12th May

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

Loading the lorries for Chelsea starts tomorrow.

The trenchwork for the new 3 phase electrical supply to the nursery has gone in well in a dry week. A neat job and we have done our bit on time. Where are National Grid with the cable?

The trenchwork for the new 3 phase electrical supply
The trenchwork for the new 3 phase electrical supply
The trenchwork for the new 3 phase electrical supply
The trenchwork for the new 3 phase electrical supply
The Show Tunnel is looking full and extremely well managed by Molly and Cressy.
The Show Tunnel
The Show Tunnel
The Show Tunnel
The Show Tunnel
Cercis ‘Eternal Flame’ just coming into leaf.
Cercis ‘Eternal Flame’
Cercis ‘Eternal Flame’
Cornus ‘Venus’ looks a show stopper yet again.
Cornus ‘Venus’
Cornus ‘Venus’
And the larger sized Viburnum ‘Kilimanjaro Sunrise’ should be perfect for Chelsea.
Viburnum ‘Kilimanjaro Sunrise’
Viburnum ‘Kilimanjaro Sunrise’
Smaller herbaceous plants for Chelsea in full flower outside on a bed.
Oddly coloured new growth on Bignonia capreolata.
Bignonia capreolata
Bignonia capreolata
New covering over the camellias and rhododendrons. Some rotten wood to replace.
New covering over the camellias and rhododendrons
New covering over the camellias and rhododendrons
Hydrangea ‘Yulika’ – our 2024 Plant of the Year entry for Chelsea.
Hydrangea ‘Yulika’
Hydrangea ‘Yulika’
Hydrangea ‘Yulika’
Hydrangea ‘Yulika’
Hydrangea ‘Yulika’
Hydrangea ‘Yulika’
Hydrangea ‘Yulika’
Hydrangea ‘Yulika’
Hydrangea ‘Yulika’
Hydrangea ‘Yulika’

2023 – CHW
An extraordinary communication from someone growing an Embothrium in Tromso, Norway. Inside the Arctic Circle! They has asked Burncoose for advice last May. Here are pictures of the plant last summer, then wrapping it in woolen socks and packing it with birch leaves, and the unpacking of the plant recently. As you can see the plants isn’t quite dead but I wouldn’t be holding my breath!

Embothrium in Tromso, Norway
Embothrium in Tromso, Norway
Embothrium in Tromso, Norway
Embothrium in Tromso, Norway
Embothrium in Tromso, Norway
Embothrium in Tromso, Norway
Echium pininana full out already.
Echium pininana
Echium pininana
Echium pininana
Echium pininana
Lunaria annua (Honesty) brought back from Manley Cottage in Cheshire.
Lunaria annua (Honesty)
Lunaria annua (Honesty)
This is labelled and was acquired as Pomaderris apetala. However, consulting Dawson and Lucas spectacularly good pictorial book on ‘New Zealand Native Trees’ I have my doubts. The pom-pom flower heads look much more like Pomaderris kumeraho in both shape and colour. Then I realise that P. kumeraho has no serrations on its leaves but our two plants do. P. apetala has young leaves which are folded on the midrib so that two halves of the upper surface are pressed together. Both our two plants do have this as these photographs show clearly. We do therefore have Pomaderris apetala subsp. maritima (to give it the full NZ title) correctly named.
Pomaderris apetala
Pomaderris apetala
Pomaderris apetala
Pomaderris apetala
Pomaderris apetala
Pomaderris apetala
Magnolia ‘Honey Liz’ outstanding today with huge flowers.
Magnolia ‘Honey Liz’
Magnolia ‘Honey Liz’
Rhododendron ‘Mi Amor’ with just a hint of pink as the flower trumpets open.
Rhododendron ‘Mi Amor’
Rhododendron ‘Mi Amor’
Rhododendron ‘Mi Amor’
Rhododendron ‘Mi Amor’
Our other elderly plant of Rhododendron floccigerum which is being layered.
Rhododendron floccigerum
Rhododendron floccigerum
Wisteria floribunda ‘Violacea Plena’ (syn. ‘Black Dragon’) just out above the gents loos.
Wisteria floribunda ‘Violacea Plena’
Wisteria floribunda ‘Violacea Plena’

