17th March

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


2025 – CHW

To Burncoose which is also magnolia heaven in the sun today and despite a light overnight frost.

Magnolia ‘Purple Splendour’ and Michelia doltsopa.

Magnolia ‘Purple Splendour’ and Michelia doltsopa
Magnolia ‘Purple Splendour’ and Michelia doltsopa
Syzygium paniculatum ‘Newport’ which I have never before seen with purple fruits.
Syzygium paniculatum ‘Newport’
Syzygium paniculatum ‘Newport’
Hamamelis japonica ‘Brentry’ – the last of the witch hazels to be out in the nursery.
Hamamelis japonica ‘Brentry’
Hamamelis japonica ‘Brentry’
Hamamelis japonica ‘Brentry’
Hamamelis japonica ‘Brentry’
Magnolia ‘China Town’ (syn. ‘Jing Ning’) in full flower.
Magnolia ‘China Town’ (syn. ‘Jing Ning’)
Magnolia ‘China Town’ (syn. ‘Jing Ning’)
Podocarpus elongatus ‘Blue Chip’ badly frosted above the mist houses.
Podocarpus elongatus ‘Blue Chip’
Podocarpus elongatus ‘Blue Chip’
Magnolia sprengeri var. diva ‘Burncoose’ beside the conservatory.
Magnolia sprengeri var. diva ‘Burncoose’
Magnolia sprengeri var. diva ‘Burncoose’
Magnolia sprengeri var. diva ‘Burncoose’
Magnolia sprengeri var. diva ‘Burncoose’
Magnolia sprengeri var. diva ‘Burncoose’
Magnolia sprengeri var. diva ‘Burncoose’
The view below the front lawn.
The view
The view
Magnolia ‘Livingstone’ – a spectacular first flowering.
Magnolia ‘Livingstone’
Magnolia ‘Livingstone’
The clear up of the felled Thuja hedges is progressing well.
clear up of the felled Thuja hedges
clear up of the felled Thuja hedges
A young Magnolia ‘Bishop Peter’ flowering well.
Magnolia ‘Bishop Peter’
Magnolia ‘Bishop Peter’
Magnolias towards the conservatory.
Magnolias towards the conservatory
Magnolias towards the conservatory

2024 – CHW
The rather dull species of magnolia called Magnolia amoena flowering sparsely today underneath the 1913 Magnolia campbellii.
Magnolia amoena
Magnolia amoena
A newly planted Pittosporum brevicalyx. A while before it flowers I fear so that we can verify the name.
Pittosporum brevicalyx
Pittosporum brevicalyx
Raf Lenaerts gift of Magnolia laevifolia x M. champaca x (M. laevifolia x M. maudiae) has its first two flowers. Not, as yet, show stoppers! Looks very like plain M. laevifolia to me.
Magnolia laevifolia x M. champaca x (M. laevifolia x M. maudiae)
Magnolia laevifolia x M. champaca x (M. laevifolia x M. maudiae)
Viburnum luzonicum (GSWJ 3637) was hard pruned after planting and is already reshooting well.
Viburnum luzonicum (GSWJ 3637)
Viburnum luzonicum (GSWJ 3637)
Camellia ‘Manuroa Road’ – another one to propagate as a good deep red.
Camellia ‘Manuroa Road’
Camellia ‘Manuroa Road’
Lindera angustifolia (FMWJ 13156) is just opening from tight buds.
Lindera angustifolia (FMWJ 13156)
Lindera angustifolia (FMWJ 13156)
Magnolia sprengeri var. sprengeri (84329) is now full out and even better than last week.
Magnolia sprengeri var. sprengeri (84329)
Magnolia sprengeri var. sprengeri (84329)
Magnolia sprengeri var. sprengeri (84329)
Magnolia sprengeri var. sprengeri (84329)
Camellia ‘Mimosa Jury’ is nearly over but still a fine variety.
Camellia ‘Mimosa Jury’
Camellia ‘Mimosa Jury’
Camellia ‘Mimosa Jury’
Camellia ‘Mimosa Jury’
Magnolia liliiflora ‘Raven’ has fallen over.
Magnolia liliiflora ‘Raven’
Magnolia liliiflora ‘Raven’
Nick Locke’s Litsea from Taiwan is about to flower. Our other Litsea and Neolitsea have generally flowered much later in the year.
Litsea from Taiwan
Litsea from Taiwan
Rhododendron strigillosum just out. About as hairy as it gets!
Rhododendron strigillosum
Rhododendron strigillosum
Rhododendron strigillosum
Rhododendron strigillosum
Camellia ‘Tom Pouce’ is a new thing which I have not seen before flowering here.
Camellia ‘Tom Pouce’
Camellia ‘Tom Pouce’
Camellia ‘Tom Pouce’
Camellia ‘Tom Pouce’
Camellia ‘Winter Gem’ is another new thing.
Camellia ‘Winter Gem’
Camellia ‘Winter Gem’
Camellia ‘Winter Gem’
Camellia ‘Winter Gem’

