28th 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

Hoheria sexstylosa ‘Stardust’ has been slow to come fully out into flower in Kennel Close.

Hoheria sexstylosa ‘Stardust’
Hoheria sexstylosa ‘Stardust’
Hoheria sexstylosa ‘Stardust’
Hoheria sexstylosa ‘Stardust’
Hoheria ‘Glory of Amlwch’ (H. glabrata x H. sexstylosa) is not really that different in habit or flower but it is now more or less over.
Hoheria ‘Glory of Amlwch’
Hoheria ‘Glory of Amlwch’
This year we have happened upon Maackia hupehensis while the flowers are still full out. For the last couple of years they have been nearly over. It’s the outstanding blue new growth shoots rather than the flowers which clearly distinguish this Maackia hupehensis from Maackia amurensis which grows at the top of the garden. The plant has been grown in too much shad and has, at some point years ago, flopped over on its side so it is now rather more of a shrub than a tree. Planted in 2000 and the spelling in the planting records for that year needs a little correction (Maackia chinensis ‘Hupense’).
Maackia hupehensis
Maackia hupehensis
Maackia hupehensis
Maackia hupehensis
Maackia hupehensis
Maackia hupehensis
An attractive compilation of Hydrangea aspera ‘Villosa Group’ and Buddleja lindleyana.
Hydrangea aspera ‘Villosa Group’
Hydrangea aspera ‘Villosa Group’
Buddleja lindleyana flowering exceptionally well this year after a haircut 2 or 3 years ago.
Buddleja lindleyana
Buddleja lindleyana
Buddleja lindleyana
Buddleja lindleyana
Rhododendron decorum ssp. diaprepes just coming out below Hovel Cart Road.
Rhododendron decorum ssp. diaprepes
Rhododendron decorum ssp. diaprepes
Cornus angustata ‘Empress of China’ flowering for the first time here although still in its deer shelter. Evergreen and vigorous.
Cornus angustata ‘Empress of China’
Cornus angustata ‘Empress of China’
Cornus angustata ‘Empress of China’
Cornus angustata ‘Empress of China’
Juglans major is really taking off.
Juglans major
Juglans major

2022 – CHW

A time of the year when deads show up – casualties of old age and drought or honey fungus.

The very rare Rhododendron monosematum with its very hairy stems (AC 5978) below the Engine House.

Rhododendron monosematum
Rhododendron monosematum
Rhododendron monosematum
Rhododendron monosematum
New growth on Persea thunbergii as good as ever. Delayed by the drought I guess.
Persea thunbergii
Persea thunbergii
I had forgotten the huge fir branch below Engine House that was a ‘hanger’ and dropped by tree surgeons.
huge fir branch
huge fir branch
huge fir branch
huge fir branch
Still a winter mess here to clear up but no new planting places. It has hurt Lord Falmouth’s Liquidamber a bit.
Another good clump of Rhododendron maddenii near The Pound.
Rhododendron maddenii
Rhododendron maddenii
Meliosma beaniana is on its last legs but not quite there yet.
Meliosma beaniana
Meliosma beaniana
Meliosma beaniana
Meliosma beaniana
Acer nickoense (now maximowiczianum) on its last legs too. Cut down this winter? Replacement well away on the drive.
Acer nickoense
Acer nickoense
Acer nickoense
Acer nickoense
Zanthoxylum nepalense var. oxyphyllum (HWJK 99) finally getting going after deer damage. The other 2 species planted here in 2014 in for too much shade have now died or been eaten.
Zanthoxylum nepalense var. oxyphyllum
Zanthoxylum nepalense var. oxyphyllum
Zanthoxylum nepalense var. oxyphyllum
Zanthoxylum nepalense var. oxyphyllum
Quercas suber blown over yet again. Wrong place for this too.
Quercas suber
Quercas suber
Quercas suber
Quercas suber
Quillaja saponaria getting going with deer damage to the trunk. The right shady place for this it seems.
Quillaja saponaria
Quillaja saponaria
Quillaja saponaria
Quillaja saponaria

