19th 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

Azalea ‘Whitethroat’ on the drive. A pure double white and mid-season amongst the deciduous azalea varieties.

Azalea ‘Whitethroat’
Azalea ‘Whitethroat’
The rare Halesia diptera has made a recovery from near death last year and the half of the shrub that has survived has plenty of flower.
Halesia diptera
Halesia diptera
Another decent Cornus x rutgersensis ‘Stellar Pink’ by Red Linney.
Cornus x rutgersensis ‘Stellar Pink’
Cornus x rutgersensis ‘Stellar Pink’
Camellia japonica ‘Juno’ still has enough flowers for a decent show in mid-late May. Queen wasp here too.
Camellia japonica ‘Juno’
Camellia japonica ‘Juno’
As does Camellia japonica ‘Lady de Saumarez’.
Camellia japonica ‘Lady de Saumarez’
Camellia japonica ‘Lady de Saumarez’
Cutting back the big old clumps of Rhododendron davidsonianum above LQN. They have finished flowering but not yet set seed or new growth so we hope their energy will now go into reshooting vigorously.
Rhododendron davidsonianum
Rhododendron davidsonianum
Azalea ‘Silver Slipper’ just out.
Azalea ‘Silver Slipper’
Azalea ‘Silver Slipper’
Azalea calendulaceum – Sandling orange – red form. A very good addition to our species collection.
Azalea calendulaceum
Azalea calendulaceum
Azalea calendulaceum
Azalea calendulaceum
Mallotus japonicus with its startling red new growth.
Mallotus japonicus
Mallotus japonicus
Another great find – Rhododendron sinofalconeri (CW&T 6405) flowering for the first time here in recent years that I know of. The plant is hidden away and will need clearing around soon.
Rhododendron sinofalconeri (CW&T 6405)
Rhododendron sinofalconeri (CW&T 6405)
Rhododendron sinofalconeri (CW&T 6405)
Rhododendron sinofalconeri (CW&T 6405)
Rhododendron sinofalconeri (CW&T 6405)
Rhododendron sinofalconeri (CW&T 6405)
Rhododendron ‘Polyroy’ is perhaps the best show in the garden today.
Rhododendron ‘Polyroy’
Rhododendron ‘Polyroy’
Rhododendron ‘Polyroy’
Rhododendron ‘Polyroy’
Magnolia x foggii ‘Jack Fogg’ smelling splendid.
Magnolia x foggii ‘Jack Fogg’
Magnolia x foggii ‘Jack Fogg’
Magnolia x foggii ‘Jack Fogg’
Magnolia x foggii ‘Jack Fogg’
Still plenty of flowers at the top of Camellia x williamsii ‘Elsie Jury’ on HCR.
Camellia x williamsii ‘Elsie Jury’
Camellia x williamsii ‘Elsie Jury’
There are in fact 6 cygnets this year.
cygnets
cygnets
A gigantic Davidia involucrata in the churchyard at Creed.
Davidia involucrata
Davidia involucrata
Davidia involucrata
Davidia involucrata
Davidia involucrata
Davidia involucrata

2023 – CHW
Photinia parvifolia flowering for the first time here. Hawthorn like! Our Photinia species collection is growing nicely. Only 2 more species to get to have the full list of those in the Hilliers catalogue. 16 species here now.

