1st 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

Seed pods turning pink on Cercis canadensis ‘Flame’. Asia should collect before too long when they fully ripen.

Cercis canadensis ‘Flame’
Cercis canadensis ‘Flame’
Syringa microphylla ‘Superba’ by the front door has developed some variegation on its leaves.
Syringa microphylla ‘Superba’
Syringa microphylla ‘Superba’
Syringa microphylla ‘Superba’
Syringa microphylla ‘Superba’
The very late flowering Azalea ‘Gena Mae’ – a striking orange and the very last deciduous azalea to flower here.
Azalea 'Gena Mae’
Azalea ‘Gena Mae’
Hypericum forrestii was a gift from Maurice Foster and is developing into a compact shrub. Much smaller growing that H. lancasteri.
Hypericum forrestii
Hypericum forrestii
Hypericum forrestii
Hypericum forrestii
At Pengelly Garden Centre I spot the bizarrely variegated Cercis canadensis ‘Alley Cat’. If you don’t like variegated things (as my father didn’t) this is not one to contemplate.
Cercis canadensis ‘Alley Cat’
Cercis canadensis ‘Alley Cat’
Cercis canadensis ‘Alley Cat’
Cercis canadensis ‘Alley Cat’
Purple fruits on a not entirely pure form of Corylus maxima ‘Purpurea’.
Corylus maxima ‘Purpurea’
Corylus maxima ‘Purpurea’

2022 – CHW

Iris ‘Lady in Waiting’ rather good.

Iris ‘Lady in Waiting’
Iris ‘Lady in Waiting’
Lavandula ‘Meerlo’ has attractive variegation.
Lavandula ‘Meerlo’
Lavandula ‘Meerlo’
A good display of gerbera at Busy Bee Garden Centre.
gerbera
gerbera
Hollyhocks grow so well on the Isle of Wight and so badly in Cornwall.
Hollyhocks
Hollyhocks
Hollyhocks
Hollyhocks
Cobea scandens growing strongly on a west facing house wall. I always admire this tender plant which flowers for ages and seeds freely.
Cobea scandens
Cobea scandens
Cobea scandens
Cobea scandens
A huge former arable field planted up with native trees and shrubs. No more wheat production here.
field
field

2021 – CHW
Lonicera crassifolia growing away happily on an old tree stump at the Four in Hand.

Lonicera crassifolia
Lonicera crassifolia
Lonicera crassifolia
Lonicera crassifolia
The conversion of the Hovel barns nears completion but now Western Power cannot connect both properties with electric on time! COVID of course but just plain incompetence. Order placed last November. Mains water connections next week.
Hovel barns
Hovel barns
Hovel barns
Hovel barns
Hovel barns
Hovel barns
Hovel barns
Hovel barns
Another of the errant Magnolia ‘Yuchelia’ outside the front gates.
Magnolia ‘Yuchelia’
Magnolia ‘Yuchelia’
Magnolia ‘Yuchelia’
Magnolia ‘Yuchelia’
Another (third) good plant of Acer sikkimense (WWJ 11613).
Acer sikkimense
Acer sikkimense
Hydrangea aspera kawakamii x involucrata only just alive after the cold east winds (just like Hydrangea lobbii).
Hydrangea aspera kawakamii x involucrata
Hydrangea aspera kawakamii x involucrata
Then the BEST new plant I have seen for ages! Tucked away by the young monkey puzzle outside the front gate is Hydrangea chinesis ‘Golden Crane’. SUPERB. Propagate at once!
Hydrangea chinesis ‘Golden Crane’
Hydrangea chinesis ‘Golden Crane’
Hydrangea chinesis ‘Golden Crane’
Hydrangea chinesis ‘Golden Crane’
Hydrangea chinesis ‘Golden Crane’
Hydrangea chinesis ‘Golden Crane’
Hydrangea chinesis ‘Golden Crane’
Hydrangea chinesis ‘Golden Crane’