2021 – CHW
Jaimie’s cross of Rhododendron ‘Moser’s Maroon’ with Rhododendron ‘Polar Bear’ has a slight scent and is full out today. Nearby is a late flowering Rhododendron decorum and a Rhododendron maddenii just going over.

cross of Rhododendron ‘Moser’s Maroon’ with Rhododendron ‘Polar Bear’
cross of Rhododendron ‘Moser’s Maroon’ with Rhododendron ‘Polar Bear’
Four very different forms of Hydrangea sargentiana:
One outside the front gate.
A smaller paler version beside it.
smaller paler version
smaller paler version
The Donkey Shoe plant which grows where the old original died.
Donkey Shoe plant
Donkey Shoe plant
Donkey Shoe plant
Donkey Shoe plant
The surviving old original plant in the Auklandii Garden.
old original plant
old original plant
old original plant
old original plant
A new clump of Hydrangea paniculata ‘Polar Bear’.
Hydrangea paniculata ‘Polar Bear’
Hydrangea paniculata ‘Polar Bear’
You could be forgiven for thinking there are now too many newish forms of H. paniculata that are not much different. Hydrangea paniculata ‘Skyfall’ is however a good new variety.
Hydrangea paniculata ‘Skyfall’
Hydrangea paniculata ‘Skyfall’
Hydrangea paniculata ‘Skyfall’
Hydrangea paniculata ‘Skyfall’
Tree felling of the two beech and the pollarding of the oak have made a good new planting area for the autumn.
new planting area
new planting area
At last after several failures we have at least one Melliodendron xylocarpum going ahead.
Melliodendron xylocarpum
Melliodendron xylocarpum
Pomaderris elliptica is about to flower.
Pomaderris elliptica
Pomaderris elliptica
Pomaderris elliptica
Pomaderris elliptica
Seed heads on Viburnum hoangliense.
Viburnum hoangliense
Viburnum hoangliense
Why did the tree surgeons have to burn the laurel hedge rather than having the fire on the tree stump itself?
laurel hedge
laurel hedge
Rhododendron emarginatum (CW + T 6278 1/9/2012) with two flowers. The Pocket Guide to Rhododendron Species says this is a Pseudovireya which I find hard to believe.
Rhododendron emarginatum
Rhododendron emarginatum
Lilium superbum
Lilium superbum
Lilium superbum
I have no idea what this orange-red rhododendron is but am delighted that we have layered it now.
orange-red rhododendron
orange-red rhododendron
orange-red rhododendron
orange-red rhododendron
So “nothing” out in the woodland garden in late July!

2020 – CHW
Now that the knapweed is in full flower on the front bank you can clearly see that there are two species present. There is one patch of Common Knapweed or Centaurea nigra with much extended florets or floral rays around the flower. However most of the knapweed is the rarer Centaurea nigra ss. with much smaller tighter flower heads (Centaurea nigra subspecies is rare in Cornwall and largely confined to the Isles of Scilly).

First flowers out on Hoheria angustifolia.

Hoheria angustifolia
Hoheria angustifolia
A young Magnolia delavayi with its first flowers. This plant was a gift and is certainly a different form with what appears to be less tepals than normal.
Magnolia delavayi
Magnolia delavayi
A final flower on Magnolia globosa with seeds now fully formed as well.
Magnolia globosa
Magnolia globosa
Magnolia globosa
Magnolia globosa
Secondary flowers on Magnolia ‘Spectrum’ on Hovel Cart Road.
Magnolia ‘Spectrum’
Magnolia ‘Spectrum’
A garden tour with Rob Hunt who was staying at The Vean.
Rob Hunt
Rob Hunt

