18th July

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

A marvellous garden hidden away at the back of Seaview.

Palms and Dasylirion.

Palms and Dasylirion
Palms and Dasylirion
A fine Tertapanax papyrifer ‘Rex’.
Tertapanax papyrifer ‘Rex’
Tertapanax papyrifer ‘Rex’
Acer palmatum ‘Crippsii’ is not common at all.
Acer palmatum ‘Crippsii’
Acer palmatum ‘Crippsii’
Acer palmatum ‘Crippsii’
Acer palmatum ‘Crippsii’
A fine Parrotia persica
Parrotia persica
Parrotia persica
Rather more than a wild flower meadow and absolutely stunning!
wild flower meadow
wild flower meadow
wild flower meadow
wild flower meadow
Better and better – a very carefully though through planting plan to give a long flowering season.
Better and better
Better and better
Better and better
Better and better
Plenty of variation in the planting.
Plenty of variation
Plenty of variation
Plenty of variation
Plenty of variation
I do not know what this plant with clover flowers is?
I do not know
I do not know
I do not know
I do not know
Agave angustifolia.
Agave angustifolia
Agave angustifolia
Black tomatoes.
Black tomatoes
Black tomatoes
A perfect row of Olive trees.
row of Olive trees
row of Olive trees

2022 – CHW
Last year’s female seed cone on Araucaria bidwillii gets ever larger but remains green. It now is so huge that it drags the twig down.
Araucaria bidwillii
Araucaria bidwillii
Hoheria ‘Glory of Amlwch’ full out and beautiful in Kennel Close.
Hoheria ‘Glory of Amlwch’
Hoheria ‘Glory of Amlwch’
Hoheria ‘Glory of Amlwch’
Hoheria ‘Glory of Amlwch’
Secondary new growth on Liquidamber acalycina again a stand out bronze-purple-red.
Liquidamber acalycina
Liquidamber acalycina
Secondary new growth on Betula fansipanensis’ also a pleasant bronze at first.
Betula fansipanensis
Betula fansipanensis
A secondary flower on Magnolia ‘Sweet Sixteen’.
Magnolia ‘Sweet Sixteen’
Magnolia ‘Sweet Sixteen’
The Rhododendron ‘Harrow Hybrids on Horel Cart Road from above.
Rhododendron ‘Harrow Hybrids'
Rhododendron ‘Harrow Hybrids’
In the Main quarry Rhododendron fortunei ssp discolor is making a good show. Perhaps a little later than usual.
Rhododendron fortunei ssp discolor
Rhododendron fortunei ssp discolor
Rhododendron fortunei ssp discolor
Rhododendron fortunei ssp discolor

2021 – CHW
A nursery catchup visit today.

The new seed propagation house is taking shape.

seed propagation house
seed propagation house
As is the cutting preparation shed by the mist houses.
cutting preparation shed
cutting preparation shed
The old tree lines being cleared to make way for new water tanks and water storage.
old tree lines
old tree lines
The new multi span now all levelled after the Guernsey order has gone. We intend to fill this with herbaceous plants once autumn sets in rather than leaving them to overwinter outside.
multi span
multi span
The acers have just arrived from the New Zealand autumn as bare root plants. We have always had to pay import duty on these shipments.
acers
acers
A quick visit to Roseland House garden to buy a few unusual greenhouse climbers for our show tunnel. There I find the climbing herbaceous plant Malvastrum lateritium.
Malvastrum lateritium
Malvastrum lateritium
I also see Osmanthus yunnanensis in the garden with berries forming.
Osmanthus yunnanensis
Osmanthus yunnanensis
Lilium regale and an unknown dwarf holly with a crinkly and barbed leaf edge.
holly
holly
Two days on and the cut flower of Manglietia insignis is about over.
Manglietia insignis
Manglietia insignis

2020 – CHW
The flowers from Serena’s wedding still look good at the front door.
flowers
flowers
flowers
flowers
A day looking at more unusual hydrangeas but I get distracted by the clump of young new Podocarpus by the top lodge.

