8th 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

The pink form of Rhododendron moupinense in Higher Quarry Nursery bed.

Rhododendron moupinense
Rhododendron moupinense
Magnolia ‘J. C. Williams’ x M. ‘Apollo’. Probably not worth naming and registering.
Magnolia ‘J. C. Williams’ x M. ‘Apollo’
Magnolia ‘J. C. Williams’ x M. ‘Apollo’
Magnolia ‘J. C. Williams’ x M. ‘Apollo’
Magnolia ‘J. C. Williams’ x M. ‘Apollo’
Magnolia ‘Pickard’s Ruby’ x M. ‘J. C. Williams’. Possibly worth a name if it continues to perform but not our breeding.
Magnolia ‘Pickard’s Ruby’ x M. ‘J. C. Williams’
Magnolia ‘Pickard’s Ruby’ x M. ‘J. C. Williams’
Young Rhododendron grande flowering well.
Rhododendron grande
Rhododendron grande
Magnolia ‘Black Tulip’ x M. liliiflora ‘Holland Red’. A good contrast between the inside and outside of the tepals.
Magnolia ‘Black Tulip’ x M. liliiflora ‘Holland Red’
Magnolia ‘Black Tulip’ x M. liliiflora ‘Holland Red’
Magnolia ‘Black Tulip’ x M. liliiflora ‘Holland Red’
Magnolia ‘Black Tulip’ x M. liliiflora ‘Holland Red’
Magnolia ‘Black Tulip’ x M. liliiflora ‘Holland Red’
Magnolia ‘Black Tulip’ x M. liliiflora ‘Holland Red’
Magnolia ‘Bishop Michael’ nearing its best.
Magnolia ‘Bishop Michael’
Magnolia ‘Bishop Michael’
Rhododendron arboreum ‘Tony Schilling’ with only a few flowers this year.
Rhododendron arboreum ‘Tony Schilling’
Rhododendron arboreum ‘Tony Schilling’
Rhododendron arboreum ‘Tony Schilling’
Rhododendron arboreum ‘Tony Schilling’
An original Magnolia campbellii var. mollicomata above Roger’s Quarry.
Magnolia campbellii var. mollicomata
Magnolia campbellii var. mollicomata
Magnolia ‘Delia Williams’ on the lawn at its best.
Magnolia ‘Delia Williams’
Magnolia ‘Delia Williams’

2024 – CHW
Looking at more first time flowerers and young plants. This time in Old Park where there are 14 to look at today.

First flowering in Kitchen Garden of Magnolia ‘Touch of Class’. A tiny first flower but a good colour. This was bred by Vance Hooper in New Zealand and is M. liliiflora ‘Nigra’ x M. soulangeana ‘San Jose’. Our plant from Lunaplant Jan 2024.