2023 – CHW
Jim Gardiner with Magnolia sprengeri ‘Dusky Pink’ which he gave us a few years ago. Today in full flower with a beaming Jim! This is one of the several new forms of Magnolia sprengeri collected in the wild by a Swedish and Chinese research team between 2008 & 2010 which demonstrated just how varied M. sprengeri can be. Forrest’s M. sprengeri ‘Diva’ is however, still probably the best form. You can read details of the expeditions discoveries here.

Jim Gardiner with Magnolia sprengeri ‘Dusky Pink’
Jim Gardiner with Magnolia sprengeri ‘Dusky Pink’

2022 – CHW

A bright and sunny day for a tour with John & Vanessa Marston.

First flowers out on the scented Rhododendron ‘Jim Russel’ – ridiculously early.

Rhododendron ‘Jim Russel’
Rhododendron ‘Jim Russel’
Lindera megaphylla, an unusual and rare evergreen Lindera species, nicely in flower.
Lindera megaphylla
Lindera megaphylla
Lindera megaphylla
Lindera megaphylla
Lindera megaphylla
Lindera megaphylla
The deciduous Lindera reflexa in full flower.
Lindera reflexa
Lindera reflexa
Lindera reflexa
Lindera reflexa
Lindera reflexa
Lindera reflexa
Illicium macranthum (BSWJ 11809) flowering here for the first time.
Illicium macranthum
Illicium macranthum
Illicium macranthum
Illicium macranthum
Magnolia ‘Cleopatra’ now full out.
Magnolia ‘Cleopatra’
Magnolia ‘Cleopatra’
Magnolia ‘Cleopatra’
Magnolia ‘Cleopatra’
Magnolia ‘Cleopatra’
Magnolia ‘Cleopatra’
Magnolia ‘Antje Zandee’ also full out.
Magnolia ‘Antje Zandee’
Magnolia ‘Antje Zandee’
Magnolia ‘Atlas’ x Magnolia ‘Vulcan’ has not been named and registered as yet. Nowhere near as good as Jaimie’s ‘Atlas’ x ‘Lanarth’ which we saw yesterday.
Magnolia ‘Atlas’ x Magnolia ‘Vulcan’
Magnolia ‘Atlas’ x Magnolia ‘Vulcan’
Magnolia ‘Atlas’ x Magnolia ‘Vulcan’
Magnolia ‘Atlas’ x Magnolia ‘Vulcan’
First of the yellow magnolias to show – Magnolia ‘Petit Chicon’.
Magnolia ‘Petit Chicon’
Magnolia ‘Petit Chicon’
A few flowers on the newly planted Magnolia ‘Spring Peppermint’ from Germany.
Magnolia ‘Spring Peppermint’
Magnolia ‘Spring Peppermint’