2022 – CHW

Why are hen pheasants so random and inept at making nests?

hen pheasants
hen pheasants
Maddenia wilsonii with a full set of densely hairy new leaves and looking healthy above Crinodendron Hedge.
Maddenia wilsonii
Maddenia wilsonii
Maddenia wilsonii
Maddenia wilsonii
Attractive and dainty new growth on a young Meliosma pungens.
Meliosma pungens
Meliosma pungens
We missed this acer on last weekend’s Maple Society tour – Acer cappadocicum ‘Aureum’.
Acer cappadocicum ‘Aureum’
Acer cappadocicum ‘Aureum’
Another Magnolia ‘Honey Liz’.
Magnolia ‘Honey Liz’
Magnolia ‘Honey Liz’
Magnolia ‘Honey Liz’
Magnolia ‘Honey Liz’
Maddenia hypoleuca is also now in leaf. We saw the flowers earlier. Both these rare species of Maddenia appear in garden records and it is good to have both now back in the collection. The leaf forms are fairly similar.
Maddenia hypoleuca
Maddenia hypoleuca
Young Acer erianthum trees which I failed to photograph last Saturday.
Acer erianthum
Acer erianthum
Magnolia sinensis in bud, flower, and as a whole, ancient tree.
Magnolia sinensis
Magnolia sinensis
Magnolia sinensis
Magnolia sinensis
Magnolia sinensis
Magnolia sinensis
Acer sterculiaceum subsp. franchettii with its bronzy new growth and (more or less) three lobed leaves. A Cornish record tree.
Acer sterculiaceum subsp. sterculiaceum
Acer sterculiaceum subsp. sterculiaceum
Magnolia x wieseneri beautifully scented and full out today.
Magnolia x wieseneri
Magnolia x wieseneri
Crataegus jozana (NE Asia) flowering here for the first time as a newly planted small tree. No picture or proper description in the RHS guide to Hawthorns and Medlars by James Phipps. Not in Hillier’s either?
Crataegus jozana
Crataegus jozana
First flower on Magnolia ‘Illini Gold’.
Magnolia ‘Illini Gold’
Magnolia ‘Illini Gold’
Acer sterculiaceum subsp. sterculiaceum in Kennel Close. The same bronzy hue and more regularly three lobes to the young leaves.
Acer sterculiaceum subsp. sterculiaceum
Acer sterculiaceum subsp. sterculiaceum
Acer macrophyllum
Acer macrophyllum
Acer macrophyllum
x Sorbonaria fallax ‘Likjornaja’ – finally out in flower and developing into a small tree.
x Sorbonaria fallax ‘Likjornaja’
x Sorbonaria fallax ‘Likjornaja’
x Sorbonaria fallax ‘Likjornaja’
x Sorbonaria fallax ‘Likjornaja’
Wonderful bronzy new foliage on Betula fansipanensis as well.
Betula fansipanensis
Betula fansipanensis
Deutzia longifolia in Tin Garden – what a flower! I need to compare this with D. purpurascens and the rather smaller flowered Deutzia ‘Dark Eyes’ which Burncoose sells. I have not yet begun to sort the newer deutzia species in my own mind and as now planted here.
Deutzia longifolia
Deutzia longifolia
First flowers on Rhododendron [?].
Rhododendron [?]
Rhododendron [?]
Rhododendron klossii (T6346) planted in 2012 from Tom Hudson (not in the Pocket Guide to Rhododendron Species).
Rhododendron klossii
Rhododendron klossii