Magnolia ‘Touch of Class’
Magnolia ‘Touch of Class’
Also a first flowering in Kitchen Garden of Magnolia ‘Big Ben’ which looks good already. No record of the parentage but MSI register says New Zealand bred. Our plant direct from Lunaplant and planted Jan 2024.
Magnolia ‘Big Ben’
Magnolia ‘Big Ben’
Magnolia ‘Big Ben’
Magnolia ‘Big Ben’
A wind battered flower or two left on Magnolia ‘Pickard’s Ruby’ x M. campbelli subsp mollicomata ‘Werrington’. Lunaplant have ‘Avalon’ and ‘Michael’s Purple’ listed with this parentage. From what we saw yesterday I guess ‘Avalon’ as this was a 2017 planting and ‘Michael’s Purple’ is a brand new Lunaplant name (or so I guess). What a bloody muddle this is becoming! ‘Michael’s Purple’ is not MSI registered unless very recent indeed. This plant is just beside the seat in the Camiellia sasanqua planting.
Magnolia ‘Pickard’s Ruby’ x M. campbelli subsp mollicomata ‘Werrington’
Magnolia ‘Pickard’s Ruby’ x M. campbelli subsp mollicomata ‘Werrington’
A newly planted Magnolia ‘Miss Marble’ with two impressive first flowers. This is MSI registered as M. ‘Pickard’s Ruby’ x M. ‘Black Tulip’. This is also the same parentage as the equally impressive M. ‘Venus’. Both were breed by Michael Gottschalk in Germany. This plant is below White Styles.
Magnolia ‘Miss Marble’
Magnolia ‘Miss Marble’
Magnolia ‘Miss Marble’
Magnolia ‘Miss Marble’
A newly planted Magnolia ‘Avalon’ with its first tiny flower.
Magnolia ‘Avalon’
Magnolia ‘Avalon’
Magnolia ‘Pink Pyramid’ was planted in 2020 and is a Vance Hooper, New Zealand hybrid between M. ‘Aurora’ and M. ‘Genie’. Looks good for a first flower.
Magnolia ‘Pink Pyramid’
Magnolia ‘Pink Pyramid’
Magnolia ‘Cup Cake’ has plenty of flowers at the far end of Old Park.
Magnolia ‘Cup Cake’
Magnolia ‘Cup Cake’
Magnolia ‘Ledvina’ is another I cannot trace as a name.
Magnolia ‘Ledvina’
Magnolia ‘Ledvina’
Magnolia ‘Ledvina’
Magnolia ‘Ledvina’
Magnolia ‘Atlas’ x M. ‘Star Wars’ is at the end of Old Park and looking good but, again, I cannot trace a name.
Magnolia ‘Atlas’ x M. ‘Star Wars’
Magnolia ‘Atlas’ x M. ‘Star Wars’
Magnolia ‘Atlas’ x M. ‘Star Wars’
Magnolia ‘Atlas’ x M. ‘Star Wars’
Magnolia ‘Mark Jury’ – good to have a second plant coming on nicely. Flowers rather battered today at the end of Old Park.
Magnolia ‘Mark Jury’
Magnolia ‘Mark Jury’
Magnolia ‘Just Jean’ is a John Gallagher raised and registered M. x soulangeana seedling. Far end of Old Park.
Magnolia ‘Just Jean’
Magnolia ‘Just Jean’
Magnola ‘Sybille’ is Philippe de Spoelberg’s M x soulangeana x ‘White Giant’ x M. ‘Leda’. Clearly correctly named at the far end of Old Park.
Magnola ‘Sybille’
Magnola ‘Sybille’
Magnola ‘Sybille’
Magnola ‘Sybille’
Magnolia ‘Black Swan’ is a very fine hybrid between M. ‘Pickard’s Ruby’ and M. ‘Caerhays Surprise’. Just getting established now in the centre of the Old Park. 2019 planted.
Magnolia ‘Black Swan’
Magnolia ‘Black Swan’
Magnolia ‘Black Swan’
Magnolia ‘Black Swan’
Magnolia ‘Black Swan’
Magnolia ‘Black Swan’
Magnolia ‘Theodora’ is Maurice Foster’s UK bred M. ‘Dark Shadow’ x M. campbelli var mollicomata. Rather wind battered and over today.
Magnolia ‘Theodora’
Magnolia ‘Theodora’

2023 – CHW
Attached is the application to register Jaimie’s new magnolia hybrid with the Magnolia Society International together with a selection of photographs of the tree and flower taken today. There is no certainty that the name ‘Queen Elizabeth’ or the plant itself will be accepted by the Registrar. We will have to wait and see.
Jaimie’s new magnolia hybrid
Jaimie’s new magnolia hybrid
Jaimie’s new magnolia hybrid
Jaimie’s new magnolia hybrid
Jaimie’s new magnolia hybrid
Jaimie’s new magnolia hybrid
Jaimie’s new magnolia hybrid
Jaimie’s new magnolia hybrid
Jaimie’s new magnolia hybrid
Jaimie’s new magnolia hybrid
Jaimie’s new magnolia hybrid
Jaimie’s new magnolia hybrid
Jaimie’s new magnolia hybrid
Jaimie’s new magnolia hybrid
Jaimie’s new magnolia hybrid
Jaimie’s new magnolia hybrid
Jaimie’s new magnolia hybrid
Jaimie’s new magnolia hybrid
Jaimie’s new magnolia hybrid
Jaimie’s new magnolia hybrid

2022 – CHW

A horrid cold SE wind. Hardly ideal for the magnolia flowers so I have rushed off to capture what is performing today in Kennel Close in case it all gets ruined. A boring list perhaps but an interesting record of these seven to fifteen year old plants as they mature.

A well established Magnolia ‘Red Lion’ on Bond Street. Preferable in colour to its sister seedling M. ‘Star Wars’ as I have mentioned before.