2020 – CHW
A very fine self-sown buddleia above The Fish Sheds in West Portholland.
buddleia
buddleia
A Tamarix ramosissima with pale pink flowers just coming out which has faced a hundred gales at East Portholland in the garden of The Old Chapel about 10 yards from the sea. Nothing else would begin to survive and flourish here growing in near sand but beside the stream.
Tamarix ramosissima
Tamarix ramosissima
Tamarix ramosissima
Tamarix ramosissima
Rhododendron viscosum x ‘Midsummer Mermaid Blue’ flowering nicely with bluish new growth. A Glendoick cross planted in 2017.
Rhododendron viscosum x ‘Midsummer Mermaid Blue’
Rhododendron viscosum x ‘Midsummer Mermaid Blue’
Rhododendron viscosum x ‘Midsummer Mermaid Blue’
Rhododendron viscosum x ‘Midsummer Mermaid Blue’
The bed of Hemerocallis given to my parents by Lady Cynthia Carew-Pole in the late 1960s or early 1970s. She bred them at Antony House and was, perhaps, the first serious UK breeder of daylilies. They have survived and multiplied well. There are other clumps wild in the woodland.
Hemerocallis
Hemerocallis
There are four varieties out today which you can see here. They are outclassed (perhaps) by the newer varieties which are now sold. Sadly I have no names for you and nothing matches in the RHS encyclopaedia either.
Hemerocallis
Hemerocallis
Hemerocallis
Hemerocallis
Hemerocallis
Hemerocallis
Hemerocallis
Hemerocallis
Salvia ‘Black and Blue’ nicely out by the drawing room window. It shows up well against the Pentewan granite.
Salvia ‘Black and Blue’
Salvia ‘Black and Blue’
Salvia ‘Black and Blue’
Salvia ‘Black and Blue’
The Magnolia delavayi hedge all along the wall below the lawn was trimmed back hard two and a half years ago. This year it is back to flowering properly as you can see.
Magnolia delavayi
Magnolia delavayi
Magnolia delavayi
Magnolia delavayi
Cornus kousa ‘China Doll’ with few flowers this year. Planted 2006.
Cornus kousa ‘China Doll’
Cornus kousa ‘China Doll’
Cornus kousa ‘China Doll’
Cornus kousa ‘China Doll’
Cornus kousa ‘Samaritan’ looking superb with the contrast between leaf and bract. Planted 2008.
Cornus kousa ‘Samaritan’
Cornus kousa ‘Samaritan’
Cornus kousa ‘Samaritan’
Cornus kousa ‘Samaritan’
Cornus kousa ‘Miss Petty’. Also planted in 2008 this has made a graceful small tree with drooping branches plastered in flower. Just a little pink starting to show but this one is growing in shade.
Cornus kousa ‘Miss Petty’
Cornus kousa ‘Miss Petty’
Cornus kousa ‘Miss Petty’
Cornus kousa ‘Miss Petty’
Cornus kousa ‘Miss Petty’
Cornus kousa ‘Miss Petty’
Another group of three of the very late flowering Azalea ‘June Fire’. As dark a red as you could wish for. Below the rubbish dump.
Azalea ‘June Fire’
Azalea ‘June Fire’

2019 – CHW
The standard, variety and overall excellence of the vast exhibitors’ marquee at Hampton Court is amazing. Far less hassle, pomposity and bossiness than at Chelsea and exhibitors are here to make money selling real plants rather than (as at Chelsea) to act as unpaid garden advisers for the visitors.

The Burncoose stand has many rare plants on it. A few are pictured here.

Rhus typhina ‘Tiger Eyes’

Rhus typhina ‘Tiger Eyes’
Rhus typhina ‘Tiger Eyes’
Itoa orientalis
Itoa orientalis
Itoa orientalis
Lomatia tinctoria
Lomatia tinctoria
Lomatia tinctoria
The stand is in memory of David Knuckey and his achievements as one of the greatest plant showmen who ever competed in regional, national and RHS shows (30 years ago the RHS had no monopoly).
As ever many horticultural friends turn up at the Podocarpus stand. It was christened as “Becher’s Brook” after the famous fence in the Grand National. I am not at all sure that this was a compliment but it is certainly amusing and more or less true. The horses would however have got some nasty scratches from the stiff Podocarpus leaves as have we over the last four days. The sight of the detestable Chris Packham at the show made me think of animal rights campaigners and Becher’s Brook.
horticultural friends
horticultural friends
Speeches from the chairman of Plant Heritage etc were lengthy and pre the drinks. We left for the five hour trip home at 3pm unrefreshed.
Speeches
Speeches
Speeches
Speeches
The judging rules do not like old fashioned ‘cluttered’ stands any more so we do not expect much. A silver medal was probably fair enough under the criteria but we did what was asked of us by Plant Heritage and staged 60 different forms/species of Podocarpus and related Podocarpaceae. Hopefully we have now ‘done our bit’ for at least a decade.