Two quite different forms of Hydrangea aspera subsp. sargentiana (as we have to call them now) outside the front gates.The larger flowering form.

larger
larger
larger
larger
larger
larger
And the smaller, pinker form which I dare say should have some additional name.
smaller
smaller
smaller
smaller
Hydrangea quercifolia ‘Snowflake’ with its double sets of flower bracts above Red Linney. A sole survivor from a clump of three planted in 2009.
Hydrangea quercifolia ‘Snowflake’
Hydrangea quercifolia ‘Snowflake’
Hydrangea quercifolia ‘Snowflake’
Hydrangea quercifolia ‘Snowflake’
Podocarpus ‘Chameleon’ is a new one in the National Collection given to us in 2017. Looks startling at this time of the year and is well worth propagating.
Podocarpus ‘Chameleon’
Podocarpus ‘Chameleon’
Podocarpus ‘Chocolate Box’ is a rockery plant really. Two casualties out of five planted.
Podocarpus ‘Chocolate Box’
Podocarpus ‘Chocolate Box’
Podocarpus ‘Red Embers’ doing little red or emberish at this stage in the year.
Podocarpus ‘Red Embers’
Podocarpus ‘Red Embers’
Podocarpus ‘Green Queen’ is another new one but very ‘plain’ indeed! Quite long and vigorous new growth though.
Podocarpus ‘Green Queen’
Podocarpus ‘Green Queen’
Podocarpus ‘Jill’
Podocarpus ‘Jill’
Podocarpus ‘Jill’
Podocarpus x ‘Spring Sunshine’ is trying to become a small and rather floppy tree.
Podocarpus x ‘Spring Sunshine’
Podocarpus x ‘Spring Sunshine’
Hydrangea quercifolia ‘Burgundy’ – huge clump by the top lodge but not that much flower except at the edges. Planted 2009 as a clump of three.
Hydrangea quercifolia ‘Burgundy’
Hydrangea quercifolia ‘Burgundy’
Hydrangea quercifolia ‘Burgundy’
Hydrangea quercifolia ‘Burgundy’
Hydrangea quercifolia ‘Pee Wee’ which is a spreading variety which does not grow tall like ‘Burgundy’. Planted in 2005 below Slip Rail.
Hydrangea quercifolia ‘Pee Wee’
Hydrangea quercifolia ‘Pee Wee’
Hydrangea quercifolia ‘Pee Wee’
Hydrangea quercifolia ‘Pee Wee’
Hydrangea quercifolia ‘Snow Queen’ above the greenhouse has made a much larger plant.
Hydrangea quercifolia ‘Snow Queen’
Hydrangea quercifolia ‘Snow Queen’
Hydrangea quercifolia ‘Snow Queen’
Hydrangea quercifolia ‘Snow Queen’

2019 – CHW
The RHS have just given AGMs to 17 or 19 new varieties of Agapanthus. Here are a few new names to me from Eddington House Nursery. No idea if any of these are on the list? Raining hard so a short visit.Agapanthus ‘Double Diamond’ – squat growing and double white flowers
Agapanthus ‘Double Diamond’
Agapanthus ‘Double Diamond’
Agapanthus ‘Double Diamond’
Agapanthus ‘Double Diamond’
Agapanthus ‘Charlotte’
Agapanthus ‘Charlotte’
Agapanthus ‘Charlotte’
Agapanthus ‘Charlotte’
Agapanthus ‘Charlotte’
Agapanthus ‘Moonlight Star’
Agapanthus ‘Moonlight Star’
Agapanthus ‘Moonlight Star’
Agapanthus ‘Moonlight Star’
Agapanthus ‘Moonlight Star’
Agapanthus ‘Little Dutch White’
Agapanthus ‘Little Dutch White’
Agapanthus ‘Little Dutch White’
Agapanthus ‘Little Dutch White’
Agapanthus ‘Little Dutch White’
Agapanthus ‘Little Dutch White’
Agapanthus ‘Little Dutch White’
An interesting new low growing Sedum spurium “Dragon’s Blood”. Very good!
Sedum spurium “Dragon’s Blood”
Sedum spurium “Dragon’s Blood”
Sedum spurium “Dragon’s Blood”
Sedum spurium “Dragon’s Blood”
Sedum spurium “Dragon’s Blood”
Sedum spurium “Dragon’s Blood”
Bought an Acacia boormanii to try at Caerhays. Upright pointed light blue foliage. Not listed in Hillier’s so likely to be rather tender I fear.

2018 – CHW
A visit to view the garden at Seagrove House which had been open to the public on behalf of the NCCPG last Sunday. A formal and newly landscaped back garden and a traditional village front garden.
garden at Seagrove House
garden at Seagrove House
garden at Seagrove House
garden at Seagrove House
A rather special double orange hemerocallis. The owner no idea of its name.
double orange hemerocallis
double orange hemerocallis
double orange hemerocallis
double orange hemerocallis

Then on to Busy Bee Garden Centre which was much improved after a major revamp of the outdoor plant display area. New plants seen were:Digitalis ‘Cherry Brandy’ – growing to about 18’’ in a pot.

