23rd 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

I have never known a year like it for ticks in the long grass. The result, I assume, of the incessant rain this year. The dogs are plastered every time they go out but, fortunately, their treatment means the ticks dies after they bite. Not the case when the latch onto me!

Rhododendron ‘Moser’s Maroon’ is very late into flower.

Rhododendron ‘Moser’s Maroon’
Rhododendron ‘Moser’s Maroon’
Rhododendron ‘Moser’s Maroon’
Rhododendron ‘Moser’s Maroon’
The very last flower on Michelia ‘Touch of Pink’.
Michelia ‘Touch of Pink’
Michelia ‘Touch of Pink’
Acer sikkimense with seed tassles.
Acer sikkimense
Acer sikkimense
The base of our largest Camellia taliensis.
Camellia taliensis
Camellia taliensis
Several clumps of Rhododendron maddenii now coming out.
Rhododendron maddenii
Rhododendron maddenii
During lockdown the IDS put on a lecture about Acer pentaphyllum and how rare this small tree now is in Sichuan. I thought we had at least one plant of this which was probably a gift from Kew or Windsor. This species is very late indeed into leaf and, by reputation, rather tender. Here are a few pictures of how this looks today. I saw another plant at Tregrehan of about the same size.
Three plants of Desfontainia spinosa. One full of flower, one with no flowers, and one half dead due to water logging.
Desfontainia spinosa
Desfontainia spinosa
Desfontainia spinosa
Desfontainia spinosa
Desfontainia spinosa
Desfontainia spinosa
The rather dull and unusual smelling Buddleja loricata.
Buddleja loricata
Buddleja loricata
Buddleja loricata
Buddleja loricata
Beside the garden entrance the white form of Rhododendron viscosum. The pink form is in Old Park on the top ride below the gunnera. Gorgeous scent.
Rhododendron viscosum
Rhododendron viscosum
A new enclosure for the car park ticket machines.
new enclosure for the car park ticket machines
new enclosure for the car park ticket machines
The new electric charging points are finally fitted at Porthluney.
electric charging points
electric charging points

2023 – CHW

First flower out on the Magnolia delavayi hedge below the lawn. The start of a 6 month flowering season if we get no frost.

Magnolia delavayi
Magnolia delavayi
Rhododendron yuefengense producing a fine show but water needed!
Rhododendron yuefengense
Rhododendron yuefengense
Rhododendron yuefengense
Rhododendron yuefengense
Acer carpinifolium with its (as we now know) sterile seeds.
Acer carpinifolium
Acer carpinifolium
Quercus variabilis with few acorns yet to be seen. Almost a cork oak trunk.
Quercus variabilis
Quercus variabilis
Quercus variabilis
Quercus variabilis
Quercus variabilis
Quercus variabilis
Schefflera trevesioides (BJW 15158) looking unhappy. Perhaps drought or perhaps just not hardy?
Schefflera trevesioides (BJW 15158)
Schefflera trevesioides (BJW 15158)
Rhododendron megacalyx has failed to open its flowers due to lack of rain and may well die.
Rhododendron megacalyx
Rhododendron megacalyx
Rhododendron megacalyx
Rhododendron megacalyx
Schefflera shweliensis (TH 3330) looking to be getting going well despite the drought.
Schefflera shweliensis (TH 3330)
Schefflera shweliensis (TH 3330)

