18th May

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CW 1940-1955


2024 – CHW

Considerably more progress at the Chelsea stand as you can see in these pictures.

Considerably more progress at the Chelsea stand
Considerably more progress at the Chelsea stand
Considerably more progress at the Chelsea stand
Considerably more progress at the Chelsea stand
Off to Chelsea tomorrow to catch up with the team. For the second day running I find something stunning and new in flower in the garden here to rival yesterday’s Buddleja speciosissima.
This is very close to Rhododendron virgatum I think on the corner of Burns Bank. I had not thought before about what it might be. It’s a very ancient plant.
Rhododendron virgatum
Rhododendron virgatum
Rhododendron virgatum
Rhododendron virgatum
Viburnum betulifolium on Sinogrande Walk.
Viburnum betulifolium
Viburnum betulifolium
Two Buddleia limatanea (a gift from Peter Moore) are thriving in the heat of Sinogrande Walk. We ought to grow this in numbers as it is a very fine species which makes a good rounded shrub. Another one for Asia’s list!
Buddleia limatanea
Buddleia limatanea
Buddleia limatanea
Buddleia limatanea
Buddleia limatanea
Buddleia limatanea
Yet more evidence of dying rhododendrons from previous droughts.
Rhododendron ‘Bobolink’.
Rhododendron ‘Bobolink’
Rhododendron ‘Bobolink’
Rhododendron ‘Yellow Petticoats’.
Rhododendron ‘Yellow Petticoats’
Rhododendron ‘Yellow Petticoats’
Rhododendron ‘Yellow Petticoats’
Rhododendron ‘Yellow Petticoats’
Rhododendron ‘Lemon Meringue’.
Rhododendron ‘Lemon Meringue’
Rhododendron ‘Lemon Meringue’
Rhododendron ‘Lemon Meringue’
Rhododendron ‘Lemon Meringue’
Rhododendron ‘Lemon Meringue’
Rhododendron ‘Lemon Meringue’
Still plenty of decent scented flowers on Michelia ‘Mixed up Miss’.
Michelia ‘Mixed up Miss’
Michelia ‘Mixed up Miss’
Deutzia longifolia – White Form in Tin Garden.
Deutzia longifolia
Deutzia longifolia
Deutzia calycosa ‘Dali’ now full out and very fine today.
Deutzia calycosa ‘Dali’
Deutzia calycosa ‘Dali’
Deutzia calycosa ‘Dali’
Deutzia calycosa ‘Dali’
Deutzia calycosa ‘Dali’
Deutzia calycosa ‘Dali’
Deutzia calycosa ‘Dali’
Deutzia calycosa ‘Dali’
Deutzia calycosa ‘Dali’
Deutzia calycosa ‘Dali’
Paulownia kawakamii just coming out but, for now, just on the lower branches and not high up.
Paulownia kawakamii
Paulownia kawakamii
Paulownia kawakamii
Paulownia kawakamii
Paulownia kawakamii
Paulownia kawakamii
Eucalyptus gregsoniana was only planted in 2021 but, today, its first rather spectacular white flowers at a young age. A hardy species apparently.
Eucalyptus gregsoniana
Eucalyptus gregsoniana
Eucalyptus gregsoniana
Eucalyptus gregsoniana
Eucalyptus gregsoniana
Eucalyptus gregsoniana
Crataegus laevigata ‘Paul’s Scarlet’ has been staked upright for the fourth time in 6 months.
Crataegus laevigata ‘Paul’s Scarlet’
Crataegus laevigata ‘Paul’s Scarlet’
Crataegus laevigata ‘Paul’s Scarlet’
Crataegus laevigata ‘Paul’s Scarlet’
Magnolia x wieseneri and Enkianthus campanulatus below Slip Rail.
Magnolia x wieseneri and Enkianthus campanulatus
Magnolia x wieseneri and Enkianthus campanulatus

2023 – CHW
5 different species of Eucalyptus to catch up with today in Kennel Close.Eucalyptus crenulata. Wonderful new growth but the old leaves look scruffy. A bushy habit and not yet a tree.