Digitalis ‘Cherry Brandy’
Digitalis ‘Cherry Brandy’
Digitalis ‘Cherry Brandy’
Digitalis ‘Cherry Brandy’
Scabiosa ‘Warburton’s Pink Mist’ was attractive and a candidate for next year’s catalogue.
Scabiosa ‘Warburton’s Pink Mist’
Scabiosa ‘Warburton’s Pink Mist’
Scabiosa ‘Warburton’s Pink Mist’
Scabiosa ‘Warburton’s Pink Mist’
Mandevilla ‘Sundavill’ had leaves like Mandevilla ‘Alice du Pont’ but was a creamy yellow in flower. I cannot locate this in any reference books.
Mandevilla ‘Sundavill’
Mandevilla ‘Sundavill’
Mandevilla ‘Sundavill’
Mandevilla ‘Sundavill’
Mandevilla ‘Sundavill’
Mandevilla ‘Sundavill’
Salvia ‘Amistad’ was a good tall growing form with dark flowers. As good as ‘Love and Wishes’ perhaps?
Salvia ‘Amistad’
Salvia ‘Amistad’
Salvia ‘Amistad’
Salvia ‘Amistad’

2017 – CHW
A garden tour with some South Africans who live in the UK for painfully obvious reasons.A plant of Rhododendron sinonuttallii is out and nearly over below Slip Rail. Our other plants finished flowering five to six weeks ago. The huge plant which used to live in the Burncoose conservatory was normally out in late July. Come to think of it these flowers are much larger than those which flowered earlier. Is Rhododendron nuttallii different from Rh. sinonuttallii? I guess this rather proves it!
Rhododendron sinonuttallii
Rhododendron sinonuttallii
Rhododendron sinonuttallii
Rhododendron sinonuttallii
In the Main Quarry Rhododendron fortunei subsp discolor is now full out and wonderfully scented (it used to be just Rhododendron discolor). There are green markings within the flowers.
Rhododendron fortunei subsp discolor
Rhododendron fortunei subsp discolor
So here is a fourth large clump of rhododendrons producing a fine scented spectacle in mid July. Discolor, auriculatum, ‘Polar Bear’ and the ‘Harrow Hybrids’. Nothing to see in July of course!
I had been wondering why there was no sign yet this year of the Tropaeolum speciosum in the Camellia sasanqua outside the back yard. The seedlings are popping up under it but have yet to find any braches low enough to twine up. Before long they will.
Tropaeolum speciosum
Tropaeolum speciosum
Tropaeolum speciosum
Tropaeolum speciosum

2016 – CHW

Twitter followers very excited by the listing of Porthluney Beach as a nudist beach (article from westbriton.co.uk), which is not really what we want! A family beach for children to enjoy themselves without jet skis, outboard motors or boats. The nudist beach is actually below the Lookout between Porthluney and Portholland coves and you can only get there down the cliff using a rope. Nudists would do well to keep their clothes on for this bit as the nettles and brambles are bad here.Jaimie and Michael have finished the second grass cut in Kennel Close.

the second grass cut in Kennel Close
the second grass cut in Kennel Close
The keepers are unloading crates of pheasant poults (3,000) for the rookery pen in a heatwave.
keepers are unloading crates of pheasant poults
keepers are unloading crates of pheasant poults

2015 – CHW

Styrax serrulatus is just going over now having been well out for three or more weeks. Planted in 1991 it is now 12 feet tall and as much across. Just as floriferous as Styrax japonicus and rather more so than Styrax hemsleyanus or Styrax wilsonii who hide their flowers in the foliage.

Styrax serrulatus
Styrax serrulatus
Styrax serrulatus
Styrax serrulatus
Styrax serrulatus
Styrax serrulatus

The best thing in the garden today is Rhododendron sinonuttallii. One of three separate clumps which all flower very late but by no means all at the same time. This group were planted by the Rhododendron megacalyx which have now died of old age and need replacing.

Rhododendron sinonuttallii
Rhododendron sinonuttallii
Rhododendron sinonuttallii
Rhododendron sinonuttallii

1993 – FJW
Only dry spell has been Wimbledon (21st June – 4th July). Since then very wet.

1971 – FJW
Charles cut the big bramble in the Drive Azalea – avoided like the plague by us all for decades.

1921 – JCW
Perhaps there are 500 flowers on the Romneya coulteri. There is not much else. It is very hot and dry and is about the record.

1916 – JCW
The first Lapageria is open, and the last Azalea viscosum, I have crossed it with Lanarth azalea.

1897 – JCW
I saw the first cyclamen in flower.

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