2022 – CHW
More Tilia species to inspect today.Why is it that so many species of styrax hide their flowers within the inside of their foliage canopy? What in nature makes them do that rather than show off their flowers to insect pollinators? The exceptions are S. wilsonii, S. americanus, S. hemsleyanus and, partly, S. hookeri. S. japonicus (all forms) is perhaps the worst, followed by S. formosanus (all forms), S. obassia and S. wuyuanensis. S. shiranus and S. officinalis are too small here as yet to see if they qualify or not but I suspect that shiranus is a ‘hider’ too from the few flowers seen so far.First flowering of Crûg Farm’s Hydrangea angustipetala f. macrosepala (CWJ 12441). Three plants above the sales point but only one fully out. The sterile florets start out small but then become huge. Very distinctive leaves. Well worth propagating to create more clumps of this in the garden. Asia please.
Hydrangea angustipetala f. macrosepala
Hydrangea angustipetala f. macrosepala
Hydrangea angustipetala f. macrosepala
Hydrangea angustipetala f. macrosepala
Hydrangea angustipetala f. macrosepala
Hydrangea angustipetala f. macrosepala
Hydrangea angustipetala f. macrosepala
Hydrangea angustipetala f. macrosepala
Tilia amurensis from Chollipo.
Tilia amurensis
Tilia amurensis
Seedpods forming nicely for Asia to gather later on Paulownia kawakamii.
Paulownia kawakamii
Paulownia kawakamii
Irregular variegation on Ginkgo biloba ‘Variegata’ but this is a very variegated twig.
Ginkgo biloba ‘Variegata’
Ginkgo biloba ‘Variegata’
Tilia tomentosa ‘Petiolaris’ with its drooping branches which touch the ground.
Tilia tomentosa ‘Petiolaris’
Tilia tomentosa ‘Petiolaris’
Tilia tomentosa ‘Petiolaris’
Tilia tomentosa ‘Petiolaris’
Tilia mexicana has similarly huge leaves and a drooping habit. New leaves are bronzy green and the leaves are just as huge as on ‘Petiolaris’ but a different shape.
Tilia mexicana
Tilia mexicana
Tilia mexicana
Tilia mexicana
Tilia mexicana
Tilia mexicana
A young Tilia zamoyskiana with flower buds.
Tilia zamoyskiana
Tilia zamoyskiana
Tilia endochrysa with its exceptional early spring leaf colour now looks rather normal.
Tilia endochrysa
Tilia endochrysa
The first time we have seen seed cones on Carpinus caroliniana.
Carpinus caroliniana
Carpinus caroliniana

2021 – CHW
A warm visit to the nursery today.Bergenia ‘Morgenrote’ in full flower which is odd in June.
Bergenia ‘Morgenrote’
Bergenia ‘Morgenrote’
Phlox paniculata ‘David’ especially fine.
Phlox paniculata ‘David’
Phlox paniculata ‘David’
I finally locate Primula vialli ‘Alison Holland’.
Primula vialli ‘Alison Holland’
Primula vialli ‘Alison Holland’
The new to us Azalea ‘Blue Moon’ is a good thing.
Azalea ‘Blue Moon’
Azalea ‘Blue Moon’
All the camellia liners now potted on and looking good.
camellia liners
camellia liners
Huodendron biaristratum in full flower.
Huodendron biaristratum
Huodendron biaristratum
Actinidia arguta ‘Issai’ buzzing like a beehive with bees.
Actinidia arguta ‘Issai’
Actinidia arguta ‘Issai’
Campylotropis macrocarpa is a totally new plant/shrub to me. Need to look up what its flowers are like. From China and Korea.
Campylotropis macrocarpa
Campylotropis macrocarpa

2020 – CHW
A trip to inspect one of the new plantings undertaken last autumn.Meliosma dilleniifolia subsp. cuneifolia with erect and upright panicles of flowers. I wonder if it is true to name. New Trees now has three subspecies of M. dilleniifolia and I will enjoy seeing exactly what we have when the flowers are fully out. We should have the lot according to the planting records but I am doubtful.
Meliosma dilleniifolia subsp. cuneifolia
Meliosma dilleniifolia subsp. cuneifolia
Meliosma dilleniifolia subsp. cuneifolia
Meliosma dilleniifolia subsp. cuneifolia
Picrasma quassioides is a genus from China/Japan related to ailanthus as is evident here.
Picrasma quassioides
Picrasma quassioides
Nyssa leptophylla (ex Roundabarrow).
Nyssa leptophylla
Nyssa leptophylla
Lindera umbellata membranacea. We lost one earlier and this one has not enjoyed the drought.
Lindera umbellata membranacea
Lindera umbellata membranacea
Maddenia hypoleuca is getting away nicely. Maddenia are related to Prunus and we look forward to the flower clusters one day.
Maddenia hypoleuca
Maddenia hypoleuca
It is a job to keep up with the new named varieties of Styrax japonicus emerging from Dutch nurseries. This one is ‘Pink Snowbell’ which has very dark leaves but is only really pink in bud.
‘Pink Snowbell’
‘Pink Snowbell’
‘Pink Snowbell’
‘Pink Snowbell’
Euptelia polyandra with a second flush of good new growth after the rain.
Euptelia polyandra
Euptelia polyandra
This is our third plant of Styrax shirianus. The leaf structure is easily recognisable.
Styrax shirianus
Styrax shirianus
A youngish windblown and decimated Lithocarpus pachyphyllus with no leader has decided to produce acorn clusters alongside a second crop of (male) flowers. Quite odd really.
Lithocarpus pachyphyllus
Lithocarpus pachyphyllus
Lithocarpus pachyphyllus
Lithocarpus pachyphyllus
Lithocarpus pachyphyllus
Lithocarpus pachyphyllus
Meliosma dilleniifolia subsp. flexuosa perhaps. Another one to watch and key out when properly out. Drooping, terminal panicles of flowers here.
Meliosma dilleniifolia subsp. flexuosa
Meliosma dilleniifolia subsp. flexuosa
Meliosma dilleniifolia subsp. flexuosa
Meliosma dilleniifolia subsp. flexuosa
Quercus cerris ‘Argenteovariegata’ showing up well now that all the shoots with reverted green leaves have been removed.
Quercus cerris ‘Argenteovariegata’
Quercus cerris ‘Argenteovariegata’
Quercus cerris ‘Argenteovariegata’
Quercus cerris ‘Argenteovariegata’