2021 – CHW
Following Elizabeth’s 95th birthday tour here in April her son, Alverne Bolitho, has sent this picture of the tree planting at Trewidden of Magnolia ‘F J Williams’ which was her birthday gift from Caerhays. My great aunt, Mary Williams, moved to Trewidden following the death of her husband, Rt Hon Charles Williams, in 1955. Elizabeth Bolitho worked at Caerhays for Mary and met her future husband, Simon Bolitho, here in the early 1950s. A little bit of Williams-Bolitho family history.
Magnolia ‘F J Williams’
Magnolia ‘F J Williams’
Flowers on Magnolia ‘Moonspire’ – bluish-yellow in bud opening yellow and pink. An odd combination. Again, this variety gets better each year it flowers.
Magnolia ‘Moonspire’
Magnolia ‘Moonspire’
Magnolia ‘Moonspire’
Magnolia ‘Moonspire’
Rhododendron layering today in the garden. An elderly and flopped over Rhododendron floccigerum gets the treatment at both ends. This is one of my favourite rhodos and a better colour than the three fairly recently planted new plants from Millais or Glendoick.
Rhododendron floccigerum
Rhododendron floccigerum
Paeonia delavayi just into flower outside the front door and on the lawn.
Paeonia delavayi
Paeonia delavayi
Zantedeschia aetheopica in full flower already and quite pickable if we were going to Chelsea in a week or so.
Zantedeschia aetheopica
Zantedeschia aetheopica
Barry Humphries (of Dame Edna and Sir Les Patterson fame) holding a branch of Quercus lamellosa during a garden tour today.
Quercus lamellosa
Quercus lamellosa
Barry Humphries and Rhododendron ‘Fragrantissimum’.
Rhododendron ‘Fragrantissimum’
Rhododendron ‘Fragrantissimum’
Barry Humphries meets chef Kevin Murray, but he did not stay to lunch and went on to the Tresanton! More gladioli there perhaps?
Barry Humphries meets chef Kevin Murray
Barry Humphries meets chef Kevin Murray

2020 – CHW
As we and many tens of thousands like us struggle through the government’s advice for employers on reopening the workplace and other missives one is tempted to agree with Starmer and Sturgeon that this all lacks clarity. They of course miss the point.Boris is trying, gently, to encourage the country back to work and to get out of the mindset of doing nothing. It is an attempt to change our mental approach and attitude. Of course the new ‘rules’ are confusing, a bit rushed and full of unwitting contradictions which enables the political opportunists to get the knives out.So a gentle push to normality without a stampede for the moment. Boris clearly hopes that with common sense and ‘awareness’ we can gradually recover the will to live and that the snowball will gather pace as it rolls down the hill.Does Boris think that, in time, we will all accept some more COVID deaths as a price worth paying for our freedom? When the stampede occurs, as it will, whatever advice we are given along the way, it may well be impossible to reverse successfully.I would have to say that this is all common sense and logical.We will reopen the beach café from this weekend with a limited takeaway service only, rigid new protocols for staff and customers alike and new risk assessments etc. Likewise the nursery.So a hell of a lot to think about and do today! What a joy to be doing something positive and now we await the announcement on changes to the ‘furlough’ regime from Rishi Sunak later today.This is another elderly late flowering red evergreen azalea clump below The Hovel. Some flowers are semi-double. No idea of the name but worth propagating simply to preserve it. If Asia grew 10 this would do the trick as with the one already rooted from beside Rogers Quarry. No name here either but that one is a much darker red.
evergreen azalea clump
evergreen azalea clump
evergreen azalea clump
evergreen azalea clump
As far as I can pin this old clump to a name it is Azalea ‘Pink Delight’.
Azalea ‘Pink Delight’
Azalea ‘Pink Delight’
Azalea ‘Pink Delight’
Azalea ‘Pink Delight’
We once grew a glade of big leaf rhodods tucked away here in shade at the back of the drive. The 2005 to 2009 ponticum removal left them exposed to cold winds and then two huge ash trees fell through them. Only two remain scarred but one has a few very pale near white flowers. There were species other than sinogrande seedlings here originally and we might try again with a bit more clearing up.
big leaf rhodods
big leaf rhodods
big leaf rhodods
big leaf rhodods
One seldom gets close enough to a flower of Aesculus hipposcastanum to see the flower properly (and compare it to Aesculus hippocastanum ‘Baumannii’ – the double form as seen recently). The white flowers have yellow blotches which then turn red as here.
Aesculus hipposcastanum
Aesculus hipposcastanum
Aesculus hipposcastanum
Aesculus hipposcastanum
Azalea ‘Whitethroat’ making a good start. Rounded and slowish growing as a clump.
Azalea ‘Whitethroat’
Azalea ‘Whitethroat’
Azalea ‘Whitethroat’
Azalea ‘Whitethroat’
The few Wilson 50 azaleas by White Stiles / Hovel are starting to make a show.
Wilson 50 azaleas
Wilson 50 azaleas
Chimonobambusa tumidissinoda is certainly a spreader! These new shoots will all have to be cut off soon to keep the clump in check.
Chimonobambusa tumidissinoda
Chimonobambusa tumidissinoda
Chimonobambusa tumidissinoda
Chimonobambusa tumidissinoda
Himalayacalamus falconeri has attractive stem nodes and is making a decent clump.
Himalayacalamus falconeri
Himalayacalamus falconeri
Himalayacalamus falconeri
Himalayacalamus falconeri
Himalayacalamus falconeri
Himalayacalamus falconeri
New growth and flowers on Sorbus wilsoniana.
Sorbus wilsoniana
Sorbus wilsoniana
Sorbus wilsoniana
Sorbus wilsoniana
Acer campbellii var. frangipanense with flower tassels which I had not seen before.
Acer campbellii var. frangipanense
Acer campbellii var. frangipanense
Acer campbellii var. frangipanense
Acer campbellii var. frangipanense
Acer campbellii var. frangipanense
Acer campbellii var. frangipanense
This is not Enkianthus cernuus rubens but the mistake has to be forgiven I suppose? It is a nice red form of Enkianthus campanulatus but nothing more.
Enkianthus campanulatus
Enkianthus campanulatus
Enkianthus campanulatus
Enkianthus campanulatus
Acer platanoides ‘Royal Red’ has fine new leaves.
Acer platanoides ‘Royal Red’
Acer platanoides ‘Royal Red’
Acer platanoides ‘Royal Red’
Acer platanoides ‘Royal Red’
Acer heldreichii looks very much like an A. platanoides!
Acer heldreichii
Acer heldreichii
Acer heldreichii
Acer heldreichii
Azalea ‘Coccinea Grandiflora’ making a good show.
Azalea ‘Coccinea Grandiflora’
Azalea ‘Coccinea Grandiflora’
Azalea ‘Coccinea Grandiflora’
Azalea ‘Coccinea Grandiflora’
First flower is out on Rhododendron ‘Lem’s Monarch’.
Rhododendron ‘Lem’s Monarch’
Rhododendron ‘Lem’s Monarch’
You can see the size properly here of Michelia x foggii ‘Allspice’. 20-25ft.
Michelia x foggii ‘Allspice’
Michelia x foggii ‘Allspice’
Rhododendron ‘Pushy Purple’ just planted above the shop. A very strange colour mix which I first saw (with an even longer name) on the Millais stand at Chelsea two years ago.
Rhododendron ‘Pushy Purple’
Rhododendron ‘Pushy Purple’
Rhododendron ‘Pushy Purple’
Rhododendron ‘Pushy Purple’
Rhododendron ‘Pushy Purple’
Rhododendron ‘Pushy Purple’
Rhododendron ‘Pushy Purple’
Rhododendron ‘Pushy Purple’