Magnolia ‘Red Lion’
Magnolia ‘Red Lion’
Magnolia ‘Cleopatra’ still in bud. Rather darker than Dr Millard’s flower from yesterday but blown nearly out overnight. Not too far off in colour when open I suspect.
Magnolia ‘Cleopatra’
Magnolia ‘Cleopatra’
A single poor/battered flower this year on Magnolia ‘Black Swan’. We have yet to see this flower properly here although the plant is growing well.
Magnolia ‘Black Swan’
Magnolia ‘Black Swan’
Magnolia ‘Cleopatra’ x Magnolia ‘JC Williams’ has promise.
Magnolia ‘Cleopatra’ x Magnolia ‘JC Williams’
Magnolia ‘Cleopatra’ x Magnolia ‘JC Williams’
Magnolia ‘Pickard’s Ruby’ x Magnolia ‘JC Williams’ is now named as ‘Anne Leitner’. Excellent and very saleable.
Magnolia ‘Pickard’s Ruby’ x Magnolia ‘JC Williams’
Magnolia ‘Pickard’s Ruby’ x Magnolia ‘JC Williams’
Magnolia sprengeri ‘Daisy Diva’ performing well although one wonders at it really being a sprengeri? Bred by Mike Robinson (M. sprengeri var. diva x M. x soulangeana ‘Lennei Alba’).
Magnolia sprengeri ‘Daisy Diva’
Magnolia sprengeri ‘Daisy Diva’
Magnolia sprengeri ‘Daisy Diva’
Magnolia sprengeri ‘Daisy Diva’
Magnolia ‘Judy Carlson’ is definitely improving with age. Excellent in bud with the reddish flash.
Magnolia ‘Judy Carlson’
Magnolia ‘Judy Carlson’
Magnolia ‘Antje Zandee’ battered and not yet out.
Magnolia ‘Antje Zandee’
Magnolia ‘Antje Zandee’
Magnolia sargentiana ‘Blood Moon’ covered in flower as a young tree. Nothing exceptionally different but a good enough form.
Magnolia sargentiana ‘Blood Moon’
Magnolia sargentiana ‘Blood Moon’
A young Magnolia ‘Betty Jessel’ – quite superb but the wind is ruining it.
Magnolia ‘Betty Jessel’
Magnolia ‘Betty Jessel’
Magnolia ‘Betty Jessel’
Magnolia ‘Betty Jessel’
Magnolia ‘Betty Jessel’
Magnolia ‘Betty Jessel’
Magnolia ‘Plum Pudding’ (?) is a totally different colour to our other New Zealand plant which was a specific gift from Vance Hooper (so very likely to be correct). My picture (as here) is in the Eisenhut reference book (Page 282). Which is correct I wonder? This one has an Eisenhut 677 number.
Eisenhut reference book
Eisenhut reference book
Magnolia ‘Plum Pudding’
Magnolia ‘Plum Pudding’
Prunus ‘Collingwood Ingram’ is nearly as good a red as the P. campanulata ‘Felix Jury’ of a day or two ago.
Prunus ‘Collingwood Ingram’
Prunus ‘Collingwood Ingram’
Magnolia denudata ‘Double Diamond’ not yet open but with many flowers. A large tree now at Burncoose and called denudata ‘Dubbel’ originally I believe.
Magnolia denudata ‘Double Diamond’
Magnolia denudata ‘Double Diamond’
A newly planted Magnolia ‘Pink Pyramid’ with one small flower.
Magnolia ‘Pink Pyramid’
Magnolia ‘Pink Pyramid’
Magnolia ‘Vulcan’ x Magnolia ‘Black Tulip’ has a cabbage-like flower and looks impressive.
Magnolia ‘Vulcan’ x Magnolia ‘Black Tulip’
Magnolia ‘Vulcan’ x Magnolia ‘Black Tulip’
Magnolia ‘Aphrodite’ (M. ‘Black Tulip’ x M. ‘Deep Purple Dream’) not quite out yet.
Magnolia ‘Aphrodite’
Magnolia ‘Aphrodite’
Magnolia ‘Sir Harold Hillier’ has just a hint of pink but still absolutely excellent and full of flower today. Not quite the pure M. campbellii var. alba but never mind! Probably the best magnolia out today in the wind in Kennel Close.
Magnolia ‘Sir Harold Hillier’
Magnolia ‘Sir Harold Hillier’
Magnolia ‘Sir Harold Hillier’
Magnolia ‘Sir Harold Hillier’
Magnolia ‘Sir Harold Hillier’
Magnolia ‘Sir Harold Hillier’
Magnolia ‘Sweet Valentine’ with plenty of buds high up. A very columnar habit.
Magnolia ‘Sweet Valentine’
Magnolia ‘Sweet Valentine’
Magnolia ‘Hot Lips’ now at its best and thankfully planted right by the path.
Magnolia ‘Hot Lips’
Magnolia ‘Hot Lips’
Magnolia ‘Hot Lips’
Magnolia ‘Hot Lips’
Magnolia ‘Pink Sensation’ well worth its place as a pink campbellii type and covered in flower. This is an Ian Baldick hybrid which was originally known as ‘Ian’s Pink Giant’ according to the Magnolia Society International records.
Magnolia ‘Pink Sensation’
Magnolia ‘Pink Sensation’
Magnolia ‘Pink Sensation’
Magnolia ‘Pink Sensation’
Magnolia dawsoniana ‘Chindit’ – not especially dawsoniana-like at least at this early stage in bud.
Magnolia dawsoniana ‘Chindit’
Magnolia dawsoniana ‘Chindit’
Magnolia dawsoniana ‘Chindit’
Magnolia dawsoniana ‘Chindit’