Eucalyptus crenulata
Eucalyptus crenulata
Eucalyptus delegatensis (ex Roundabarrow Nurseries) with a strange blue hue to its large leaves.
Eucalyptus delegatensis
Eucalyptus delegatensis
Eucalyptus delegatensis
Eucalyptus delegatensis
Eucalyptus gregsoniana (also Roundabarrow) with a fine set of new growth.
Eucalyptus gregsoniana
Eucalyptus gregsoniana
Quercus trojana just coming into leaf. A gift from the 2019 IDS visit here.
Quercus trojana
Quercus trojana
The sweetly scented Magnolia ‘Southern Belle’ (planted 2014) is out earlier than usual and with smaller flowers than usual as well. Normally this and the similar M. ‘Summer Solstice’ are out at the same time.
Magnolia ‘Southern Belle’
Magnolia ‘Southern Belle’
Juglans cinerea just into leaf.
Juglans cinerea
Juglans cinerea
Eucalyptus mannifera var. praecox (2014 planted). The trunk has peeled already but no flowers as yet.
Eucalyptus mannifera var. praecox
Eucalyptus mannifera var. praecox
Eucalyptus simonosii with plenty of buds and a wonderful trunk. 2014 planted also and flowering for several years. Lots of sap oozing from the trunk last summer in the drought which had me worried then. Looks fine now.
Eucalyptus simonosii
Eucalyptus simonosii

2022 – CHW

A decent half day of heavy rain.

A young Magnolia wilsonii just out in the Ririei Opening.

Magnolia wilsonii
Magnolia wilsonii
Magnolia wilsonii
Magnolia wilsonii
Cyclocarya paliuris with its first set of growth after planting. Formerly called Pterocarya paliuris. A medium sized tree with disc winged (rather than two winged) fruit.
Cyclocarya paliuris
Cyclocarya paliuris
Rhododendron ‘Jock’ and Rhododendron ‘Norfolk Candy’.
Rhododendron ‘Jock’
Rhododendron ‘Jock’
Embothrium lanceolatum ‘Norquinco’ and Photinia beauvardiana var. notabilis.
Embothrium lanceolatum ‘Norquinco’
Embothrium lanceolatum ‘Norquinco’
Rhododendron orbiculare and Rhododendron loderi.
Rhododendron orbiculare
Rhododendron orbiculare
Podocarpus wangii with its exquisite new growth.
Podocarpus wangii
Podocarpus wangii
Laburnocytisus ‘Adamii’ – with all the flowers shown close up.
Laburnocytisus ‘Adamii’
Laburnocytisus ‘Adamii’
Laburnocytisus ‘Adamii’
Laburnocytisus ‘Adamii’
Laburnocytisus ‘Adamii’
Laburnocytisus ‘Adamii’
Magnolia x wieseneri and Enkianthus campanulatus ‘Victoria’.
Magnolia x wieseneri
Magnolia x wieseneri
Enkianthus deflexus remains my favourite species with its huge flowers which are later into flower than most other species.
Enkianthus deflexus
Enkianthus deflexus
Philadelphus sericanthus just out.
Philadelphus sericanthus
Philadelphus sericanthus
Philadelphus sericanthus
Philadelphus sericanthus

