14th June

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

A flying visit to Belvoir Castle and a quick look at some of our previous planting at Croxton.

Views across the garden.

Views across the garden
Views across the garden
Views across the garden
Views across the garden
Views across the garden
Views across the garden
Rabbits still a major problem.
Rabbits still a major problem
Rabbits still a major problem
Camellias eaten alive by rabbits.
Camellias eaten alive by rabbits
Camellias eaten alive by rabbits
The Salix and Poplars by the lake are doing well.
Salix and Poplars by the lake
Salix and Poplars by the lake
As is the Salix fargesii.
Salix fargesii
Salix fargesii
The magnolias are away too.
magnolias
magnolias
New outside catering at The Engine Yard.
outside catering at The Engine Yard
outside catering at The Engine Yard
outside catering at The Engine Yard
outside catering at The Engine Yard
The newly opened Belvoir Farm Shop.
Belvoir Farm Shop
Belvoir Farm Shop
Belvoir Farm Shop
Belvoir Farm Shop
Belvoir Farm Shop
Belvoir Farm Shop
Belvoir Farm Shop
Belvoir Farm Shop
Belvoir Farm Shop
Belvoir Farm Shop

2023 – CHW

An unexpected early drought casualty is Calycanthus ‘Athens’.

Calycanthus ‘Athens’
Calycanthus ‘Athens’

 

Rhododendron ‘Pink Polar Bear’ is struggling into flower and may well die before it does.
Rhododendron ‘Pink Polar Bear’
Rhododendron ‘Pink Polar Bear’
Philadelphus pekinensis just in flower in Tin Garden. Large shrubs in only 4 years.
Philadelphus pekinensis
Philadelphus pekinensis
Philadelphus pekinensis
Philadelphus pekinensis
Gardens closed now so the squirrel traps can come back into the open and an early catch here.
squirrel traps
squirrel traps
Philadelphus schrenkii var. jackii with few flowers as yet.
Philadelphus schrenkii var. jackii
Philadelphus schrenkii var. jackii
Deutzia monbeigii has many tiny flowers but, as usual, only on the older growth.
Deutzia monbeigii
Deutzia monbeigii
Deutzia monbeigii
Deutzia monbeigii

2022 – CHW

Syringa pekinensis ‘Yellow Fragrance’ not, as yet, looking very yellow (apart from the leaves).

Syringa pekinensis ‘Yellow Fragrance’
Syringa pekinensis ‘Yellow Fragrance’
Aesculus californica now nearly out and smelling gorgeous.
Aesculus californica
Aesculus californica
Keteleeria davidiana, which looked so sick after planting, now with good new growth and potential for cuttings.
Keteleeria davidiana
Keteleeria davidiana
Eucalyptus simonosii now full out all over the 30ft tall tree. Will it set seed? A superb tree with the most intricate pompom flowers as you see here.
Eucalyptus simonosii
Eucalyptus simonosii
Eucalyptus simonosii
Eucalyptus simonosii
Flowers just out on Liriodendron chinense at Slip Rail. No flowers out yet on L. tulipifera or the golden variegated form – both on the drive.
Liriodendron chinense
Liriodendron chinense
Attractive new growth on Lindera triloba.
Lindera triloba
Lindera triloba
Styrax japonicus from Taehuksando (BSWJ 14182) below Tin Garden. Superb large flowers but not that different to ‘Emerald Pagoda’.
Styrax japonicus
Styrax japonicus
Styrax japonicus
Styrax japonicus
Rhododendron ‘Tally Ho’ full out in the sun.
Rhododendron ‘Tally Ho’
Rhododendron ‘Tally Ho’
One of my mother’s Christmas azaleas planted out successfully years ago. A florist’s potful originally and now a half decent plant on Rookery Path.
Christmas azaleas
Christmas azaleas
Camellia ‘Grace Arbritton’ still with decent flowers below Rookery Path.
Camellia ‘Grace Arbritton’
Camellia ‘Grace Arbritton’
Euonymus moupinensis with its small reddish flowers that appear to be growing from the centre of the leaves. They actually have stalks back to the base of the leaves but unusual and peculiar.
Euonymus moupinensis
Euonymus moupinensis
Euonymus moupinensis
Euonymus moupinensis
Last flowers fading out on a 1980s planted Rhododendron yakushimanum in the Auklandii Garden. Only 4-5ft tall even now.
Rhododendron yakushimanum
Rhododendron yakushimanum