2019 – CHW
Exciting news! Meliosma oldhamii (formerly Meliosma pinnata var. oldhamii) has produced a number of flower heads at the apex of its stems. It has never flowered before here but looks as though it will in seven to ten days. If it performs in Chelsea week we need photographs even if this means cutting a flower to view and photograph it properly. I suspect Tregrehan and Borde Hill especially will be interested. A Wilson introduction in 1900 but I know of no existing mature plants in the UK.
Meliosma oldhamii
Meliosma oldhamii
Meliosma oldhamii
Meliosma oldhamii
Heard the first cuckoo calling at 10am from Old Park or Brownberry Woods. Saw three swifts at dusk last night which appear to be nesting in the castellations above the Rabbit Warren.
An unnamed Wilson 50 clump of azaleas flowering by The Hovel.
Wilson 50 clump of azaleas
Wilson 50 clump of azaleas
Wilson 50 clump of azaleas
Wilson 50 clump of azaleas
Magnolia x wiesneri just about to open. Might make Chelsea just.
Magnolia x wiesneri
Magnolia x wiesneri
Magnolia x wiesneri
Magnolia x wiesneri
Enkianthus chinensis in a group of three of which one is wrongly named. Exceptionally large flowers in large clusters. The leaf is bigger than other species too.
Enkianthus chinensis
Enkianthus chinensis
Enkianthus chinensis
Enkianthus chinensis
Two plants which are too far out for their usual Chelsea appearance this year:
Rhododendron ovatum
Rhododendron ovatum
Rhododendron ovatum
Rhododendron ovatum
Rhododendron ovatum
Rhododendron kiusianum (Azalea kiusianum)
Rhododendron kiusianum
Rhododendron kiusianum
Rhododendron kiusianum
Rhododendron kiusianum
Another first time flowering here for Rehderodendron kweichowense. Just one flower so far but, unlike other Rehderodendron species, the flowers are in a clear panicle. The second new Rehderodendron species to flower here this year. Rehderodendron indochinense flowered much earlier. Rehderodendron kwatungense has still to perform.
Rehderodendron kweichowense
Rehderodendron kweichowense
Rehderodendron kweichowense
Rehderodendron kweichowense
Magnolia ‘Summer Solstice’ full out 10 days earlier than usual and another Chelsea defector.
Magnolia ‘Summer Solstice’
Magnolia ‘Summer Solstice’
Magnolia ‘Summer Solstice’
Magnolia ‘Summer Solstice’