2021 – CHW
Still a good late flower or two on Magnolia ‘Anne Leitner’.
Magnolia ‘Anne Leitner’
Magnolia ‘Anne Leitner’
Viburnum sieboldii now in flower. A large erect shrub at 15ft or so.
Viburnum sieboldii
Viburnum sieboldii
Viburnum sieboldii
Viburnum sieboldii
A young Azalea wadanum ‘Album’ flowering for the first time here. (This is yet another subspecies of R. reticulatum.)
Azalea wadanum ‘Album’
Azalea wadanum ‘Album’
First flower this year on Rhododendron lindleyi.
Rhododendron lindleyi
Rhododendron lindleyi
Michelia ‘Fairy Cream’ looking the best it ever has at 10-12ft.
Michelia ‘Fairy Cream’
Michelia ‘Fairy Cream’
Enkianthus cernuus recurvus with its flowers as the name implies.
Enkianthus cernuus recurvus
Enkianthus cernuus recurvus
Rhododendron ‘Goldsworth’s Yellow’ (or similar).
Rhododendron ‘Goldsworth’s Yellow’
Rhododendron ‘Goldsworth’s Yellow’
Rhododendron griffithianum full out – note the smooth bark.
Rhododendron griffithianum
Rhododendron griffithianum
Rhododendron griffithianum
Rhododendron griffithianum
This tree is Umbellularia californica as we quickly discovered crushing the leaves. Our other plant is a shrub with far more extended leaves although both quickly induce a headache and dizziness when crushed.
Umbellularia californica
Umbellularia californica
Umbellularia californica
Umbellularia californica
Another slightly different flower on Magnolia ‘Honey Liz’.
Magnolia ‘Honey Liz’
Magnolia ‘Honey Liz’
Rhododendron ‘Lemon Meringue’ just out.
Rhododendron ‘Lemon Meringue’
Rhododendron ‘Lemon Meringue’
Rhododendron ‘Ruby Hart’ – a wonderful dark red.
Rhododendron ‘Ruby Hart’
Rhododendron ‘Ruby Hart’
A nice dark form of Rhododendron reticulatum. Very different from the old plant in the Rockery. A very variable species colour wise.
Rhododendron reticulatum
Rhododendron reticulatum
Flower on low down branches of Plagianthus regius (Plagianthus betulinus). This smallish tree normally only flowers high up.
Plagianthus regius
Plagianthus regius