2021 – CHW
The G7 has brought lots of covid to Cornwall I am told. Two hundred police or security billeted on a specially chartered cruise ship in Falmouth harbour have got it so lots of Falmouth shops have to shut. Reportedly there were several thousand journalists camped out in the car park beside the Falmouth Maritime Museum. Once they spread back around the world the Indian variant of covid will indeed be everyone’s!Syringa yunnanensis flowering away at full strength for the first time.
Syringa yunnanensis
Syringa yunnanensis
Syringa yunnanensis
Syringa yunnanensis
Syringa meyeri ‘Palibin’ (Korean lilac) in flower. I do not think I have ever spotted this out before although seed has been collected and grown. White flowers contrast with the foliage. Few flowers for a huge bush and not very scented.
Syringa meyeri ‘Palibin’
Syringa meyeri ‘Palibin’
First flowers out this year on the old original Styrax pseudocamellia.
Styrax pseudocamellia
Styrax pseudocamellia
The first grass cut in Kennel Close has started in this welcome heatwave.
Kennel Close
Kennel Close
Startling pale green new growth on Podocarpus henkellii.
Podocarpus henkellii
Podocarpus henkellii
Podocarpus henkellii
Podocarpus henkellii
What have always been called the late flowering ‘American’ (deciduous) azaleas on the drive by the Trevanion holly.
‘American’ (deciduous) azaleas
‘American’ (deciduous) azaleas
Cornus kousa chinensis just about fully out on the drive above Four in Hand.
Cornus kousa chinensis
Cornus kousa chinensis

2020 – CHW
A day which threatens more good rain.I have been meaning to photograph the leaves (and any seed heads) on our relatively young collection of Carpinus to make it easier to compare and recognise them. There are very few (if any) hornbeams in our native woodlands apart from those I have planted as along the road to Five Turnings and a good one below the fernery. Nor do I find any evidence of Carpinus species growing here when the first tree measuring of original wild collected Chinese species in 1964 took place. So this is a new genus for us to get to grips with and there are many new species which have been introduced in the last 30 to 40 years.Quite a long (and boring) list but perhaps a useful guide for the future as most of them are still too young to produce the fruiting catkins which are one of their best features.Carpinus laxiflora is well away on Sinogrande Walk but not yet seeding.
Carpinus laxiflora
Carpinus laxiflora
Carpinus laxiflora
Carpinus laxiflora
Carpinus henryana var. simplicidentata appears to have a vigorous shoot from below the graft and has small ovate leaves. Sinogrande Walk. Need to cut the rootstock shoot out.
Carpinus henryana var. simplicidentata
Carpinus henryana var. simplicidentata
Carpinus henryana var. simplicidentata
Carpinus henryana var. simplicidentata
Carpinus japonica is also well away with fruiting catkins. Sinogrande Walk. A much larger one in Kennel Close.
Carpinus japonicus
Carpinus japonicus
Carpinus japonicus
Carpinus japonicus
Carpinus japonicus
Carpinus japonicus
Carpinus nimpoli is struggling in a dry spot above the path. Also small leaved but with reddish new growth – possibly a dwarf habit – but not listed in New Trees? Sinogrande Walk.
Carpinus nimpoli
Carpinus nimpoli
Carpinus nimpoli
Carpinus nimpoli
Here is an interesting trick – Acer carpinifolium which has leaves exactly like a Carpinus and, with us, a very erect growth habit. Above the greenhouse.
Acer carpinifolium
Acer carpinifolium
Acer carpinifolium
Acer carpinifolium
Carpinus betulus ‘Fastigiata’. Beside Orchid House Nursery.
Carpinus betulus ‘Fastigiata’
Carpinus betulus ‘Fastigiata’
Carpinus betulus ‘Fastigiata’
Carpinus betulus ‘Fastigiata’
Carpinus betulus ‘Fastigiata’
Carpinus betulus ‘Fastigiata’
Carpinus polyneura – 2018 planting within the relatively new Styrax/Stewartia collection on from Charlie Michael’s old nursery bed. Again reddish new growth.
Carpinus polyneura
Carpinus polyneura
Carpinus polyneura
Carpinus polyneura
Carpinus orientalis is going along well – 2018 planting located as above. A dense habit and fairly small leaves.
Carpinus orientalis
Carpinus orientalis
Carpinus orientalis
Carpinus orientalis
The dense growing and, with us, evergreen Carpinus kawakamii growing below Tin Garden.
Carpinus kawakamii
Carpinus kawakamii
Carpinus kawakamii
Carpinus kawakamii

The species listed below are all in Kennel Close.