2021 – CHW
The Magnolia sprengeri ‘Diva’ on Hovel Cart Road is out suddenly today. No flowers at all two days ago.
Magnolia sprengeri ‘Diva’
Magnolia sprengeri ‘Diva’
Magnolia sargentiana var. robusta in the distance from the top of Donkey Shoe.
Magnolia sargentiana var. robusta
Magnolia sargentiana var. robusta
A few flowers still on the ancient Magnolia sargentiana robusta which now has few live branches in by the Podocarpus clump.
Magnolia sargentiana robusta
Magnolia sargentiana robusta
I have never seen Ian Baldick’s Magnolia ‘Ian’s Red’ so full of flower or looking better.
Magnolia ‘Ian’s Red’
Magnolia ‘Ian’s Red’
Magnolia ‘Ian’s Red’
Magnolia ‘Ian’s Red’
Camellia ‘High Fragrance’ and it really was despite the first two flowers being battered by wind.
Camellia ‘High Fragrance’
Camellia ‘High Fragrance’
Magnolia ‘Vairano’ is an excellent thing! (Magnolia ‘Iolanthe’ x Magnolia campbellii)
Magnolia ‘Vairano’
Magnolia ‘Vairano’
Magnolia ‘Laura Saylor’ is not particularly.
Magnolia ‘Laura Saylor’
Magnolia ‘Laura Saylor’
An exciting moment – the recently planted Magnolia sinostellata in flower. A new species from Japan and China with white flowers, tinged pink on the back of the tepals. It looks far more vigorous than Magnolia stellata itself.
Magnolia sinostellata
Magnolia sinostellata
Magnolia sinostellata
Magnolia sinostellata
Magnolia sinostellata
Magnolia sinostellata
Magnolia ‘Black Tulip’ x Magnolia ‘Pickard’s Ruby’ – no name as yet but well worth one I believe.
Magnolia ‘Black Tulip’ x Magnolia ‘Pickard’s Ruby’
Magnolia ‘Black Tulip’ x Magnolia ‘Pickard’s Ruby’
Magnolia ‘Black Tulip’ x Magnolia ‘Pickard’s Ruby’
Magnolia ‘Black Tulip’ x Magnolia ‘Pickard’s Ruby’
Magnolia ‘Black Tulip’ x Magnolia ‘Pickard’s Ruby’
Magnolia ‘Black Tulip’ x Magnolia ‘Pickard’s Ruby’
Prunus ‘Collingwood Ingram’ as good as ever. Such a dark reddish-pink colour and not dissimilar to Prunus ‘Felix Jury’ really but this one is out much earlier.
Prunus ‘Collingwood Ingram’
Prunus ‘Collingwood Ingram’
Prunus ‘Collingwood Ingram’
Prunus ‘Collingwood Ingram’
Our best Magnolia sprengeri ‘Diva’ is also suddenly out as well. No colour at all last Monday.
Magnolia sprengeri ‘Diva’
Magnolia sprengeri ‘Diva’
Magnolia sprengeri ‘Diva’
Magnolia sprengeri ‘Diva’
The young Magnolia ‘Philip Tregunna’ below the Pound is just out. I looked on Monday and nothing doing then.
Magnolia ‘Philip Tregunna’
Magnolia ‘Philip Tregunna’
First flowers on Camellia reticulata ‘Dream Castle’.
Camellia reticulata ‘Dream Castle’
Camellia reticulata ‘Dream Castle’
The gigantic near white flowers on out best Magnolia campbellii alba seedling. The largest magnolia flowers in the garden beating ‘Atlas’ and ‘Big Dude’ by an inch or three.
Magnolia campbellii alba seedling
Magnolia campbellii alba seedling
These were the plants shown tonight to Garden Society members at the Zoom meeting:
These were the plants
These were the plants
These were the plants
These were the plants
These were the plants
These were the plants
Magnolia campbellii alba seedling – 15in x 18in when fully openMagnolia ‘Lanarth Surprise’
Magnolia campbellii alba seedling
Magnolia campbellii alba seedling
Magnolia ‘F J Williams’
Magnolia ‘F J Williams’
Magnolia ‘F J Williams’
Magnolia ‘Philip Tregunna’
Magnolia ‘Philip Tregunna’
Magnolia ‘Philip Tregunna’
Magnolia campbellii ‘Darjeeling’
Magnolia campbellii ‘Darjeeling’
Magnolia campbellii ‘Darjeeling’
Magnolia ‘JC Williams’
Magnolia ‘JC Williams’
Magnolia ‘JC Williams’
Magnolia ‘Black Tulip’ x ‘JC Williams’ now called ‘Anne Leitner’
‘Anne Leitner’
‘Anne Leitner’
Magnolia sprengeri ‘Westonbirt’
Magnolia sprengeri ‘Westonbirt’
Magnolia sprengeri ‘Westonbirt’
Magnolia ‘Aurora’
Magnolia ‘Aurora’
Magnolia ‘Aurora’
Rhododendron moulmainense (stenaulum)
Rhododendron moulmainense
Rhododendron moulmainense
Magnolia ‘Felix Jury’ – 10” x 10” not fully open
Magnolia ‘Felix Jury’
Magnolia ‘Felix Jury’