2020 – CHW
I finally got around to viewing a four minute (and in English) trailer for the new David Attenborough type series of plant programmes which is about to be broadcast on Chinese prime time national TV. What could be more topical!The Chinese film crew were here about a year ago. Too late for the magnolias. They also visited Exbury, interviewed Roy Lancaster, and visited us again at Chelsea. We were all a bit wary of what the theme of the programme might be. Was it to be the theft of thousands of species of plants by the intrepid English plant hunters or a genuinely historic and or pictorial / ‘planty’ approach without this slant. We still do not really know but, having seen the trailer, where I have a bit to say in the Billiard Room, and there are clips of Exbury with Marie-Louise Agius combined with rhododendrons in the mountains of Yunnan, I suspect the propaganda element is linked more to ‘continuing friendship’ and ‘plants across the oceans’ than the historic theft (by nasty capitalists) of 60-70% of the garden plants growing in western European gardens today. We will see.It certainly looks like a big budget production and is going out on the main (government) channel. Perhaps the BBC or ITV will buy the rights and show it here? We have been trying to interest independent TV producers in the concept of a series about the history of Cornish gardens. So far no real takers. Even a great gardens of Britain series once day perhaps filmed over a whole season. Probably considered far too upmarket and right wing for the BBC. Channel 5 did a good series on Repton gardens (including Belvoir) with Alan Titchmarsh but it was fairly low budget. I think we should try again with a Great Gardens of Cornwall theme for the next spring season.First flower almost out on Magnolia officinalis var. biloba. The individual flowers last only about 48 hours.Embothrium lanceolatum against a blue sky.
Embothrium lanceolatum
Embothrium lanceolatum
Rhododendron ‘Lem’s Monarch’ coming to its best. Rhododendron loderi ‘Venus’ next door to it nowhere near out.
Rhododendron ‘Lem’s Monarch’
Rhododendron ‘Lem’s Monarch’
Rhododendron ‘Lem’s Monarch’
Rhododendron ‘Lem’s Monarch’
Magnolia sieboldii ‘Genesis’ x Magnolia virginiana nearly out. An odd cross but improving. A bit like Magnolia ‘Porcelain Dove’ which grows nearby and is just showing colour. Magnolia globosa nowhere near out but buds just visible now.
Magnolia sieboldii ‘Genesis’ x Magnolia virginiana
Magnolia sieboldii ‘Genesis’ x Magnolia virginiana
Magnolia sieboldii ‘Genesis’ x Magnolia virginiana
Magnolia sieboldii ‘Genesis’ x Magnolia virginiana
Last flowers on Magnolia ‘Honey Liz’.
Magnolia ‘Honey Liz’
Magnolia ‘Honey Liz’
Magnolia ‘Honey Liz’
Magnolia ‘Honey Liz’
Schefflera rhododendrifolia (GWJ 9375) – new growth and old leaves.
Schefflera rhododendrifolia
Schefflera rhododendrifolia
Schefflera rhododendrifolia
Schefflera rhododendrifolia
Seeds forming and a nice snake bark trunk on Acer sikkimense. An excellent new introduction. Seed to collect later in the year.
Acer sikkimense
Acer sikkimense
Acer sikkimense
Acer sikkimense
I first saw Magnolia acuminata ‘Seiju’ in Koen Camelbeke’s article on new ‘yellow’ magnolias about six to seven years ago. This is the first (rather small) set of flowers I have seen on our young plant. It will get better. Very blue in bud.
Magnolia acuminata ‘Seiju’
Magnolia acuminata ‘Seiju’
Magnolia acuminata ‘Seiju’
Magnolia acuminata ‘Seiju’
Acer takesimense (now Acer pseudosieboldianum subsp. takesimense in New Trees) with seed heads forming and leaf structure. Planted in 2010 so it has grown quickly into a small tree.
Acer takesimense
Acer takesimense
Acer takesimense
Acer takesimense
Acer takesimense
Acer takesimense
Rhododendron ‘Moser’s Maroon’ x ‘Treberrick’ which I cut to look up on the planting plans is much darker than it appears in these pictures. Dad’s hybrid I am told by Jaimie. Planted in 2005 behind Rhododendron hotei on from Georges Hut.
Rhododendron ‘Moser’s Maroon’ x ‘Treberrick’
Rhododendron ‘Moser’s Maroon’ x ‘Treberrick’
Rhododendron ‘Moser’s Maroon’ x ‘Treberrick’
Rhododendron ‘Moser’s Maroon’ x ‘Treberrick’
Trachycarpus wagnerianus flowers are now developing fast.
Trachycarpus wagnerianus
Trachycarpus wagnerianus
Trachycarpus wagnerianus
Trachycarpus wagnerianus
The big new clump of Rhododendron lindleyi is just out. Very pink in bud.
Rhododendron lindleyi
Rhododendron lindleyi
Rhododendron lindleyi
Rhododendron lindleyi
This (unnamed) Mahonia species was a gift from Harvey Stephens / Savill Garden.
 (unnamed) Mahonia species
(unnamed) Mahonia species
Rhododendron ‘Nancy Evans’
Rhododendron ‘Nancy Evans’
Rhododendron ‘Nancy Evans’
Rhododendron ‘Nancy Evans’
Rhododendron ‘Nancy Evans’
Boring though it is I wanted to record the now fully formed leaves on our larger lime species collection. To my horror a roe deer has eaten most of the leaves off the smaller ones and had a very good go at the larger trees on their lower limbs. Jimmy told me he had culled more roe than usual this spring but one key one more to go.
Tilia tomentosa ‘Petiolaris’ – planted in 2010.
Tilia tomentosa ‘Petiolaris’
Tilia tomentosa ‘Petiolaris’
Tilia tomentosa ‘Petiolaris’
Tilia tomentosa ‘Petiolaris’
Flowers on the Mespilus germanica.
Mespilus germanica
Mespilus germanica
Mespilus germanica
Mespilus germanica
Tilia mexicana – planted 2011.
Tilia mexicana
Tilia mexicana
Magnolia ‘Peaches and Cream’ – a few late flowers.
Magnolia ‘Peaches and Cream’
Magnolia ‘Peaches and Cream’
Sorbus thompsonii with attractive silvery-purple new leaves – planted 2010.
Sorbus thompsonii
Sorbus thompsonii
Sorbus thompsonii
Sorbus thompsonii
Tilia miqueliana (the Tilia on the drive by Hovel Turning is Tilia x moltkei).
Tilia miqueliana
Tilia miqueliana
Tilia miqueliana
Tilia miqueliana
Tilia tomentosa ‘Brabant’ – planted 2009.
Tilia tomentosa ‘Brabant’
Tilia tomentosa ‘Brabant’
Tilia tomentosa ‘Brabant’
Tilia tomentosa ‘Brabant’
Tilia heterophylla (now Tilia caroliniana subsp. heterophylla) – planted 2017.
Tilia heterophylla
Tilia heterophylla
Tilia heterophylla
Tilia heterophylla
Tilia x moltkei
Tilia x moltkei
Tilia x moltkei
Tilia x moltkei
Tilia x moltkei
Tilia oliveri
Tilia oliveri
Tilia oliveri
Tilia oliveri
Tilia oliveri
Crataegus aprica in flower.
Crataegus aprica
Crataegus aprica
Crataegus aprica
Crataegus aprica
Crataegus aprica
Crataegus aprica
Tilia cordata ‘Winter Orange’
Tilia cordata ‘Winter Orange’
Tilia cordata ‘Winter Orange’
Tilia cordata ‘Winter Orange’
Tilia cordata ‘Winter Orange’
Tilia tomentosa ‘Petiolaris’ (second plant) with a more pronounced weeping habit – planted 2009.
Tilia tomentosa ‘Petiolaris’
Tilia tomentosa ‘Petiolaris’
Tilia tomentosa ‘Petiolaris’
Tilia tomentosa ‘Petiolaris’
Tilia tomentosa ‘Petiolaris’
Tilia tomentosa ‘Petiolaris’
I think this is Tilia mandshurica on the drive although I had mistakenly thought it was Tilia henryana until recently. T. henryana is in Penvergate and a falling tree has destroyed all but one branch.
Tilia mandshurica
Tilia mandshurica
Tilia mandshurica
Tilia mandshurica
Still to photograph the mature leaves of:
Tilia endochrysea (Kennel Close and above Rogers Quarry)Tilia tuan var. chemoui (Kennel Close)Tilia kiusiana (Slip Rail)Tilia mongolica ‘Harvest Gold’Tilia mongolicaAnd one or two other more recent plantings.