2018 – CHW
Jaimie and the garden team have given a ‘light’ pruning (as we discussed a week or so ago) and a heavy mulch of dung to Rhododendron stenaulum (now renamed Rhododendron moulmainense) which was defoliated in ‘The Beast’ and had its early new growth killed then too. The smaller, original, wild collected and 100 year old plant behind it is still fine but we hope that the main larger plant will now reshoot from the stem perhaps lower down and recover. Few rhododendron species with smooth peeling bark respond well or at all to pruning but this same thing happened nearly 30 years ago after the 1990 hurricane and we gave it then a similar treatment which proved successful. This is a very tender species in an extremely warm and sheltered spot but ‘The Beast’ still ‘got’ it.

I will report on progress in future months but the peeling bark proves that the main stems are still alive and still look amazing.

Rhododendron stenaulum
Rhododendron stenaulum
Rhododendron stenaulum
Rhododendron stenaulum
Rhododendron stenaulum
Rhododendron stenaulum

2017 – CHW
Another visit to Burncoose to catch up with and complete the Chelsea programme. Loading Monday. Press releases sorted and finalised today.Slug damage on magnolia leaves in one of the tunnels. You can see the slimy trails. You can also see from these pictures how easily a slug can eat all the new leaves as they emerge and kill or greatly stunt the growth of individual or newly planted plants. Beware and get the slug traps or bait out. Look for the culprits on wet days or in the damp early mornings.

