
multi span tunnel
multi span tunnel
multi span tunnel
multi span tunnel
Euphorbia x martinii already in full flower.
Euphorbia x martinii
Euphorbia x martinii
Camellia x williamsii ‘Mary Phoebe Taylor’ in the nursery car park in full flow.
Camellia x williamsii ‘Mary Phoebe Taylor’
Camellia x williamsii ‘Mary Phoebe Taylor’
Camellia x williamsii ‘Mary Phoebe Taylor’
Camellia x williamsii ‘Mary Phoebe Taylor’
Camellia x williamsii ‘Mary Phoebe Taylor’
Camellia x williamsii ‘Mary Phoebe Taylor’
Prunus cerasifera ‘Nigra’ early into flower in the nursery which one seldom notices or appreciates.
Prunus cerasifera ‘Nigra’
Prunus cerasifera ‘Nigra’
Then a 40 minute trip to Roche for the Pfeizer vaccination. Ten car park attendants, as many nurses and about a dozen doctors doing one dose every five minutes or perhaps 1,200 per (eight hour) day. Very efficient and very expensive. I still wonder why our local surgery could not have done it just as well?
Magnolias through the archway just starting in the evening light.
Magnolias through the archway
Magnolias through the archway
The Magnolia ‘Caerhays Belle’ seedling outside the front gate.
Magnolia ‘Caerhays Belle’ seedling
Magnolia ‘Caerhays Belle’ seedling
Prunus cerasifera ‘Pissardii’ is quite similar to ‘Nigra’ in flower but this one has purple foliage rather than the near black of ‘Nigra’. This is a very elderly plant growing near The Hovel on the drive. As good a show in nearly full shade as I have seen.
Prunus cerasifera ‘Pissardii’
Prunus cerasifera ‘Pissardii’
Prunus cerasifera ‘Pissardii’
Prunus cerasifera ‘Pissardii’
A good young Rhododendron grande seedling full out now on Hovel Cart Road.
Rhododendron grande seedling
Rhododendron grande seedling
Rhododendron grande seedling
Rhododendron grande seedling

I said the other day that these two camellias are rather similar:This is ‘Dr Burnside’ which has been out for a month.

‘Dr Burnside’
‘Dr Burnside’
‘Dr Burnside’
‘Dr Burnside’
And this is ‘Miss Charleston’ which is only just now starting to perform. Both equally good value.
‘Miss Charleston’
‘Miss Charleston’
‘Miss Charleston’
‘Miss Charleston’
A superb Rhododendron ririei which is performing well for the first time.
Rhododendron ririei
Rhododendron ririei
Rhododendron ririei
Rhododendron ririei
First flower on Magnolia ‘Bishop Peter’ (a ‘Lanarth’ seedling cross) which is not a good/proper colour. Early days for the rest I hope.
Magnolia ‘Bishop Peter’
Magnolia ‘Bishop Peter’
New Zealand Magnolia ‘Lanarth’ a superb colour this year but flowering mainly only at the very top of the tree.
Magnolia ‘Lanarth’
Magnolia ‘Lanarth’
A pink flowered sport on Camellia x williamsii ‘Jovey Carlyon’ which has occurred before. The rest of this large bush has white flowers.
Camellia x williamsii ‘Jovey Carlyon’
Camellia x williamsii ‘Jovey Carlyon’
Camellia x williamsii ‘Jovey Carlyon’
Camellia x williamsii ‘Jovey Carlyon’
A low down branch on the Magnolia campbellii above Crinodendron Hedge.
Magnolia campbellii
Magnolia campbellii
Rhododendron ‘Ostara’ suddenly out. I had expected it 10 days or more ago.
Rhododendron ‘Ostara’
Rhododendron ‘Ostara’
The original Magnolia campbellii with a low down branch full out and the late sun catching the topmost branches 100ft up.
Magnolia campbellii
Magnolia campbellii
Magnolia campbellii
Magnolia campbellii
Rhododendron sutchuenense suddenly full out too and quite excellent.
Rhododendron sutchuenense
Rhododendron sutchuenense
Rhododendron sutchuenense
Rhododendron sutchuenense
Prunus ‘Okame’ by the Green Gate. What splendid things these February flowering cherries are. There is a beauty by Tresillian Bridge but one does not see them nearly often enough! Frost proof too.
Prunus ‘Okame’
Prunus ‘Okame’