2019 – CHW
A nice new thing in the greenhouse frame to go out next spring – Ailanthus altissima ‘Purple Dragon’.
Ailanthus altissima ‘Purple Dragon’
Ailanthus altissima ‘Purple Dragon’
Ailanthus altissima ‘Purple Dragon’
Ailanthus altissima ‘Purple Dragon’
Gordonia axillaris was planted in 1991 but I have never yet seen it flower here.
Gordonia axillaris
Gordonia axillaris
Gordonia axillaris
Gordonia axillaris
A few huge seed pods are forming on Magnolia obovata ‘Pink Flush’. The largest is about 10in long and covered with bristles which are turning reddish.
Magnolia obovata ‘Pink Flush’
Magnolia obovata ‘Pink Flush’
Magnolia obovata ‘Pink Flush’
Magnolia obovata ‘Pink Flush’
This is (I think) Rhododendron aperantum which I have never seen in flower here but did once much earlier in the year at Werrington. The flowers are almost double and seem to have two corollas. Is this a secondary flowering? The buds are rounded and reddish opening more rose pink-white. Very few flowers on what is now a 5ft tall erect shrub.
Rhododendron aperantum
Rhododendron aperantum
Rhododendron aperantum
Rhododendron aperantum
Rhododendron aperantum
Rhododendron aperantum
Rhododendron aperantum
Rhododendron aperantum
A young Pieris with secondary new growth or perhaps it has been so dry it is only now coming into growth?
Pieris
Pieris
Pieris
Pieris
Pieris
Pieris
Cercidiphyllum japonicum ‘Pendulum’ with its trailing ‘skirt’ nibbled by roe deer.
Cercidiphyllum japonicum ‘Pendulum’
Cercidiphyllum japonicum ‘Pendulum’
Cercidiphyllum japonicum ‘Pendulum’
Cercidiphyllum japonicum ‘Pendulum’
Cercidiphyllum japonicum ‘Pendulum’
Cercidiphyllum japonicum ‘Pendulum’
Rhododendron fortunei ssp. discolor full out in the main quarry and splendid as usual.
Rhododendron fortunei ssp. discolor
Rhododendron fortunei ssp. discolor
Rhododendron fortunei ssp. discolor
Rhododendron fortunei ssp. discolor
Secondary flowers on the old wisteria by the Playhouse.
wisteria
wisteria
wisteria
wisteria
A very dark self-sown dierama below the wisteria.
dierama
dierama
And next to it the first flowers on Crinum powellii.
Crinum powellii
Crinum powellii

2018 – CHW
Following the visit to Tregrehan earlier this week I had promised to compare photographs of our two Lithocarpus cleistocarpa (100+ and 50 years old) with the Tregrehan one planted in 1992 and viewed there.The comments I made during the visit were:1. The younger leaves and the leaves on some branches here were rounded rather than all pointed as on the Tregrehan tree. Examples here to make the point. Perhaps wind damage in the ‘Beast’?
leaves
leaves
leaves
leaves
2. We had found, over the years, just the odd occasional small acorn on the ground under our oldest tree (they did not germinate). This had suggested to my father that our tree might actually be a quercus rather than a lithocarpus? This has to be nonsense as these pictures clearly show loads of male lithocarpus catkins. I could not however find any chubby female inflorescences where a group of lithocarpus seeds would set. The odd acorns we have found presumably got carried there by squirrels and were actually nothing to do with this tree. Later in the year I will need binoculars to check the top of it for seed clusters but none have ever been seen here before in 100 years.
male lithocarpus catkins
male lithocarpus catkins
male lithocarpus catkins
male lithocarpus catkins
male lithocarpus catkins
male lithocarpus catkins
male lithocarpus catkins
male lithocarpus catkins
3. The younger of our two trees has a whiter sheen on the undersides of its leaves than the Tregrehan plant or our older one. This appears to be correct but the plant is growing in the open on a hot bank rather than in some dappled shade.
a whiter sheen
a whiter sheen
a whiter sheen
a whiter sheen
4. I have tried to compare the bark. Clearly the bark on an older tree will not look much like a 26 year old one. Sadly our younger plant has too much moss (and ivy) on its trunk to make a fair comparison.
bark
bark
bark
bark
The conclusion is however that we are indeed both growing Lithocarpus cleistocarpa. It will grow from cuttings!