Slug damage on magnolia leaves
Slug damage on magnolia leaves
Slug damage on magnolia leaves
Slug damage on magnolia leaves
Slug damage on magnolia leaves
Slug damage on magnolia leaves
Rosa rugosa ‘Frau Dagmar Hastrup’ – just coming out and a very gentle colour. Too delicate to take to Chelsea I fear but Rosa roxburgii may make it.
Rosa rugosa ‘Frau Dagmar Hastrup’
Rosa rugosa ‘Frau Dagmar Hastrup’
Rosa rugosa ‘Frau Dagmar Hastrup’
Rosa rugosa ‘Frau Dagmar Hastrup’
Rosa rugosa ‘Frau Dagmar Hastrup’
Rosa rugosa ‘Frau Dagmar Hastrup’
Rosa rugosa ‘Frau Dagmar Hastrup’
Rosa rugosa ‘Frau Dagmar Hastrup’
Calceolaria ‘Camden Hero’ is nicely out for Chelsea and put aside in quantity.
Calceolaria ‘Camden Hero’
Calceolaria ‘Camden Hero’
Calceolaria ‘Camden Hero’
Calceolaria ‘Camden Hero’
Salvia officinalis ‘Albiflora’ is however too far out to go. Take off the pile to be loaded.
Salvia officinalis ‘Albiflora’
Salvia officinalis ‘Albiflora’
Corydalis ‘Berry Exciting’ is just producing its flowers and will be fine. Perfect even! What a colour contrast.
Corydalis ‘Berry Exciting’
Corydalis ‘Berry Exciting’
Corydalis ‘Berry Exciting’
Corydalis ‘Berry Exciting’
Argyranthemum ‘Raspberry Ruffles’ is a new introduction to us this year. It too is looking perfect for 10 days’ time with loads of bud which will open in the forecast sun for the next few days.
Argyranthemum ‘Raspberry Ruffles’
Argyranthemum ‘Raspberry Ruffles’
Argyranthemum ‘Raspberry Ruffles’
Argyranthemum ‘Raspberry Ruffles’
Geum ‘Tequila Sunrise’ is another new plant to us and fine for Chelsea.
Geum ‘Tequila Sunrise’
Geum ‘Tequila Sunrise’
Geum ‘Tequila Sunrise’
Geum ‘Tequila Sunrise’
Rhododendron ‘Graffito’ has shot out since last week and may be too far out to go on the lorry? Time will tell but I fear this one will not!
Rhododendron ‘Graffito’
Rhododendron ‘Graffito’
Rhododendron calostrotum subsp riparium ‘Nitens’ is now just in flower and may well fit the edge of the Chelsea stand.
Rhododendron calostrotum subsp riparium ‘Nitens’
Rhododendron calostrotum subsp riparium ‘Nitens’
Rhododendron calostrotum subsp riparium ‘Nitens’
Rhododendron calostrotum subsp riparium ‘Nitens’
Rhododendron ‘Germanica’ might well make it too.
Rhododendron ‘Germanica’
Rhododendron ‘Germanica’
Rhododendron ‘Germanica’
Rhododendron ‘Germanica’
Now a real oddity for Chelsea. Lonicera subaequalis ‘Ogisu’. A very blue hue to the leaves and extraordinary flowers. One to make the judges think.
Lonicera subaequalis ‘Ogisu’
Lonicera subaequalis ‘Ogisu’
Lonicera subaequalis ‘Ogisu’
Lonicera subaequalis ‘Ogisu’
Lonicera subaequalis ‘Ogisu’
Lonicera subaequalis ‘Ogisu’
Parthenocissus ‘Star Showers’ will be great at the show for a bit of unusual variegation. The flowers are showing up too. Train it up one of the Harrod obelisks I think.
Parthenocissus ‘Star Showers’
Parthenocissus ‘Star Showers’
Protea ‘Little Prince’ are perfect for the show – these flowers last for weeks.
Protea ‘Little Prince’
Protea ‘Little Prince’
Protea ‘Little Prince’
Protea ‘Little Prince’
Protea ‘Little Prince’
Protea ‘Little Prince’
A self sown wild strawberry in flower – Fragaria vesca. Pity to pull it out.
Fragaria vesca
Fragaria vesca
I have been trying to photograph Dianthus ‘Mrs Sinkins’ for three or four years. The plant is hugely popular and they all get sold before we ever see a flower. These are for an order and not for Chelsea.
Dianthus ‘Mrs Sinkins’
Dianthus ‘Mrs Sinkins’
Dianthus ‘Mrs Sinkins’
Dianthus ‘Mrs Sinkins’
Tiarella ‘Appalachian Trail’ will be spot on for the stand as will the other tiarella varieties. The heucheras are ‘good to go’ too.
Tiarella ‘Appalachian Trail’
Tiarella ‘Appalachian Trail’
Tiarella ‘Appalachian Trail’
Tiarella ‘Appalachian Trail’
Tiarella ‘Appalachian Trail’
Tiarella ‘Appalachian Trail’
Hachenochloa macrantha ‘All Gold’ will definitely not. Shitty little plants which have grown badly and seem to have wind or frost damage.
Hachenochloa macrantha ‘All Gold’
Hachenochloa macrantha ‘All Gold’
Kolkwitzia amabilis ‘Pink Cloud’ has very little flower yet and will not make it either. Too tight in bud.
Kolkwitzia amabilis ‘Pink Cloud’
Kolkwitzia amabilis ‘Pink Cloud’
Cornus kousa ‘Blue Shadow’ is about right. Not quite sure about the name yet? Where is the ‘blue shadow’ the judges will say.
Cornus kousa ‘Blue Shadow’
Cornus kousa ‘Blue Shadow’
Cornus kousa ‘Blue Shadow’
Cornus kousa ‘Blue Shadow’
Magnolia ‘Gold Crown’ is a perhaps. Nice bit of green in the yellow flower.
Magnolia ‘Gold Crown’
Magnolia ‘Gold Crown’
Hydrangea petiolans ‘Semiola’ has no flowers yet. Nice leaves but hide it in the background perhaps.
Hydrangea petiolans ‘Semiola’
Hydrangea petiolans ‘Semiola’
Rhododendron ‘Polaris’ should be fine to go.
Rhododendron ‘Polaris’
Rhododendron ‘Polaris’
Now to the show tunnel to catch up on progress with our key plants for the Chelsea stand.
The surround for the central pool on the Chelsea stand has now been painted.
surround for the central pool
surround for the central pool
surround for the central pool
surround for the central pool
surround for the central pool
surround for the central pool
The gigantic Beschorneria flower has grown 2ft in a week and the side flower shoots have all appeared. How in the hell will we get it on the lorry as it is 12ft tall already and the lorry only 10-11ft? It will have to lie on the tree fern trunk at 45°. After the show if we do not sell it we can cut the flower off for the return trip.
Beschorneria flower
Beschorneria flower
Beschorneria flower
Beschorneria flower
Beschorneria flower
Beschorneria flower
The Cardiocrinum giganteum however has not moved much into flower. Very fat stalk but little progress sadly.
Cardiocrinum giganteum
Cardiocrinum giganteum
Cardiocrinum giganteum
Cardiocrinum giganteum
Look how perfect this Acer palmatum ‘Ukigumo’ is – it is going to be! What a colour to show up well in a tent where the light is not great.
Acer palmatum ‘Ukigumo’
Acer palmatum ‘Ukigumo’
Acer palmatum ‘Ukigumo’
Acer palmatum ‘Ukigumo’
The huge jasmine is worryingly too full out and scenting the whole show tunnel. We do however have others not so far advanced as this so it may just be ok.
jasmine
jasmine
jasmine
jasmine
No flowers yet either on the Chatham Island forget me nots. We did have them last year.
Chatham Island forget me nots
Chatham Island forget me nots
However the Podophyllum ‘Spotty Dotty’ has a flower on the way. It looks black today but will open dark red.
Podophyllum ‘Spotty Dotty’
Podophyllum ‘Spotty Dotty’
Stewartia rostrata is plastered in bud which should open in time.
Stewartia rostrata
Stewartia rostrata
Time to clip the box balls ready for the big event. If you do it actually at the show the judges will realise. This is one of those small show ‘tweaks’ which only those with serious show experience will know!
box balls
box balls