A young and drought affected Carpinus omeiensis, the Mt Omei hornbeam.

Carpinus omeiensis
Carpinus omeiensis
A well-established Carpinus tschonoskii.
Carpinus tschonoskii
Carpinus tschonoskii
Carpinus tschonoskii
Carpinus tschonoskii
Another Carpinus orientalis.
Carpinus orientalis
Carpinus orientalis
Carpinus orientalis
Carpinus orientalis
Carpinus caroliniana ‘Red Hill’ also suffering from drought until last Wednesday and Friday’s torrential rain.
Carpinus caroliniana ‘Red Hill’
Carpinus caroliniana ‘Red Hill’
Carpinus caroliniana ‘Red Hill’
Carpinus caroliniana ‘Red Hill’
A more mature but not yet fruiting Carpinus rankanensis (there are actually two).
Carpinus rankanensis
Carpinus rankanensis
Carpinus rankanensis
Carpinus rankanensis
Carpinus rankanensis
Carpinus rankanensis
Another large Carpinus japonicus again with plenty of fruiting catkins but not as many as last year.
Carpinus japonicus
Carpinus japonicus
Carpinus japonicus
Carpinus japonicus
Carpinus fangiana has the largest leaves of all but, as yet, none of the famous long drooping fruiting catkins.
Carpinus fangiana
Carpinus fangiana
Carpinus fangiana
Carpinus fangiana
Carpinus fangiana
Carpinus fangiana

The Carpinus above Burns Bank is a second Carpinus laxiflora which is doing well at 12-15ft.There are two other young and weeping Carpinus in Kennel Close with no label which need identifying.

Carpinus betulus grows below the drive below the fernery. The roadside trees towards Five Turnings are mostly Carpinus betulus ‘Fastigiata’.

I have yet to find Carpinus turczaninowii which I know we planted here quite a while ago. It may be what I thought were Zelkova by they borehole or below the tree fern on the main ride. I see we planted another in Area 6 in 2019 but have yet to find it so it may have died.

So we have around 16 to 18 different species and varieties currently.

Still to get (possibly from Roundabarrow) are Carpinus cordata, Carpinus coreana, Carpinus pubescens, Carpinus x schuschaensis and Carpinus viminea in Hillier’s and Carpinus londoniana, Carpinus monbeigiana which are also listed in New Trees.

We already have nearly all of the New Trees Carpinus listings.

Carpinus shensiensis found on the second trip today to Kennel Close.
Carpinus shensiensis
Carpinus shensiensis
Carpinus shensiensis
Carpinus shensiensis
Carpinus betulus ‘Purpurea’ with purple showing now only on the very new growth near the base of the trunk.
Carpinus betulus ‘Purpurea’
Carpinus betulus ‘Purpurea’
Carpinus betulus ‘Purpurea’
Carpinus betulus ‘Purpurea’
Carpinus betulus ‘Purpurea’
Carpinus betulus ‘Purpurea’
Carpinus orientalis ‘Perdica’ with very small leaves.
Carpinus orientalis ‘Perdica’
Carpinus orientalis ‘Perdica’
Carpinus orientalis ‘Perdica’
Carpinus orientalis ‘Perdica’
Carpinus rankanensis (the second younger one) still has good red new growth.
Carpinus rankanensis
Carpinus rankanensis
Carpinus rankanensis
Carpinus rankanensis
Carpinus rankanensis
Carpinus rankanensis
Carpinus henryana seems larger leaved than C. henryana var. simplicidentata.
Carpinus henryana
Carpinus henryana
Carpinus henryana
Carpinus henryana
Carpinus henryana
Carpinus henryana
The two unlabelled Carpinus with a weeping habit are, I think, C. shensiensis.

2019 – CHW
One of the rhododendrons grown from seed supplied by Major Howell decades ago. Late flowering and with an attractive green ‘eye’ but small trusses. I think the Major may once have run the Rhododendron Society seed distribution.