2018 – CHW
Eucryphia lucida ‘Pink Clouds’ has had the odd flower out for months but it is now putting on a proper show in several different places in the garden. The first eucryphia to perform and we now look forward to the others brightening up what is now a sun scorched summer. Another week of this heat with no rain and there will be serious casualties amongst the new plantings and with the big leafed rhododendrons.
Eucryphia lucida ‘Pink Clouds’
Eucryphia lucida ‘Pink Clouds’
Repairs to the walls on the lawn undertaken by KPK. These are basically to replace/renew lime mix pointing which has fallen out over the years, fill the odd gap in the stone caused by old weed, ivy or creeper growth and to repair the concrete slabs covering the top of the walls where they have moved or cracked.
Repairs to the walls
Repairs to the walls
Repairs to the walls
Repairs to the walls
Repairs to the walls
Repairs to the walls
Roy Lancaster’s huge white climbing rose is now full out over the archway. The flower trusses have up to 30 individual flowers which have a golden central tint when first opening that soon fades. Roy gave this to us 30 years ago as a wild collection but was not sure of its identity from my rather poor pictures last year. Here are some rather better ones to send him.

[Roy replied 26-7-2018: On the basis that it is one of my collections from China and knowing the species I have distributed I believe it to be R. filipes which I collected under my number L. 859 from Luding-Kangding roadside Sichuan 12-9-81. Part of the delay was caused by my sending the image to Michael Marriot at David Austin’s who eventually replied in agreeance. There is a large plant of this collection growing into a large hawthorn in my neighbour’s garden given to her many years ago. It flowered prodigiously this summer with flowers around 2.5-3cm across. They are replaced by pea-sized hips in large quantities.]

white climbing rose
white climbing rose
white climbing rose
white climbing rose
white climbing rose
white climbing rose
white climbing rose
white climbing rose

2017 – CHW
A dry day after a week’s rain on and off. No harm in that!Acer cappadocium ‘Aureum’ has very fine new growth indeed as a young plant in Kennel Close.