Photinia parvifolia
Photinia parvifolia
Aesculus hippocastanum ‘Baumannii’ full out well before most of the other species of Aesculus which are now on the way.
Aesculus hippocastanum ‘Baumannii’
Aesculus hippocastanum ‘Baumannii’
Quercus rugosa with new growth appearing. The old leaves are wind battered.
Quercus rugosa
Quercus rugosa
Magnolia (Michelia) ‘White Caviar’ is another in the series of these extraordinary (M. figo x M. doltsopa) New Zealand hybrids. The flowers on M. ‘Port Wine’ may well not be that different to M. figo itself (as we saw recently) but ‘White Caviar’ is getting better and better. Unlike M. figo the flowers open out flat and have gorgeous dark pink centres as you can see here. Looking in the Eisenhut reference book I see that there are even more named varieties of similar parentage. There are all very desirable garden plants which will grow in popularity in the next decade when people get to see them growing away properly.
Magnolia (Michelia) ‘White Caviar’
Magnolia (Michelia) ‘White Caviar’
Magnolia (Michelia) ‘White Caviar’
Magnolia (Michelia) ‘White Caviar’
Magnolia (Michelia) ‘White Caviar’
Magnolia (Michelia) ‘White Caviar’
Magnolia (Michelia) ‘White Caviar’
Magnolia (Michelia) ‘White Caviar’
Pseudopanax ‘Moas Toes’ romping skywards above Crinodendron Hedge. Tree like!
Pseudopanax ‘Moas Toes’
Pseudopanax ‘Moas Toes’
A good new clump of (deciduous) Azalea ‘Silver Slipper’ nearby. The contrast between new growth and flower is attractive.
Azalea ‘Silver Slipper’
Azalea ‘Silver Slipper’
All the new planting above Crinodendron Hedge is shaping up well with many new things to enjoy over the seasons. Need to cut back to reshoot both the Escallonia species here despite them only being in the ground for 3 or 4 years.

2022 – CHW

Despite some welcome light rain the woodland garden flowering of rhododendrons, camellias and (most) magnolias is now fast approaching the end of the season. Everything has been two to three weeks earlier than usual right through the spring even though the deciduous azaleas are only half out today and the styrax and stewartia have yet to start properly. The prunus are well over and the malus (mostly) nearing the end of their equally early season. Some aesculus are out but plenty of species to come. Chelsea departure on Saturday although the team have been on the showground since Tuesday.

Magnolia sieboldii ‘Pride of Norway’ – not much different, as I see it, to M. sieboldii ‘Michiko Renge’ apart from being a week or so later into full flower. I confess to not looking in the reference books for the differences.

Magnolia sieboldii ‘Pride of Norway’
Magnolia sieboldii ‘Pride of Norway’
Magnolia sieboldii ‘Pride of Norway’
Magnolia sieboldii ‘Pride of Norway’
Magnolia sieboldii ‘Pride of Norway’
Magnolia sieboldii ‘Pride of Norway’
Squirrel damage on another Magnolia sieboldii growing very nearby. Think how much worse this problem would be without ‘tree rat’ control?
Magnolia sieboldii
Magnolia sieboldii
Paulownia tomentosa ‘Lilacina’ in the distance with Rhododendron crassum in the foreground. Strangely the other paulownia species have yet to flower.
Paulownia tomentosa ‘Lilacina’
Paulownia tomentosa ‘Lilacina’
Another named Magnolia sieboldii but only the tail end of the label survives and it is not in the planting plan. I did not photograph today two older M. sieboldii (unnamed) on the main path as they are not out yet and there are a few more to photograph around and about and in Old Park. However I have to conclude that they are all much the same apart, perhaps, from flower size and the timing of the flowering. Our old M. sieboldii subsp. sinensis has much better and larger flowers (and differently positioned on the branches – i.e. pendulous rather than at right angles). I say again that I agree with the upcoming International Dendrology Society (IDS) review of magnolias which will probably make M. sinensis a species in its own right. Karol has now sent 5-600 magnolia pictures of ours to the IDS for use in the new and extensive magnolia section of their online website which can be viewed by anyone. It may take many years to perform similar erudite taxonomy and descriptive work with photographs (unlike Bean/Hillier’s) for all the other genera which we enjoy growing!
Magnolia sieboldii
Magnolia sieboldii
Magnolia sieboldii
Magnolia sieboldii
Magnolia sieboldii
Magnolia sieboldii
Most of the Enkianthus species/hybrid collection above Hovel Cart Road are prematurely over except for Enkianthus campanulatus ‘Hollandia’ which is outstanding!
Enkianthus campanulatus ‘Hollandia’
Enkianthus campanulatus ‘Hollandia’
Enkianthus campanulatus ‘Hollandia’
Enkianthus campanulatus ‘Hollandia’
Enkianthus hirtinervus is always the last species to flower but it is having a year off from flowering and very few, as yet not really open, flower clusters. You can see why this is when you look at the hanging seedheads from last year which have used up all its energy for this season in a dry spring.
Enkianthus hirtinervus
Enkianthus hirtinervus
Enkianthus hirtinervus
Enkianthus hirtinervus
A picture from Chelsea shows the stand taking shape.
Chelsea
Chelsea