2019 – CHW
The dark red Azalea indica is just out beside the front door. Weeks after the first ones came out in the Auklandii Garden.
Azalea indica
Azalea indica
Last year the Tropaeolum speciosum struggled to reach the top of the Camellia ‘Lady Clare’. I guess it did not have to die down at all in the mild winter so is now full out earlier than usual and right at the top of the camellia (10-12ft).
Tropaeolum speciosum
Tropaeolum speciosum
Rhododendron weyrichii full out in the Rockery. The other old plants in the garden are already over but this one is in full shade and flowering better than ever.
Rhododendron weyrichii
Rhododendron weyrichii
Rhododendron weyrichii
Rhododendron weyrichii
Self-sown Verbascum olympicum in the Rookery. The slugs have had a good go at the leaves.
Verbascum olympicum
Verbascum olympicum
Hydrangea longipes just out and well before the other similar aspera villosa types here.
Hydrangea longipes
Hydrangea longipes
Hydrangea longipes
Hydrangea longipes
Cornus kousa ‘Doubloon’ as covered and splendid as ever. Perhaps our best Cornus in flower today? ‘Satomi’ is probably better.
Cornus kousa ‘Doubloon’
Cornus kousa ‘Doubloon’
Cornus kousa ‘Doubloon’
Cornus kousa ‘Doubloon’
Seed pods starting to form on a youngish Rehderodendron macrocarpum. Now that we are closed the Kania 2000 squirrel traps can go out again although we got nine in Bond Street last week. Hopefully these seeds will make it to maturity for Asia.
Rehderodendron macrocarpum
Rehderodendron macrocarpum
Azalea ‘Gena May’ (I think) out in full flower. The second plant beside it is still in tight bud. One of the very last deciduous azaleas to flower. Most were over a month ago.
Azalea ‘Gena May’
Azalea ‘Gena May’
Azalea ‘Gena May’
Azalea ‘Gena May’