Another fabulous acer.

Another fabulous acer.
Another fabulous acer.
The calycanthus buds are perfectly poised to be fully open for judging on 22nd May at 9.00am – or so we hope!
calycanthus
calycanthus
Plants in the show tunnel are starting to be moved to the paths ready for loading on the lorry. Only 30% of what you see here will actually be fit for London.
Plants in the show tunnel
Plants in the show tunnel
Plants in the show tunnel
Plants in the show tunnel
Gerry and Louisa doing the final painting on the central surround for the pool. I had no idea they knew how to blend and mix paint to create the colour and feel to go with the central fountain. Quite a pair of artists!
Gerry and Louisa
Gerry and Louisa
Gerry and Louisa
Gerry and Louisa
Goodness we are so lucky to have such an experienced, dedicated and professional team. It is not just plants and horticulture when it comes to designing and making a circular stand as large as ours will be.

2016 – CHW
A wasted day at an appalling Cornwall Farmers AGM where the members present displayed unbelievable ingratitude to the board for the successful sale of the business (but not the stores themselves) to Countrywide which saved the business from certain bankruptcy.The new camellias from France are superb and we will have to plant them straight out on Monday. I had hoped to make a special clearing and plant them all together next spring but they are too large to sit in pots until then.
camellias from France
camellias from France