The original clump of Camellia reticulata ‘Captain Rawes’, which looked nearly dead last summer, has put on a good crop of new growth and may not yet be a basket case.

Camellia reticulata ‘Captain Rawes’
Camellia reticulata ‘Captain Rawes’
A tail end flower on Rhododendron crassum.
Rhododendron crassum
Rhododendron crassum
A huge inflorescence on Lithocarpus hancei. Far greater than I have ever seen before so perhaps even some acorns eventually?
Lithocarpus hancei
Lithocarpus hancei
Lithocarpus hancei
Lithocarpus hancei
Schefflera rhododendrifolia making a good set of new growth which has doubled the size of the plant. It went in in March.
Schefflera rhododendrifolia
Schefflera rhododendrifolia
Schefflera rhododendrifolia
Schefflera rhododendrifolia
Attractive new growth on Schima superba which I have never noticed before. For years, until it flowered, I thought this was Persea japonica and even labelled it as such.
Schima superba
Schima superba
Schima superba
Schima superba
Euonymus morrisonensis with loads of bud. Planted three to four years ago.
Euonymus morrisonensis
Euonymus morrisonensis
Euonymus morrisonensis
Euonymus morrisonensis
The newly planted Euonymus tonkinensis with no flower as yet.
Euonymus tonkinensis
Euonymus tonkinensis

2018 – CHW
Preparing for my styrax lecture tomorrow with a quick trip around. Most of the day at Burncoose.Rhododendron nuttallii now full out.
Rhododendron nuttallii
Rhododendron nuttallii
Rhododendron nuttallii
Rhododendron nuttallii
Stewartia monodelpha new growth is a good red at first.
Stewartia monodelpha
Stewartia monodelpha
Stewartia monodelpha
Stewartia monodelpha
The Stewartia pseudocamellia flowers are nearly over already in a week.
Stewartia pseudocamellia
Stewartia pseudocamellia
Stewartia pseudocamellia
Stewartia pseudocamellia
But its bark is only just starting to ‘fissure’ near the base. Further up the stem little has changed for a year.
bark
bark
bark
bark
Rhododendron griersonianum nearly over.
Rhododendron griersonianum
Rhododendron griersonianum
Photinia macrophylla with neither big leaves nor flowers but this plant suffered in The Beast.
Photinia macrophylla
Photinia macrophylla
Photinia macrophylla
Photinia macrophylla

2017 – CHW
A trip to the vacant Rosevallon Farmhouse to view the necessary repairs. In the garden we find two surprises:Salix babylonica ‘Tortuosa’ growing on quite happily in the undergrowth with little wind protection. The contorted stems have combined to form a small tree. Unexpected in the middle of nowhere.
Salix babylonica ‘Tortuosa’
Salix babylonica ‘Tortuosa’

The front of Rosevallon Farmhouse facing south.

front of Rosevallon Farmhouse
front of Rosevallon Farmhouse
Rosa ‘Wedding Day’ growing away happily on the garden wall. Creamy yellow flowers fading to white in large trusses which do not all come out at quite the same time. I wonder who this was planted for? The Bloomfield family lived here for generations but Joss only died about eight years ago.
Rosa ‘Wedding Day’
Rosa ‘Wedding Day’
Rosa ‘Wedding Day’
Rosa ‘Wedding Day’
Tropaeolum ciliatum full out already as it never died down in the mild winter. It is invading the nearby camellia just as Tropaeolum speciosum does nearby. Another tropaeolum whose roots need to be in the shade with the 6-10ft tendrils reaching up through something into the light.
Tropaeolum ciliatum
Tropaeolum ciliatum
Tropaeolum ciliatum
Tropaeolum ciliatum

2016 – CHW
In London for the day – how The City and Moorgate, where I worked for 10 years, has changed. 21 Moorfields, the old Lazards concrete building, is half demolished and with it ‘The City Boat’ our favourite ‘watering hole’ on a Friday.2015 – CHW
The cornus hunt gathers pace:
Cornus kousa ‘Heart Throb’ below the Fernery is in full sun but not the same shape or as red as ‘Satomi’. Very nice and we need to remove the camellias around it.
Cornus kousa ‘Heart Throb’
Cornus kousa ‘Heart Throb’
Cornus kousa ‘Heart Throb’
Cornus kousa ‘Heart Throb’
Cornus kousa ‘Heart Throb’
Cornus kousa ‘Heart Throb’

This Cornus kousa had no name when planted in 1998. After consulting Mr Cappiello and Mr Shadow’s reference book I am none the wiser as no pictures in the book even faintly match it. Cornus kousa ‘Wolf Eyes’ has similar flowers but the Wolf has variegated foliage. Clearly a very good plant in a key spot and covered in bracts.