2019 – CHW
On arrival at 12.00 on the Friday still much on the stand to do. However the fountain is operational or was until we got a series of power failures.
still much on the stand to do
still much on the stand to do
still much on the stand to do
still much on the stand to do
still much on the stand to do
still much on the stand to do
still much on the stand to do
still much on the stand to do
By Saturday morning all the cut stuff has been arranged and we move forward quite quickly.
cut stuff has been arranged
cut stuff has been arranged
Putting the lip pins on 500 labels took two and a half hours.
500 labels
500 labels
500 labels
500 labels
The sales point is in place and the celebrity booze under wraps.
sales point
sales point
The centre of the stand is nearing completion and looks fantastic with the iron fence.
centre of the stand
centre of the stand
centre of the stand
centre of the stand
The electrics for the fountain conk out again. If we fill the water feature completely top and bottom and the electric conks we will flood the whole stand. We will do this only before judging at 7.30am on Monday.
electrics
electrics
Will the azaleas open up properly by judging? Despite two overcast days with some rain they did!
azaleas
azaleas
This was pinched from Asia’s greenhouse. Originally it was used to boil up rabbits and eggs to feed young pheasants before the first world war.
pinched from Asia’s greenhouse
pinched from Asia’s greenhouse
Sweeping up rubbish starts but there is still plenty to finish off.
Sweeping up rubbish
Sweeping up rubbish
Sweeping up rubbish
Sweeping up rubbish
5pm and the turf starts to go down.
turf starts to go down
turf starts to go down
turf starts to go down
turf starts to go down
Christine watering up before we all go out to dinner in an Italian number of World’s End.
Christine
Christine
Christine
Christine