2020 – CHW
A big excitement today as Jaimie’s new magnolia hybrid opens its first of just two flowers. For a first time ever flowering this is quite a large flower and will probably improve in size in subsequent years. The cross was Magnolia ‘F J Williams’ x Magnolia campbellii (ie our original plants in both cases – pink campbelli). The cross was made in 2005 and the seedling was planted in 2009 so has taken 14 years from seed to first flowering. It sits on the site of an old Arundinaria nitida (bamboo) hedge which flowered, seeded and died in 2006-7 before being dug out. The tree is around 15-18ft tall today so growth has been alarmingly quick. This was perhaps to be expected from the campbellii side of its parentage.

Jaimie's hybrid - Magnolia ‘F J Williams’ x Magnolia campbellii
Jaimie’s hybrid – Magnolia ‘F J Williams’ x Magnolia campbellii
Jaimie's hybrid - Magnolia ‘F J Williams’ x Magnolia campbellii
Jaimie’s hybrid – Magnolia ‘F J Williams’ x Magnolia campbellii
Jaimie's hybrid - Magnolia ‘F J Williams’ x Magnolia campbellii
Jaimie’s hybrid – Magnolia ‘F J Williams’ x Magnolia campbellii
Magnolia ‘F J Williams’ x Magnolia campbellii
Magnolia ‘F J Williams’ x Magnolia campbellii
Magnolia ‘F J Williams’ x Magnolia campbellii
Magnolia ‘F J Williams’ x Magnolia campbellii
Magnolia ‘F J Williams’ x Magnolia campbellii
Magnolia ‘F J Williams’ x Magnolia campbellii
Magnolia ‘F J Williams’ x Magnolia campbellii
Magnolia ‘F J Williams’ x Magnolia campbellii

The flowers are quite close in colour to Magnolia campbellii ‘Betty Jessel’ I thought when Jaimie appeared triumphant in the Dining Room with the first flower. I also thought that the inside of the tepals/petals was paler than ‘Betty Jessel’. I photographed Betty yesterday.So off Jaimie went with his cut flower to compare the two flowers side by side. If I am right we have produced something very good indeed but perhaps not sufficiently different to be worthy of registering and naming in a year or two. If I am wrong then we do indeed have a startling new hybrid worthy of naming.

Magnolia ‘F J Williams’ x Magnolia campbellii and "Betty Jessel"
Magnolia ‘F J Williams’ x Magnolia campbellii and “Betty Jessel”
Magnolia ‘F J Williams’ x Magnolia campbellii and "Betty Jessel"
Magnolia ‘F J Williams’ x Magnolia campbellii and “Betty Jessel”

Either way I await the result as we are interrupted by a Forestry Commission inspection looking for diseased sweet chestnuts. I do not actually think Jaimie will care much either way about his new creation.Magnolia ‘F J Williams’ is itself a cross between Magnolia sargentiana var. robusta and Magnolia campbellii subsp. mollicomata ‘Lanarth’. I therefore believe, based on the colours seen here, that M. campbellii ‘Betty Jessel’ is therefore actually a chance or deliberate cross and not simply a form of campbellii grown from a seedling. The same applies to Magnolia campbellii ‘Darjeeling’ which I read is from the same set of seed as ‘Betty Jessel’.

Basically what we are seeing here and with the new cross is Lanarth’s purple being crossed (via M. ‘F J Williams’) with a pure pink to produce something with reddish/crimson flowers.

Yesterday’s wind had predictably damaged the flowers on the oldest Magnolia ‘Betty Jessel’ so Jaimie’s comparison pictures make the new plant the clear winner.

I attach again my pictures from yesterday from a different ‘Betty Jessel’ so that you can make your own comparison.

Magnolia campbellii ‘Betty Jessel’
Magnolia campbellii ‘Betty Jessel’
Magnolia campbellii ‘Betty Jessel’
Magnolia campbellii ‘Betty Jessel’
I am pleased to say that I was wrong and Jaimie’s new creation is worthy of registration perhaps next spring.