2018 – CHW
Yesterday a Great Gardens of Cornwall meeting at Lanhydrock Estate Office and then a garden tour with Tommy Teagle, the head gardener, who has worked here since 1977. Peter Borlaise, his predecessor, is now 90 but still going strong which is good news.Rhododendron serotinum which is scented and very like Rhododendron auriculatum except in its leaf shape.
Rhododendron serotinum
Rhododendron serotinum
The formal beds by the house with begonias and roses. 275,000 visitors per annum to Lanhydrock and this, I fear, is what they want and expect to see. A team of four gardeners for 30 acres. Impressively maintained but hideous!
begonias and roses
begonias and roses
begonias and roses
begonias and roses
begonias and roses
begonias and roses
Euonymus kiautschovicus was a small evergreen tree. Hillier’s say it is tough but similar to Euonymus japonicus. You could have fooled me! So odd that I had to ponder even which genus it was before I saw the flowers.
Euonymus kiautschovicus
Euonymus kiautschovicus
Euonymus kiautschovicus
Euonymus kiautschovicus
Euonymus kiautschovicus
Euonymus kiautschovicus
Rodgersia pinnata full out and splendid.
Rodgersia pinnata
Rodgersia pinnata
Rodgersia pinnata
Rodgersia pinnata
Allium cernuum was especially good. Worth Burncoose stocking this.
Allium cernuum
Allium cernuum
Allium cernuum
Allium cernuum
Gillenia trifoliata – an entirely new herbaceous perennial to me and an excellent border filler.
Gillenia trifoliata
Gillenia trifoliata
Gillenia trifoliata
Gillenia trifoliata
Magnolia macrophylla full out but high up.
Magnolia macrophylla
Magnolia macrophylla
Magnolia macrophylla
Magnolia macrophylla
Cornus kousa ‘Milky Way’ plastered in flower.
Cornus kousa ‘Milky Way’
Cornus kousa ‘Milky Way’
Cornus kousa ‘Milky Way’
Cornus kousa ‘Milky Way’
Fagus engleriana I believe which is a large leafed species I have not seen in the flesh before. Hardly looks like a beech until you see the trunk. Slow growing.
Fagus engleriana
Fagus engleriana
Fagus engleriana
Fagus engleriana
Magnolia macrophylla subsp. ashei was also full of flower. Smaller in height than pure macrophylla and without an obvious leading central stem.
Magnolia macrophylla subsp. ashei
Magnolia macrophylla subsp. ashei
Magnolia macrophylla subsp. ashei
Magnolia macrophylla subsp. ashei

2017 – CHW
Overnight at Brasted’s hotel and restaurant near Norwich. Left home at 3pm. Flight from Newquay to Stansted and sitting down to dinner by 8.45pm.
Brasted’s hotel and restaurant
Brasted’s hotel and restaurant
In the car park several nice specimens of, I think, Acer pseudoplatanus ‘Simon Louis Freres’ although there are other possibilities.
Acer pseudoplatanus ‘Simon Louis Freres’
Acer pseudoplatanus ‘Simon Louis Freres’
Acer pseudoplatanus ‘Simon Louis Freres’
Acer pseudoplatanus ‘Simon Louis Freres’
Like many of these euonymus they can be climbers as well as free standing shrubs. Here Euonymus ‘Emerald and Gold’.
Euonymus ‘Emerald and Gold’
Euonymus ‘Emerald and Gold’
Euonymus ‘Emerald and Gold’
Euonymus ‘Emerald and Gold’
Hebe rakiensis in full flower.
Hebe rakiensis
Hebe rakiensis
Hebe rakiensis
Hebe rakiensis
Brachyglottis ‘Sunshine’ just going over.
Brachyglottis ‘Sunshine’
Brachyglottis ‘Sunshine’
Rhus verniciflua is one of the lesser known sumach species with flowerheads that are not conical and upright as they are in Rhus typhina and Rhus glabra. Nor are they the same colour.
Rhus verniciflua
Rhus verniciflua
Rhus verniciflua
Rhus verniciflua
Rhus verniciflua
Rhus verniciflua
Then off to Harrod Horticultural’s factory in Lowestoft and to discuss their show garden.
Blueberry fruit changing colour already in the Harrod Horticultural vegetable garden.
Blueberry fruit
Blueberry fruit
Wisteria venusta starting to grow up the new metal Harrod wisteria frame.
Wisteria venusta
Wisteria venusta
Wisteria venusta
Wisteria venusta
This will be the site of the new Harrod herbaceous garden to highlight and photograph the use of their plant supports. Quite a bit of clearance and preparation necessary before the new planting plans can take shape.
site of the new Harrod herbaceous garden
site of the new Harrod herbaceous garden
site of the new Harrod herbaceous garden
site of the new Harrod herbaceous garden
site of the new Harrod herbaceous garden
site of the new Harrod herbaceous garden