2018 – CHW
Today we reveal the other startling new entry from Burncoose Nurseries to the RHS Chelsea Plant of the Year competition 2018. Large plants will also be seen on our stand from Monday 21st May. Until now it has remained a closely guarded secret between us and its breeder from the Netherlands – Mr Jan-Willem van der Poel.Acer palmatum ‘Metamorphosa’This new plant will be available to pre-order in three sizes exclusively on the Burncoose Nurseries mail order website from Sunday.
Acer palmatum 'Metamorphosa'
Acer palmatum ‘Metamorphosa’
Acer palmatum 'Metamorphosa'
Acer palmatum ‘Metamorphosa’ Spring
Acer palmatum 'Metamorphosa'
Acer palmatum ‘Metamorphosa’  Summer
Acer palmatum 'Metamorphosa'
Acer p. ‘Metamorphosa’ Spring/Summer
Acer palmatum 'Metamorphosa'
Acer palmatum ‘Metamorphosa’ Autumn

2017 – CHW
The cut stuff for the Chelsea stand has been assembled at Burncoose on trolleys to go to London later today.

cut stuff for the Chelsea stand
cut stuff for the Chelsea stand
We have cut a huge branch of embothrium but it is shedding flowers and may have to be cut down more to rescue a few of the less open flowers for the stand. All depends on the weather in the next three days!
branch of embothrium
branch of embothrium
The foxgloves have just made it into flower and will now be loaded onto the last lorry.
foxgloves
foxgloves
Another trolley load of nice looking stuff for Chelsea.
Another trolley load of nice looking stuff for Chelsea
Another trolley load of nice looking stuff for Chelsea
Gerry makes the final final selection of what will go from the herbaceous plants put aside for Chelsea.
Gerry makes the final final selection
Gerry makes the final final selection

Last minute dash to find more cut stuff for the last lorry for Chelsea leaving here at 12.00!

Azalea ‘White Throat’ too far out – again a disappointment.

Azalea ‘White Throat’
Azalea ‘White Throat’
Azalea ‘White Throat’
Azalea ‘White Throat’
Enkianthus hirtinervus is the last of the enkianthus to flower by four to five weeks and perfect for cutting.
Enkianthus hirtinervus
Enkianthus hirtinervus
Magnolia officinalis ‘Biloba’ (pink form) is too tight in bud to cut.
Magnolia officinalis ‘Biloba’
Magnolia officinalis ‘Biloba’
The game larder is filling up with stuff to go. Rhododendron ‘Lems Monarch’ is looking perfect in the foreground.
game larder
game larder
Rhododendron ‘Tally Ho’ x elliottii is probably too far out to use.
Rhododendron ‘Tally Ho’ x elliottii
Rhododendron ‘Tally Ho’ x elliottii
Jaimie with a huge cut echium spike. One of three we cut, having cut one last week to prove it will last the course in water.
echium spike
echium spike
Van and mule full after the last trip. Now into buckets for loading.
Van and mule full
Van and mule full
Van and mule full
Van and mule full
Two echium spikes. We will have to cut them down to fit them onto the lorry. Too tall at present.
echium spike
echium spike
Is this Cotoneaster frigidus or is it a Cotoneaster x walteri hybrid? It is not an evergreen and it is near two other plants which may be Cotoneaster x walteri or Cotoneaster salicifolius forms. All three came from Windsor in 1991. Apparently Cotoneaster frigidus is rare in cultivation but this specimen does have ‘broad elliptic leaves’ as it should. No way this is going to hold in water for Chelsea so, as usual, we have been distracted by a plant from the main objective of today.
Cotoneaster frigidus
Cotoneaster frigidus
Finally the lorry is rather overloaded and on its way up to Chelsea.
lorry
lorry

2016 – CHW

This year I vowed to supervise and participate in getting the cut stuff for Chelsea so it arrives fresh and not squashed. Primarily I am trying to avoid flowers being cut which are already too far out and, like last year, fit only for the skip on arrival at Chelsea. We have ended up with the attached list of cut stuff – around 30 items (plus 20 from Burncoose) which are mainly rhododendrons in keeping with the theme of the stand this year. It took four of us a good four hours to cut, transport, bundle and put it all in buckets on trolleys. The public who gaze at Chelsea stands have no idea of the amount of time and effort involved. With such an early year for us we would be seriously struggling without the cut stuff and its presentation on the stand will determine what medal we get.