2019 – CHW
To Tregullow to look at large new planting areas with James Williams and then on to the nursery to select the wish list to fill some of the big gaps.A lovely Rhododendron ‘Ostara’ full out at Tregullow. Sadly no magnolias at all out here unlike Caerhays.
Rhododendron ‘Ostara’
Rhododendron ‘Ostara’
Rhododendron ‘Ostara’
Rhododendron ‘Ostara’
Rhododendron ‘Ostara’
Rhododendron ‘Ostara’
Jaimie has spied a hazel coming into leaf. Is this an all-time record for February?
hazel
hazel
In the nursery Daphne bholua ‘Mary Rose’ is full out. Super grafted plants at ‘only’ £50. About 3ft tall and (I say again) the best named form of D. bholua that I have ever seen. Flowers in clusters and individual flowers all up the stem. Knockout scent!
Daphne bholua ‘Mary Rose’
Daphne bholua ‘Mary Rose’
Daphne bholua ‘Mary Rose’
Daphne bholua ‘Mary Rose’

2018 – CHW
Off to Heligan for TV interviews about ‘spring has sprung’. Quite ridiculous really as the east wind makes it the coldest day of the year. The cameras turn up to film a shire horse dressed in magnolias with Maddie from Tregothnan riding it. Shambles ensues and I never do the interview at all. A wasted two hours. The presenter decides that the pleating of the horse is the story and Heligan’s magnolias all blown away so we have to cut ours and take them over. I predicted this last Friday and told them to cut then but they did not.While I waste time I photograph:

Us pissing about, thankfully by the fire, in the Heligan tearooms waiting to do the filming.

waiting to do the filming
waiting to do the filming
waiting to do the filming
waiting to do the filming
A rather pretty bicoloured vinca (which I do not have a name for) at the Heligan garden entrance.
bicoloured vinca
bicoloured vinca
Then a full out Hardenbergia violacea outside their tearooms. Very fine for February.
Hardenbergia violacea
Hardenbergia violacea
Hardenbergia violacea
Hardenbergia violacea
Our ‘relief’ Caerhays magnolia flowers.
Our ‘relief’ Caerhays magnolia flowers
Our ‘relief’ Caerhays magnolia flowers
Early buds forming on a large Echium fastuosum.
Echium fastuosum
Echium fastuosum
Echium fastuosum
Echium fastuosum
Hebe ‘Wiri Charm’ full out.
Hebe ‘Wiri Charm’
Hebe ‘Wiri Charm’
Hebe diosmifolia also full out and a new one to me. Compact habit and seemingly impervious to the extreme cold.
Hebe diosmifolia
Hebe diosmifolia
Hebe diosmifolia
Hebe diosmifolia
Hebe diosmifolia
Hebe diosmifolia
Terrible news that Jonny Cann’s son Gareth has been killed in a car crash. KPK Builders in total shock. This is the next, and rather more real, drama for the day to contend with.