2017 – CHW
More from Ventnor.Muehlenbeckia complexa completely covering and smothering an Olearia dartonii as you can see.
Muehlenbeckia complexa
Muehlenbeckia complexa
Muehlenbeckia complexa
Muehlenbeckia complexa
Muehlenbeckia complexa
Muehlenbeckia complexa
Hedychium gardnerianum out rather earlier than with us.
Hedychium gardnerianum
Hedychium gardnerianum
Hedychium gardnerianum
Hedychium gardnerianum
Hedychium gardnerianum
Hedychium gardnerianum
Crinum powellii ‘Album’ looking very fine and no slug damage!
Crinum powellii ‘Album’
Crinum powellii ‘Album’
Crinum powellii ‘Album’
Crinum powellii ‘Album’
Crinum powellii ‘Album’
Crinum powellii ‘Album’
Clerodendron trochotomum growing as a small suckering tree and just coming out.
Clerodendron trochotomum
Clerodendron trochotomum
Clerodendron trochotomum
Clerodendron trochotomum
Clerodendron trochotomum
Clerodendron trochotomum
Melianthus major with its odd seed heads ripening after flowering. I have never seen this on our Burncoose stockplant.
Melianthus major
Melianthus major
Melianthus major
Melianthus major
Melianthus major
Melianthus major
Firmania simplex in full flower. Note the huge leaves with five lobes.
Firmania simplex
Firmania simplex
Firmania simplex
Firmania simplex
Firmania simplex
Firmania simplex
Musa basjoo growing as a huge multistemmed clump. Leaves 6-8ft long. Tallest stem perhaps 18-20ft. No flowers in evidence.
Musa basjoo
Musa basjoo
Musa basjoo
Musa basjoo
Musa basjoo
Musa basjoo
Musa basjoo
Musa basjoo
The very rare Mallotus japonicus in full flower and new growth. A male form of this dioecious tree. The ‘food wrapper’ plant.
Mallotus japonicus
Mallotus japonicus
Mallotus japonicus
Mallotus japonicus
Mallotus japonicus
Mallotus japonicus
No idea what this evergreen climber is so need to look it up! Rather extraordinary! Probably an aristolochia?
evergreen climber
evergreen climber
evergreen climber
evergreen climber
evergreen climber
evergreen climber
I could not identify this yellow flowered plant last year but was being thick. It is Caragana brevispina. Here just setting its pea seeds.
Caragana brevispina
Caragana brevispina
Caragana brevispina
Caragana brevispina
Ceratonia siliqua looking very fine in full growth.
Ceratonia siliqua
Ceratonia siliqua
Ceratonia siliqua
Ceratonia siliqua
Ceratonia siliqua
Ceratonia siliqua

2016 – CHW
Ventnor Botanic Garden have acquired a few more plant labels since last year which is good. I have not visited in late July before and much that is new to me is out in the South African garden. Conversely the echiums seem to have taken over far too much, decimating a lovely bank of libertia and looking rather horrid now that they are all over.Several outstanding new plants to think about getting:This (I assume) is a cuphea species in the car park which is attractive.
cuphea species
cuphea species
cuphea species
cuphea species

Swathes of lavender in the herb garden were superb.

Swathes of lavender
Swathes of lavender
Psoralea affinis was entirely spiny heather-like foliage and blue-white pea flowers. Growing here to 8-10ft as a multi stemmed shrub.
Psoralea affinis
Psoralea affinis
Psoralea affinis
Psoralea affinis

Pink watsonia – equally good.

Pink watsonia
Pink watsonia
Anisodontea capensis is not that hardy but an excellent coastal plant in full sun. Should we stock it again?
Anisodontea capensis
Anisodontea capensis

Anisodontea capensis

Watsonia aletroides – a delicate orange-pink.

Watsonia aletroides
Watsonia aletroides
A new plant for our 2017 catalogue here in full flower. This rather odd South African salvia species certainly has an odd flower and remaining bract – Salvia africano-lutea (Beach salvia).
Salvia africano-lutea
Salvia africano-lutea
Salvia africano-lutea
Salvia africano-lutea
Salvia africano-lutea
Salvia africano-lutea

Crassula coccinea with striking red flowers. Much better than our Crassula sarcocaulis.

Crassula coccinea
Crassula coccinea
Banksia ericifolia with its yellow ‘pineapple’ flower – new to me.
Banksia ericifolia
Banksia ericifolia
Banksia ericifolia
Banksia ericifolia

Olearia argophylla (musk wood) – dullish but a new species to me.

Olearia argophylla
Olearia argophylla

Olearia megalophylla (large leaf daisy brush) – ditto.