Acer cappadocium ‘Aureum’
Acer cappadocium ‘Aureum’
Acer cappadocium ‘Aureum’
Acer cappadocium ‘Aureum’
Acer cappadocium ‘Aureum’
Acer cappadocium ‘Aureum’
Half of this Magnolia ‘Yakeo’ died last autumn. Now it is having a secondary show of flowers in July. It is on the way out I fear.
Magnolia ‘Yakeo’
Magnolia ‘Yakeo’
Magnolia ‘Yakeo’
Magnolia ‘Yakeo’
Carrieria calycina is putting on secondary new growth which has a pleasant bronzy tinge initially.
Carrieria calycina
Carrieria calycina
Carrieria calycina
Carrieria calycina
Cercidophyllum ‘Red Fox’ has extraordinarily dark leaves and shows up a mile away in the other greenery. A columnar habit and smallish blue-black leaves edged purple when you look closely.
Cercidophyllum ‘Red Fox’
Cercidophyllum ‘Red Fox’
Cercidophyllum ‘Red Fox’
Cercidophyllum ‘Red Fox’
Cercidophyllum ‘Red Fox’
Cercidophyllum ‘Red Fox’
Styrax serrulatus nearly out.
Styrax serrulatus
Styrax serrulatus
Styrax serrulatus
Styrax serrulatus
Magnolia virginiana has the odd flower in bud, out and over. They are nothing to get excited about.
Magnolia virginiana
Magnolia virginiana
Magnolia virginiana
Magnolia virginiana
I had mentioned caterpillars attacking and eating young birch leaves. Here is a Betula ‘China Ruby’ two years on from planting with all its leaves eaten on two branches.
Betula ‘China Ruby’
Betula ‘China Ruby’
Betula ‘China Ruby’
Betula ‘China Ruby’
Flower heads emerging on Platycarya strobilacea together with secondary new growth. Need to collect the seeds this year which develop as black bottle brushes.
Platycarya strobilacea
Platycarya strobilacea
Platycarya strobilacea
Platycarya strobilacea
The Lions actually win a Test Match in New Zealand. There is a bit of his history.
2016 – CHW
A nice batch of Deutzia compacta which came as cuttings from Peter Moore whom I suspect collected this species on a Chinese trip. Pale lilac flowers fading to white in tight clusters. Asia has raised this as a new item for the 2017 catalogue. Propagate more – it is nice!
Deutzia compacta
Deutzia compacta
Deutzia compacta
Deutzia compacta
Styrax japonicus ‘Emerald Pagoda’ (syn ‘Sohuksari’) – collected in 1985 on a South Korean island is quite the largest flower of any Styrax japonicus variety and possibly of any styrax species.
Styrax japonicus ‘Emerald Pagoda’
Styrax japonicus ‘Emerald Pagoda’
Styrax japonicus ‘Emerald Pagoda’
Styrax japonicus ‘Emerald Pagoda’
Magnolia obovata ‘Pink Flush’ is quite like Magnolia officinalis biloba but flowering three months later. Really pink on the outside of the tepals in bud too. I think I saw this out last year but not as good this.
Magnolia obovata ‘Pink Flush’
Magnolia obovata ‘Pink Flush’
Magnolia obovata ‘Pink Flush’
Magnolia obovata ‘Pink Flush’
Jamesia americana, a rare deciduous north American species with some hydrangea like characteristics, is just coming out.
Jamesia americana
Jamesia americana
Jamesia americana
Jamesia americana
Another young clump of Rhododendron maddenia with overpowering scent.
Rhododendron maddenia
Rhododendron maddenia
Rhododendron maddenia
Rhododendron maddenia
The ancient Stewartia pseudocamellia has a new shoot from the base of the old tree with much larger flowers than higher up.
Stewartia pseudocamellia
Stewartia pseudocamellia
Stewartia pseudocamellia
Stewartia pseudocamellia
Magnolia ‘Caerhays Surprise’ still has a tail end flower in July!
Magnolia ‘Caerhays Surprise’
Magnolia ‘Caerhays Surprise’

So does Camellia ‘White Nun’ in the shade.

Camellia ‘White Nun’
Camellia ‘White Nun’
A 2006 planted Styrax japonicus behind the greenhouse is simply plastered in flowers. Not many small trees can achieve so much so rapidly.
Styrax japonicus
Styrax japonicus
Styrax japonicus
Styrax japonicus
Michael completes the unofficial planting of the medlar tree the day after the big ceremony.
unofficial planting of the medlar tree
unofficial planting of the medlar tree

2015 – CHW
The large clump of Cordyline australis outside the front door is just going over. Dracaena Avenue in Falmouth is looking a bit bare now as older cordylines have been getting some nasty disease in Cornish gardens. No doubt yet another supposedly undiscovered phythopthera which will excite Defra.

Cordyline australis
Cordyline australis
Cordyline australis
Cordyline australis

The clump had, until last summer, an ilex oak growing around it. Now this has gone the taller trunks have shoots emerging lower down their stems.

So now travelling to the Isle of Wight with plenty of catalogue proofing and magazine articles to research and write up. The perfect ‘holiday’!

On the way I ponder the puzzle of Stewartia rostrata. An article in The Plantsman dated June 2008 shows pictures of the bark and flower of Stewartia rostrata.The 25 year old plant at Caerhays has similar bark, its seedpods have four capsules (as they should) but its flowers here are very different to those described by the three experts in the article.

None of the Caerhays plants nor those we have sold at Burncoose and flowered in the nursery for many years have small white flowers as shown in the article. Instead they are blotched pink in bud opening with pink blotches. The best and largest flowers of any of the stewartias in my opinion but no mention of this in the article.

