20th January 1897- 2020

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


2020 – CHW
Camellia ‘Volunteer’ is well worth its place.

Camellia ‘Volunteer’
Camellia ‘Volunteer’
Camellia ‘Volunteer’
Camellia ‘Volunteer’
Camellia ‘Volunteer’
Camellia ‘Volunteer’
Camellia x williamsii ‘Muskoka’ with first flowers.
Camellia x williamsii ‘Muskoka’
Camellia x williamsii ‘Muskoka’
No colour yet on Magnolia zenii unlike last year.
Magnolia zenii
Magnolia zenii
Fallen camellia flowers from the unnamed x williamsii clump above the greenhouse.
unnamed x williamsii
unnamed x williamsii

2019 – CHW
First flowers on Daphne bholua ‘Ghost’.
Daphne bholua ‘Ghost’
Daphne bholua ‘Ghost’
Daphne bholua ‘Ghost’
Daphne bholua ‘Ghost’
For comparison the now nearly dropping flowers on Daphne bholua ‘Jacqueline Postill’ which have been out for a month.
Daphne bholua ‘Jacqueline Postill’
Daphne bholua ‘Jacqueline Postill’
Daphne bholua ‘Jacqueline Postill’
Daphne bholua ‘Jacqueline Postill’
First, and very early, flowers on the Drimys winteri which looked completely leafless and dead in The Beast last March. A full recovery here much to my amazement.
Drimys winteri
Drimys winteri

2018 – CHW
Four more palms to inspect today behind the greenhouse. Planted more recently than those seen yesterday in Kennel Close and still struggling to get started. The naming has kindly been checked by The Palm Centre (www.palmcentre.co.uk) and this is where we have got to with the labelling so far.
Trachycarpus princeps
Trachycarpus princeps
Trachycarpus princeps
Trachycarpus princeps
Trachycarpus princeps
Trachycarpus princeps
Sabal minor
Sabal minor
Sabal minor
Sabal minor
Sabal minor
Sabal minor
Sabal minor
Sabal minor
Rhapidophyllum hystrix
Rhapidophyllum hystrix
Rhapidophyllum hystrix
Rhapidophyllum hystrix
Rhapidophyllum hystrix
Rhapidophyllum hystrix
Unknown palm
Unknown palm
Unknown palm
Unknown palm
Unknown palm
Unknown palm

2017 – CHW
Rhododendron ‘Seta’ (moupinense x spinuliferum) is apparently a Bodnant hybrid. I had always thought it was a Bolitho cross from Trengwainton and certainly Colonel Edward Bolitho always claimed it was. A very early flowerer but short lived. The clump at Burncoose is better and the old clump on Burns Bank long dead here. These are the first few flowers above the Auklandii Garden.
Rhododendron ‘Seta’
Rhododendron ‘Seta’

2016 – CHW
The new clearing of old reticulata camellias and Viburnum odoratissimum will be ready for a new rhododendron planting when the stumps can be removed.

clearing of old reticulata camellias and Viburnum odoratissimum
clearing of old reticulata camellias and Viburnum odoratissimum

Nearby Cornus honkongensis has a perfect leaf cover. I would say it must be an evergreen but Hillier’s do not mention this. I photographed a few small flowers last summer.

Cornus honkongensis
Cornus honkongensis


1993 – FJW
First daffs out on the drive near Nobleanum.
1973 – FJW
First snowdrop. Flowers on Talavera and Red Admiral – mild wet winter to date.1963 – FJW
Heaviest fall of snow to date – Bedroom force – we have now had 3 weeks of very cold weather. Garden barren of flower.

1913 – JCW
Only one or two Camellias open, C coum very nice, just an Aconite or two, Snowdrops hardly showing. Clematis chrysocoma good even after the cold, a few roses? Heaths good including a new lot of hybrida, Lady Clare at the back of the Library open.

1912 – JCW
Many Camellias open, several daffs out – P megasoefolia fair, N cyclamineus open, Clematis anomala open, Rhodoⁿ lutescens.

1904 – JCW
The first yellow crocus have been open for some days, as in 1900 for the rest.

1903 – JCW
Primula megasoefolia is well open and has been since October, the above are also out.

1901 – JCW
About the same as the above, crossed some forced Tenby with Minimus.

1900 – JCW
Picked three Minimus very late – Snowdrops look well but are not quite all out, several Aconite show, Crocus imperati nearly over.