Olearia megalophylla
Olearia megalophylla

Eucalyptus globulus was setting seed heavily. I think I caught its white flowers last year.

Eucalyptus globulus
Eucalyptus globulus

Melaleuca gibbosa had little tufts of pinkish purple flowers.

Melaleuca gibbosa
Melaleuca gibbosa

Melaleuca hypericifolia was a much more impressive bottlebrush.

Melaleuca hypericifolia
Melaleuca hypericifolia
Abutilon ‘Red Bells’ a larger flower than our Abutilon ‘Ashford Red’ and taller growing. About 10-12ft tall here and free standing in shelter.
Abutilon ‘Red Bells’
Abutilon ‘Red Bells’
Abutilon ‘Red Bells’
Abutilon ‘Red Bells’
Abutilon ‘Red Bells’
Abutilon ‘Red Bells’
2015 – CHW
Went in search of an elusive late/last July camellia flower but nothing found today. Need to look for Camellia mathotiana varieties in full shade to have a chance but it has probably been just too hot in June/July this year. There is a chance if I have time at Burncoose on Thursday below the paddock.
HYDRANGEA sargentiana
HYDRANGEA sargentiana

The old original Hydrangea sargentiana struggles on. A rather insipid flower with few florets at the edge but very large. The slugs have done great work on the leaves after the weekend’s rain despite them being hairy, and you would have thought, unpalatable. Large snails perhaps?

Azaleas in Auklandii Garden
Azaleas in Auklandii Garden
Azaleas in Auklandii Garden
Azaleas in Auklandii Garden
Two more even later flowering plants at the top of the Azalea indica clump in the Auklandii Garden. Surely the last azaleas to show colour this season and, although red, a slightly different red to the ones photographed a month or more ago. Worth propagating just for this purpose?
Escallonia iveyi
Escallonia ‘Iveyi’
Escallonia iveyi
Escallonia ‘Iveyi’
Here is the long promised and frequently cut down Escallonia ‘Iveyi’ named after the daffodil gardener at Caerhays pre 1900. It is a hybrid between a Brazilian species called Escallonia bifida and Escallonia xexoniensis; itself a hybrid raised at Veitch nurseries in Exeter. It got an RHS AGM in 1891! So Mr Ivey may have even made the cross himself pre 1880. I do not see JCW having any interest in crossing escallonia especially in the (pre Chinese) daffodil era. Still perhaps the nicest escallonia I know and a freestanding shrub for the shrub border not even a faintly hedging variety. As it is a Caerhays bred plant I can be biased. Presumably a daffodil gardener was a bit short of work in July!

The five Magnolia ‘Caerhays Splendour’ in the old paeony bed have survived the heatwave and grown rather well in their first year of planting. Slug bait is essential to keep the first set of leaves undamaged on newly planted magnolias. Long may they last (as now)!Pheasant poult losses in Brownberry Wood are nearly 2,000 after the weekend’s torrential rain. Replacements impossible as now too late. Good job we did the four extra late hatch offs but we had better go steady on letting any more days and hope no disease hits us on top of the wet/cold disaster with eight week old birds. I fear a wet August after such a dry spring and summer. Thank heavens the rearing field is now only on gas heating after three power cuts on Saturday which would have caused chaos with the electric hens. Not lightening or thunder (apparently) but a transformer on fire somewhere.

2005 – FJW
Damp week – rain persistant – not heavy.

1929 – JCW
Rhodo ungernii, ungernii x auriculatum, decorum x auriculatum, Harrows crop and eriogynum all give flower, ungernii x in particular. ‘The last’ Coombe Wood auriculatum flowers well. American Pillars, Rosa brunonis are the best things with the Romneyas.

1908 – JCW
Buddleias good.

1906 – JCW
A few cyclamen. The R auriculatums have started well.

1903 – JCW
Several cyclamen, a lapageria or two. Roses and sweet peas nice. Bulbs and seeds all finished.

1901 – JCW
Just two cyclamen and one lapageria, some roses good in particular P Gontier, Princep, de Lagan, M Horte etc etc. Go north tomorrow. Lonicera henryi not open yet.

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