Cornus kousa no name
Cornus kousa no name
Cornus kousa no name
Cornus kousa no name

Cornus kousa ‘Windles Weeping’ has small flowers and looks a bit sick. It has not grown much since it was planted in 1991. The one at Burncoose gets more sun but is equally slow.

Cornus kousa ‘Windles Weeping’
Cornus kousa ‘Windles Weeping’
Cornus kousa ‘Windles Weeping’
Cornus kousa ‘Windles Weeping’
Cornus kousa ‘Gloria (?) Birkett’ (part of label lost). Again the name is not mentioned in the USA cornus reference book. This tree was also planted after the 1990 hurricane and has been laden with strawberry fruits for several years now which are even larger than those regularly found on Cornus kousa var chinensis. A really excellent vigorous plant.
Cornus kousa ‘Gloria (?) Birkett’
Cornus kousa ‘Gloria (?) Birkett’
Cornus kousa ‘Gloria (?) Birkett’
Cornus kousa ‘Gloria (?) Birkett’
Cornus kousa ‘Gloria (?) Birkett’
Cornus kousa ‘Gloria (?) Birkett’

Cornus kousa ‘Milky Way’ – two tail end and slug eaten flowers which are very different in shape from those photographed some three to four weeks ago which had very pointed four sided bracts. The change in bract shape and colour as the flower matures makes naming cornus quite difficult. The US book lists scores of named kousa and florida clones. Far more than you ever see offered for sale in specialist Dutch nurseries. There will be plenty more cornus out soon!

Cornus kousa ‘Milky Way’
Cornus kousa ‘Milky Way’
Cornus kousa ‘Milky Way’
Cornus kousa ‘Milky Way’

1980 – FJW
Camellias above Play House hanging on well. Dry May month but June is wet.

1923 – JCW
Back from Scotland and much growth has been made, some nice seedling Azaleas about, PD’s big White is the best, some of ours are near it, our Pink promise well and there may be some good reds later.

1922 – JCW
Just back from Scotland. They are short of rain and most of the Azaleas are over, some nice white Arboreum hybrids make their first show. Evergreen Oaks have done well, Harrow hybrids are very nice.

1902 – JCW
Picked a lot of daff seed, hardly ripe, Sir Watkin, King A, Weardale, Jacko, Adreanna good, Azaleas nearly over. Am starting for London.

1897 – JCW
[?] foliosa out, I have picked all the daff seed except Recurvas.

3 thoughts on “14th June

  1. Cornus Gloria Birkett is a kousa x nutalli hybrid that grows quite well in the UK, but isn’t very common. I saw one in RHS Wisley this week and was looking it up and came across your refernce.
    The other Cornus kousa no name above looks rather like Madam Butterfly, a kousa variety that isn’t illustrated in the Capiello / Shadow reference book, but if you look it up there are 2 different varieties that share the same name, one of which looks like yours and I have small specimen in my garden.

    1. Dear Tony

      Thank you for your comment on my diary. Cornus ‘Gloria Birkett’ is full out today here but I have not photographed it again this year as I gave it such full coverage last year. Our plant was a gift from Windsor Great Park in about 1991 and is one of the outstanding performers here. I did photograph Cornus kousa ‘Madame Butterfly’ on the 5th June (https://thediary.caerhays.co.uk/june/5th-june/) and it does seem true to name looking in the reference books. I agree that some of them are a bit lightweight and do not have enough pictures but the Italian one is clearly the best. This is the same plant that I photographed and you saw in the diary on 14th June 2015 (https://thediary.caerhays.co.uk/june/14th-june/). Clearly I found the right planting records this year.

      The trouble with cornus is that the bracts change so much during the flowering period that it is very difficult to identify some of them with any certainty. It is all quite fun researching them though.

      Best wishes

      Charles

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