Secondly the Caerhays plant has intense scarlet then almost black autumn colour. Rather better than described in Hillier’s who say autumn colour only in the most suitable growing conditions. Cornwall is hardly noted for its autumn colour or cold winters.

I have written to Koen Camelbeke, one of the authors, to ask his opinion and especially why our plants flower in late June and July and not in May as he suggests.

Stewartia rostrata
Stewartia rostrata
Stewartia rostrata
Stewartia rostrata
Stewartia rostrata
Stewartia rostrata

The puzzle does not stop there either.The plant here which we have always thought was Stewartia pseudocamellia appears to be Stewartia monodelpha in line with the appearance of its flaking bark. Our Stewartia sinensis does not have bark like the plant pictured and, at least in part, its bark is more like Stewartia monodelpha. Perhaps our elderly Stewartia pseudocamellia only has greenish bark with white and yellow peeled patches at certain times of the year or not as it ages?More research is needed but I am certain that the 25 to 30 year old Stewartia pseudocamellia at Burncoose at Burncoose by the mist houses has ruffled edges to its petals as it should. I now need to check its bark.

My tentative conclusion is that The Plantsman’s attempt to be definitive as to the pictures and descriptions of the key species may well not be as clear cut as the authors would like to believe.

Stewartia pseudocamellia at Burncoose VII
Stewartia pseudocamellia at Burncoose
Stewartia pseudocamellia
Stewartia pseudocamellia
Stewartia pseudocamellia
Stewartia pseudocamellia
Stewartia pseudocamellia
Stewartia pseudocamellia

1996 – FJW
Philip and I found a good flower on Camellia ‘Joan Trehane’.

1995 – FJW
We have had 5 very hot days and need rain.

1976 – FJW
Very dry – cut 2 fields of corn June 29th, baled them June 30th. First thunder today. Sinogrande under threat from the drought. (It was a drought).

1959 – FJW
Main hay crop gathered in. Moser’s Maroon flowering. A good Eriogynum hyb on the Hovel Cart Road.

1933 – JCW
Just back from North, am just going to see the [?] Fuschias as good this year.1932
Just as in 1927 apparently in every detail.

1927 – JCW
Came from Scotland, they have had good rain here, Griersonianum, Maddeni, Styrax wilsonii all very good. Many Magnolia parviflora open now. Azalea arborescens is well out for 4 small plants.

1925 – JCW
Came from Scotland, no rain for three weeks, dry but a real gain from the warmth and most things look well. Benthamias V.G, Rho griersonianum fine yet Rose brunonis and American Pillar excellent. The late Maddeni hybrids excellent. Dichroanthum several and so Maddeni. The two flowers of Eriogynum very good. Some Mag parviflora and hypoleuca, also delavayi.

1924 – JCW
The pink Moyesi, Styrax hemsleyanus, Discolor, and some Harrow hybrids are the best things open now.

1910 – JCW
Have been in Scotland for five weeks. R brunonis, Dracoena flowers and the Mitrarea are the best things open now. Some bulbs moved, nearly all the seed picked, our best year for this last.

1898 – JCW
Came from London after 3 weeks absence. Many Henonis [bamboo] only half grown, Nigra the same, waterlilies well on, no Nitida moving yet. Some of the tree ferns have only lately started, the best are at full length. Some Mitis [bamboo] well on, but these have held through the winter, 98 canes just starting.

One thought on “1st July

  1. Email from Koen Camelbeke 14.07.15 in reply to my query:

    […] I’ve checked the photos on the 1 July page and they all seem correct. S. rostrata can indeed have this nice pink blush on the outer side of the unopened petals. Quite beautiful and attractive. The flower in the Plantsman article is showing the inner side and is completely open. The picture is by Philippe de Spoelberch and I would be very surprised if it would be wrong as rostrata is easy to recognize as a species esp. when flowers and fruits are present.
    Can you also share following link with Charles:
    http://www.arboretumwespelaar.be/userfiles/file/pdf/111016_Keys%20to%20the%20deciduous%20species%20of%20the%20genus%20Stewartia%20following%20Dr%20Spongberg_PdS.pdf
    It is the key to the species with a lot of illustrations. This may also be useful for further studies. […]

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