During the morning we have been laughing about the difference between Rhododendron ‘Fragrantissimum’ and Rhododendron ‘Lady Alice Fitzwilliam’. The latter has a yellow centre in the trumpet and the flowers are a little larger than ’Fragrantissimum’ which has a dab of green on the outside of the trumpet. Frankly you can hardly tell the difference and they are both Rhododendron edgeworthii x Rhododendron formosum crosses. Hugely scented and in perfect condition today. However everything we cut turned out to be Lady Alice!
Rhododendron ‘Lady Alice Fitzwilliam’
Rhododendron ‘Lady Alice Fitzwilliam’
The Fuchsia exorticatica growing beside the front door Lady Alice is flowering more profusely than I have ever seen it. There were flowers here in February which I pictured then.
Fuchsia exorticatica
Fuchsia exorticatica
Fuchsia exorticatica
Fuchsia exorticatica
We cut the rather unusual Syringa pinnatifolia for Chelsea but it may well shed by the time we arrive.
Syringa pinnatifolia
Syringa pinnatifolia
Syringa pinnatifolia
Syringa pinnatifolia
Our old plants of Rhododendron neeriflorum died out years ago. Good to see a new one flowering nicely here and several up on the main ride too. I remember them flowering much earlier in the year.
Rhododendron neeriflorum
Rhododendron neeriflorum
Rhododendron neeriflorum
Rhododendron neeriflorum
In the rockery Azalea ‘Black Hawk’ was sadly too far out to cut.
Azalea ‘Black Hawk’
Azalea ‘Black Hawk’
Azalea ‘Black Hawk’
Azalea ‘Black Hawk’
I have no idea what this dwarf rhododendron is. It likes its hot dry bank (which most do not) and I have never seen it in flower before. Perhaps Rhododendron pemakoense but the leaf is not quite right? More likely to be Rhododendron dendrocharis.
dwarf rhododendron
dwarf rhododendron
This oddity is labelled Rhododendron ‘Barnaby’ but no time now for any research. Chelsea packing next. A Rhododendron triflorum hybrid perhaps?
Rhododendron ‘Barnaby’
Rhododendron ‘Barnaby’
Camellia mathotiana ‘Alba’ still has plenty of flower. Surprising how many japonica camellias still have a good show but none of them would cut for Chelsea this year. In the past we have displayed the odd camellia there.
Camellia mathotiana ‘Alba’
Camellia mathotiana ‘Alba’
2015 – CHW
In at the show by 7am to check no foxes, pigeons or blackbirds have attacked the stand overnight and to await the judges who start at 8am.  They get to us at around 10am and do not take long which is a good sign although there is a lot of pointing at the Magnolia x wiesneri in full flower.  I suspect this is probably good not bad news.  The judges have of course been watching us since Saturday and the monitors who monitor the judges independently have been positive.
Burncoose Nurseries 2015 Gold Chelsea Stand
Burncoose Nurseries 2015 Gold Chelsea Stand
Chelsea stand
Burncoose Nurseries Chelsea stand 2015
Chelsea stand
Burncoose Nurseries Chelsea stand 2015
18 lupinus herbaceous 2652~2
Wonderful lupinus’The Pages’
Dick'
Podophyllum ‘Spotty Dick’
Enkianthus 'Vesta'
Enkianthus ‘Vesta’
Acer 'Red Flamingo'
Acer ‘Red Flamingo’
Chelsea stand (2)
Chelsea stand with our Ashcombe Aquasculptures’ feature

Guy Hands of Terra Firma, our sponsors, arrives at around 9am.  This is the 10th year of his sponsorship and the 17th year we have had the loan of a water feature from the Rayner family and Ashcombe Aquasculptures.   Guy is in a relaxed mood and looking to enjoy the forthcoming celebrity bunfight.   Guy is in gardening mode and we do a joint interview for Sky News.