2017 – CHW
Drizzly and poor light but the magnolia above the wall is now a picture from the front door.
magnolia above the wall
magnolia above the wall
Magnolia ‘Delia Williams’ is just breaking out on the lawn. Small flowers as yet and slightly windblown.
The Magnolia ‘Caerhays Belle’ sister is now full out but these pictures are not much better than last week’s.
Magnolia ‘Caerhays Belle’
Magnolia ‘Caerhays Belle’
Magnolia ‘Caerhays Belle’
Magnolia ‘Caerhays Belle’
I photographed this same branch of Rhododendron ‘Cornish Red’ breaking into flower in November or early December. It is fully out now at least three months later. How is that for good value although not all this huge tree rhodo is showing yet.
Rhododendron ‘Cornish Red’
Rhododendron ‘Cornish Red’
Rhododendron ‘Cornish Red’
Rhododendron ‘Cornish Red’
The Bond Street sister seedling to ‘Caerhays Belle’ is also full out and virtually identical in flower size and shape to the other one.
Bond Street sister seedling to ‘Caerhays Belle’
Bond Street sister seedling to ‘Caerhays Belle’
A second magnolia, unnamed but of a similar age, with darker but similarly shaped flowers is now out beside it.
A second magnolia
A second magnolia
Camellia japonica ‘Elegans’ just out. This ought to be grown more widely. Again quite early for a japonica.
Camellia japonica ‘Elegans’
Camellia japonica ‘Elegans’
I said in this blog in September that this clump of Rhododendron royalii hybrids had over flowered, were over seeding and would probably die from the effort. Now the seeds have split asunder you can see that sadly I was right. Hardly a leaf left. The plant knew it was its last chance to procreate before dying. Asia needs to grab some of the remaining seed.
Rhododendron royalii hybrids
Rhododendron royalii hybrids
The view through the arch from the front door remains superb. What a way to start the day!
view through the arch
view through the arch
view through the arch
view through the arch
2016 – CHW
The invitation from Christie’s has arrived for our own ‘Garden of the Year’ party in April. I am copying it here for posterity since I know my great grandfather would have refused such an accolade and I suspect my father might well have too at least until the early 1980s when I returned from London to Cornwall and before visitor numbers and visitor business was important. Today we are selling Burncoose Nurseries via Caerhays visitors.26 Feb 16 – HHA_Christie’s InvitationA truly filthy wet day with a rising east wind which bodes ill for the magnolias. Not a day to venture outside but in the Burncoose cash point I find a nice plant of Magnolia ‘Cleopatra’, one of Vance Hooper’s New Zealand creations. It is very nice indeed. We have a plant or two at Caerhays and have seen the odd flower but nothing as fine as this. The same stable and vintage as Magnolia ‘Genie’.
Magnolia ‘Cleopatra’
Magnolia ‘Cleopatra’

2015 – CHW

ACACIA dealbata
ACACIA dealbata

Acacia dealbata above the playhouse nearly out and around 15 to 18 feet tall. Unlike its former compatriot which was planted in a more windswept location and died of cold in March 2013 this plant has prospered. There used to be a huge tree among the Magnolia delavayi below the castle wall but this died in the 1963 winter.


2004 – FJW
First sharp frost – some snow.1966 – FJW
Picked 2 flowers of Mr Garden – no Campbellii – much as ‘61 but no Giganteum. All Hamamellis over – very speedily.1961 – FJW
Donkey Shoe Robusta is ½ out. Some flowers collected for R.H.S. Giganteum, Hookerii, Grande, Mary J, Rosemary W, J Pickthorn, J.C.W.. Mag campbelli and robusta, and Golden Oriole, Crinodendron, Rho hybs and Snow Bunting.

1950 – CW
Returned from Torquay election. Been very wet and stormy. Mag campbellii a few out, one lapageria left – Camellias good – also Rho moupinense and hybrids – some daffodils out – began to sell a week ago from K.G. Blood red good but few flowering. Hamamelis well over. Very many Reticulata species beyond their best.

1933 – JCW
The clump of Narcissus cyclamineus by the side door makes nearly 50 flowers.

1931 – JCW
(Typed receipt attached to Garden Book page)

From Sokoliana Nursery: for
10 Magnolia longifolia 18
10 Prunus Hizakura 3
20 Quercus acuta 14
Total Yen 35

Packing and shipping 3.50
Freight prepaid to London 13.16
Total Yen 51.66

1924 – JCW
Cold NE wind for a fortnight about. Daffs move a bit, Rhodo’s cut, Erica hybrida is wonderful, a Camellia or two just open. Daphne mezereum open.

1918 – JCW
Rhodo’s coming on well, all the early scarlet hybrids, Barbatum, Fargesii, Lutescens, Calophytum, Sutchuenense, Arboreums etc.

1916 – JCW
Frost and snow smashed in most of the Rhodo’s bloom, but ¼ inch of ice on the tank in D.G.

1911 – JCW
Dauntcep open, Caerhays well out, Maximus half open, Heaths good, one incomp open, several nice Camellias open. Snow on the mountain out. Garden after tea with D.

1908 – JCW
Caerhays daffodil very few open or indeed any of the above. C coum is the best thing. Camellia Japonica partly out, a few Arboreum and Barbatum in bud.

1897 – JCW
Caerhays daffodil at its best, Bredos, Horsfieldi and Sir Watkin open. Pink Argenteum is open.