2021 – CHW
Lockdown is a time for cleaning out old family paperwork and this amusing 1972 invoice for my mother’s automatic triumph dolomite car has emerged. £1,500 for a car 50 or so years on makes you think a bit about the value of money and inflation as we start to worry about inflation again. I drove this car in my teens, and I think my brother finally ran it into the ground in London after a few scrapes.Frost overnight has thankfully caught only the magnolias planted the lower side of the main drive where the cold air settles in the valley. Philip Tregunna always said that we should never plant magnolias below the drive for just this reason and he was right even if we have not entirely observed this rule.The Magnolia ‘Delia Williams’ on the lawn has caught it!
Magnolia ‘Delia Williams’
Magnolia ‘Delia Williams’
However, the magnolia on from the Rockery is not too bad.
magnolia on from the Rockery
magnolia on from the Rockery
Camellia reticulata ‘Lila Naff’ is just out.
Camellia reticulata ‘Lila Naff’
Camellia reticulata ‘Lila Naff’
The second plant of Magnolia campbellii ‘Valentine’s Torch’ below Donkey Shoe has a couple of flowers out and the yellowing is more pronounced.
Magnolia campbellii ‘Valentine’s Torch’
Magnolia campbellii ‘Valentine’s Torch’
Magnolia campbellii ‘Valentine’s Torch’
Magnolia campbellii ‘Valentine’s Torch’
Already the New Zealand Magnolia ‘Lanarth’ is shedding tepals onto the ground.
Magnolia ‘Lanarth’
Magnolia ‘Lanarth’
Magnolia ‘Betty Jessel’ showing colour.
Magnolia ‘Betty Jessel’
Magnolia ‘Betty Jessel’
As is the Magnolia sargentiana robusta in the ririei opening.
Magnolia sargentiana robusta
Magnolia sargentiana robusta
Another dead snakebark maple with fungal infection at the base.
dead snakebark maple
dead snakebark maple
Magnolia sprengeri var. elongata just coming.
Magnolia sprengeri var. elongata
Magnolia sprengeri var. elongata
Rhododendron barbatum (from Crûg) only now in flower. Rather late out!
Rhododendron barbatum
Rhododendron barbatum
A rhododendron labelled irroratum but without the darker eye. Need to check where this came from.
rhododendron labelled irroratum
rhododendron labelled irroratum
rhododendron labelled irroratum
rhododendron labelled irroratum
Then a wonderful surprise. Suddenly the young Magnolia sprengeri ‘Dusty Pink’ has several flowers out. A gift from Jim Gardiner and I must send him some pictures as this was from wild collected seed in China. Slight frosting overnight. What a colour and what a shape to the flower and on such a young plant.
Magnolia sprengeri ‘Dusty Pink’
Magnolia sprengeri ‘Dusty Pink’
Magnolia sprengeri ‘Dusty Pink’
Magnolia sprengeri ‘Dusty Pink’
Magnolia sprengeri ‘Dusty Pink’
Magnolia sprengeri ‘Dusty Pink’
Magnolia sprengeri ‘Dusty Pink’
Magnolia sprengeri ‘Dusty Pink’
Magnolia ‘Pickard’s Ruby’ x ‘F J Williams’ has a flower well reflecting its parentage. Has it been named yet? Need to check the lists.
Magnolia ‘Pickard’s Ruby’ x ‘F J Williams’
Magnolia ‘Pickard’s Ruby’ x ‘F J Williams’
Magnolia ‘Pickard’s Ruby’ x ‘F J Williams’
Magnolia ‘Pickard’s Ruby’ x ‘F J Williams’
Tom Hudson’s gift of three Rhododendron ririei have never looked better.
Rhododendron ririei
Rhododendron ririei
Bluebells well up.
Bluebells
Bluebells
Narcissus cyclamineus looking very fine in the sun.
Narcissus cyclamineus
Narcissus cyclamineus