This is the list:Camellia champetre Alpen GloCamellia espèce Amplexicaulis

Camellia ss Bettys Beauty

Camellia champetre Cinnamon Cindy

Camellia champ Cinnamon Scentsation

Camellia reticulata Debut

Camellia champetre Gay Baby

Camellia champetre High Fragrance

Camellia ss Kerguelen®

Camellia ss Kicho

Camellia classique Manuroad Road

Camellia ss Memphis Belle

Camellia classique Mimosa Jury

Camellia reticulata Miss Tulare

Camellia classique Sanpei Tsubaki

Camellia sasanqua Sekiyo

Camellia sasanqua Setsugekka

Camellia sasanqua Showa No Sakae

Camellia champetre Sweet Emily Kate

Camellia champetre Sweet Jane

Camellia classique Tom Pouce

Camellia classique Winter Gem

2015 – CHW
First lorry goes to Chelsea with the fountain and the moongate sculpture.  Little time for wandering but a few things which might be cutable for Chelsea.Halesia Carolina – this is our second attempt at growing this excellent small US tree.  The first suddenly died by the cash point a few years ago.  The seeds are rock hard.

HALESIA carolina 03
HALESIA carolina
HALESIA carolina 02
HALESIA carolina
HALESIA carolina
HALESIA carolina
REHDERODENDRON macrocarpum 02
REHDERODENDRON macrocarpum
REHDERODENDRON macrocarpum
REHDERODENDRON macrocarpum

Rehderodendron macrocarpum – a Trewithen plant originally and our only old plant is nearing the end.  Burncoose has however two big trees in their prime.  Not as good as Tom Hudson’s newish Vietnamese Rehderodendron kwatungense which is a better flower.

EMBOTRIUM coccineum 02
EMBOTRIUM coccineum
EMBOTRIUM coccineum
EMBOTRIUM coccineum

Embothrium coccineum – pure orange (rather than red or scarlet) and out this year rather earlier than usual.  Embothrium lanceolatum is a good fortnight behind.

CAMELLIA 'Mathotiana Rubra' 02
CAMELLIA ‘Mathotiana Rubra’
CAMELLIA 'Mathotiana Rubra'
CAMELLIA ‘Mathotiana Rubra’

Camellia ‘Mathotiana Rubra’ – one of the last camellias to flower and often still showing a flower in July.  Twice we have had this at Chelsea but too close to the flowers shattering to be worth the effort today.

CAMELLIA 'Mathotiana Alba' 02
CAMELLIA ‘Mathotiana Alba’
CAMELLIA 'Mathotiana Alba'
CAMELLIA ‘Mathotiana Alba’
Camellia ‘Mathotiana Alba’ – same problem.  The two plants are side by side.  I cannot remember where the pink mathotiana rosea is.

1964 – FJW

The Colonel (E.H.Bolitho) came today. He walked down by the Big Quarry.

1931 – JCW
Rhodo bloom remains very good. Augustinii in particular and many of my Azaleas show colour. Orbiculare was never so fine. Auklandii is very good but not quite all open. There are a few flowers on C speciosa now.

1930 – JCW

Camellia speciosa seedling has been very good indeed since the 26th January and is now on the wane. Auklandii is good and do the Davidsonianum.

1919 – JCW

Garden cherries over – Auklandii hybrids nearly over – Devonshire hybrids in bud. Daffs over. Auklandii’s just started to open.

1911 – JCW

Auklandii’s splendid, Van Tubergens Iris at their best. All Recurvas open. Coombe Royal lot hardly open. Iris pavonia open. White broom very good, sweet scented rhodo’s nice. C. montana rubra very good. Mrs Butler just coming. Some Azaleas out.

1910 – JCW
Auklandii’s (very few from Nov frost) nearly over, and cold but moist growing season. Recurvas all open, and most of the Coombe Royals.

1909 – JCW
Auklandii’s not all open, want rain badly. Iris Van Tubergens very good. Recurvas open. Some of the Coombe Royal lot open.

1907 – JCW
Just as in 1898. Auklandii have never been so fine.

1902 – JCW
Embothrium out, a small bit. Very cold wind.

1898 – JCW
I pavonia has been open for some days, Andreana at its best, Altaclarence about, Iris lorteti quite, C montana, Clianthus, Habrothumnus all at their best. Rhodo’ fortunei a few flowers open, Suavio going over and so the blood red Arboreum. No waterlilies open, one or two Arum, moved a seedling from Emperor into the Drive, not quite ripe. P recurvus at its best.

1897 – JCW
Iris pavonia open, one waterlily flower (Gloriosa). Broom andreana at its best. Cold winds.