Guy Hands Geraldine Hammond Brenda Blethyn Charles Williams at Chelsea 2015
Guy Hands, Geraldine Hammond, Brenda Blethyn & Charles Williams at Chelsea 2015
Brenda Blethyn at Chelsea 2015
Brenda Blethyn at Chelsea 2015

The Prince’s Trust, who are Terra Firma’s business charity,  have a list of celebrities who turn out for big events.   We have Brenda Blethyn – Vera in the ITV police series for those who know it which I did not.   A small, amiable, and rather cuddly lady exactly as she is cast in ‘Vera’.   She knows nothing of Chelsea or plants and we know nothing about her so we all get on well. The press assemble in large numbers for Vera/Brenda and the usual scrum and shouting develops.   Karol gets a super shot of Brenda’s bum.   The press try to pinch our drinks and few scuffles break out.   The Terra Firma Italian wine has supercharged corks which go flying as does the pink fizz.   The TV cameras roll.

Chelsea plant of the year 2015
Chelsea plant of the year 2015, Viburnum plicatum ‘Kilimanjaro Sunrise’
Charles Williams & Chris Campbell of Javado, Plant of the Year Award
Charles Williams & Chris Campbell of Javado, Plant of the Year Award

Then we do our own PR pictures capably guided by Shelley and settle down for the morning party to which several of our friends, co-exhibitors, and clients rock up as usual for free drinks.   Several are soon pissed, some on arrival.  One of these is the famous (for his vegetables) Medwyn hot from the RHS Committees (90 people) judging of Plant of the Year.   Medwyn tells us we have WON!  We do not believe him at first then get confirmation and so we have to get the press back and yet more drinks.   12.15 by now.  A huge amount of totally free publicity for Burncoose which we have done nothing to earn but such is life.   Some you win and some you do not (TB).

Some of our staff (me included) are rather more than pissed by now so away go the drinks and we start the long wait for the Queen.   She eventually arrives at 5.30pm to visit the Thailand stand beside ours which is quite something if you like kitsch.   The owner, rumoured to be a billionaire to match Guy, asks me to take the pictures of him and the Thai ambassador meeting the Queen.   I think of declining this kind request but eventually stuff a discreet camera up her Majesty’s nose like everyone else under the glare of the bulging armpits.

2004 – FJW
A magnificent flowering season for nearly everything. A cool but dry season. Today the Garden splendid and Charles’ planting and new plants making their presence felt and hopefully will puzzle many.

1931 – JCW
Of the Magnolia, Brozzoni is the best, Speciosa the next. Some Nicholsoniana, some Wilsoni opening. Sargentiana is over. A few good flowers on the hybrid speciosa yet they were in flower on January 4th.

1930 – JCW
Have caught up and are much as in 1925. The small Nicholosiana has 4 wonderful flowers about 6 in across, the big plant Nicholsiana just opening, it looks well. The big Parviflora never looked better. R aureum is very good, the early Magnolia wilsoni has many flowers open, the others are later. M brozzoni has been ladened with flowers. Mag veitchii had 18 flowers between the two plants, some of the blooms were very large.

1925 – JCW
Azaleas just starting. Zealanicums very fine. Triflorum series not quite their best. Some Augustinii over. Many Davidsonianums to open. The two late back yard Azaleas very good. Pink Kurume bed is over. Bluebells full blast and Recurvas good. Auklandii half open.

1921 – JCW
Azaleas are going over in the sun. Ovatum is nice. Decorum good. Oreotrephes, Occidentalis very good.

1918 – JCW
The azaleas are at their best, most of the good rhodo’s are over. Ovatum is nice. Decorum (the young lot) were very good, Anthony’s seedling rhodo’s are just opening. Delavay’s Yunnanense good yet. Occidentalis lot at their best.

1915 – JCW
Auklandii’s on the wane. Zealanicum hybrids are very good. Yunnanense x Roylei mostly open. Augustinii gone. White and Pink Pearl good as far as they know how. Coombe Royal hybrids very good. Azaleas are very good.

1901 – JCW
About five days behind the above. Auklandii’s just on the turn.

1900 – JCW
Edgeworthi shows colour, Fortunei at its best. Very dry.