2016 – CHW
A few more Burncoose novelties for the 2017 catalogue photographed today:Euphorbia choracias ‘Tasmanian Tiger’ seems very similar to Euphorbia ‘White Swan’ but if you like variegation this is one for you.
Euphorbia choracias ‘Tasmanian Tiger’
Euphorbia choracias ‘Tasmanian Tiger’
Euphorbia choracias ‘Tasmanian Tiger’
Euphorbia choracias ‘Tasmanian Tiger’
Bowkeria verticellata is a tender evergreen South African shrub probably requiring a conservatory outside Cornwall. The calceolaria-like flowers are attractive and smell mildly of face cream.
Bowkeria verticellata
Bowkeria verticellata
Bowkeria verticellata
Bowkeria verticellata
Delphinium ‘Bolero’ is a double lavender blue but not quite out yet. Dwarfish growing.
Delphinium ‘Bolero’
Delphinium ‘Bolero’
We have all voted Brexit in the UK referendum today in the Magnolia Tea Rooms polling station here. The two tellers expected a ‘big turnout’ but there are less than 100 electors in our ward or parish so they are in for another dull day 7am to 10pm. The pollsters say Cornwall is 55% for ‘Leave’ and Karol tells me the Facebook polling is even more for ‘Leave’ but who is his Facebook linked to? He claims in a poll of 100,000 5:2 for leaving. We will see and live in hope. A dirty campaign by both sides but the choice was simple and made years ago. It will be a long night!

2015 – CHW

Azalea indica
Azalea indica
Azalea indica
Azalea indica

A very old Azalea indica with orange-red flowers outside the front door is coming out. We know the Camellia ‘Lady Clare’ beside it dates from 1902 and that the pictures of JCW and his mother moving into Caerhays in 1868 does not show the azalea.

Three more Magnolia grandifloras on the top wall are now out. One has had a flower since February (see back). They all came from New Zealand about 20 years ago.‘Main Street’ – with large and unpleasantly floppy flowers.

MAGNOLIA grandiflora 'Main Street'
MAGNOLIA grandiflora ‘Main Street’
MAGNOLIA grandiflora 'Main Street'
MAGNOLIA grandiflora ‘Main Street’
MAGNOLIA grandiflora 'Main Street'
MAGNOLIA grandiflora ‘Main Street’

‘Russet’ – with attractive indumentum under the leaves well worth growing.

MAGNOLIA grandiflora ‘Russet’
MAGNOLIA grandiflora ‘Russet’
MAGNOLIA grandiflora ‘Russet’
MAGNOLIA grandiflora ‘Russet’

‘Overton’ – smaller shiny leaves and more pointed flowers. Small growing but still likes being on a wall.

MAGNOLIA grandiflora ‘Overton’
MAGNOLIA grandiflora ‘Overton’
MAGNOLIA grandiflora ‘Overton’
MAGNOLIA grandiflora ‘Overton’

1991 – FJW
Wet June – very heavy rain today – cool. DFW started her magnum carpet.

1933 – JCW
Just as in 1931.

1931 – JCW
Came back from Scotland. Maddeni has been as good as I ever saw as they have escaped the hot sun which commonly ruins the flowers. Harrow hybrids are really fine. Mag parviflora has many blooms perhaps hundreds on the big plant. Styrax japonica is not open yet. The late Obtusums near the Top Lodge are in flower.

1924 – JCW
R griersonianum, R maddeni, Harrow hybrids are all good. Styrax hemsleyanus comes on fast.

1920 – JCW
Ten days earlier than the above. The Beech Walk A arborescens are very good and so is the Maddeni . A Mikado is good at the Top Lodge.

1916 – JCW
Maddeni, the Wilson Fortunei’s , one or two Harrow hybrids, a Mikado and an orange azalea or so are all of that family open, with the Maddeni x cinnabarinum lot. Bamboo henonis is just starting.

1915 – JCW
Azalea Mikado and R micranthum with the Ponticums in the shade are the best rhodo’s. Wilson’s Fortunei’s are opening. B henonis is not really open yet. R calophytum is very good.

One thought on “23rd June

  1. Some lapsi of species-spelling: Hebe rakaiensis, Euphorbia characias, Huodendron biaristatum, Bowkeria verticillata (rarely seen), and on 24. June, Ilex gagnepainiana, after french botanist Gagnepain, Magnolia sapaensis.
    Wisteria venusta is rare, with nice, shorter racemes and odorous (not slightly, as Bean writes), growing obviously much lower than others.

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