2021 – CHW
A present from the Rev Michael Warner of Thuja plicata ‘Whipcord’. A most peculiar plant which will never get very large and is suitable for a rockery or upraised bed.
Thuja plicata ‘Whipcord’
Thuja plicata ‘Whipcord’
Cutting back laurel and rhododendron above Hovel Cart Road.
laurel and rhododendron
laurel and rhododendron
A clump of six Enkianthus chinensis on Hovel Cart Road.
Enkianthus chinensis
Enkianthus chinensis
Enkianthus chinensis
Enkianthus chinensis
Staphylea colchica ‘Black Beauty’ is a welcome addition to the Staphylea collection.
Staphylea colchica ‘Black Beauty’
Staphylea colchica ‘Black Beauty’
Sorbus helenae (ex Mt Omei) just into leaf and flower.
Sorbus helenae
Sorbus helenae
A very good show on a somewhat hidden away Michelia foggii ‘Jack Fogg’ above Crinodendron Hedge.
Michelia foggii ‘Jack Fogg’
Michelia foggii ‘Jack Fogg’
New leaves on Fagus sylvatica ‘Prince George of Crete’.
Fagus sylvatica ‘Prince George of Crete’
Fagus sylvatica ‘Prince George of Crete’
Podocarpus lawrencei ‘Purple King’ purchased at Hampton Court in 2019.
Podocarpus lawrencei ‘Purple King’
Podocarpus lawrencei ‘Purple King’
Rhododendron ‘Graziella’ can be a shy flowerer but not this year.
Rhododendron ‘Graziella’
Rhododendron ‘Graziella’
Rhododendron ‘Graziella’
Rhododendron ‘Graziella’
A 2017 planted Sorbus hedlundii (GWJ 9363) just into leaf. Spectacular foliage!
Sorbus hedlundii
Sorbus hedlundii
Picrasma quassiodes is a new rarity leafing up in its second year after planting.
Picrasma quassiodes
Picrasma quassiodes
Another clump of Enkianthus cernuus recurvus rather darker in colour.
Enkianthus cernuus recurvus
Enkianthus cernuus recurvus
Enkianthus cernuus recurvus
Enkianthus cernuus recurvus
Enkianthus campanulatus ‘Showy Lantern’ a wonderful bright red in colour. Silly name perhaps but spectacular against other red forms.
Enkianthus campanulatus ‘Showy Lantern’
Enkianthus campanulatus ‘Showy Lantern’
Carpinus nimpoli which seems to be a dwarf species with tiny leaves. I find this species impossible to trace in the reference books, but it came from Bulk or Roundabarrow.
Carpinus nimpoli
Carpinus nimpoli

2020 – CHW
Lord Sugar is not someone who one would normally find supporting the government but here is a missive from him taking aim at the BBC and negative political reporting of the pandemic which underlines the grim reality of how our journalistic elite have behaved. You can just hear them asking the questions listed here!
Lord Sugar
Lord Sugar
Lord Sugar
Lord Sugar
A survivor from my mother’s gardening era is a small bed of Iris siberica ‘Snow Queen’.
Iris siberica ‘Snow Queen’
Iris siberica ‘Snow Queen’
And one of her favourite roses.
roses
roses
There was an Echium pininana height competition a few years ago with 18ft being the tallest. These cannot be far off that.
Echium pininana
Echium pininana
Echium pininana
Echium pininana
My father was also very fond of granny’s bonnets which still thrive outside the dining room.
granny’s bonnets
granny’s bonnets
Weigelia florida ‘Variegata’ with the usual reversions.
Weigelia florida ‘Variegata’
Weigelia florida ‘Variegata’
Weigelia florida ‘Variegata’
Weigelia florida ‘Variegata’
Jasminum humile ‘Revolutum’ just coming out.
Jasminum humile ‘Revolutum’
Jasminum humile ‘Revolutum’
Jasminum beesianum likewise.
Jasminum beesianum
Jasminum beesianum
Weigelia florida ‘Variegata’ is now a large shrub!
Weigelia florida ‘Variegata’
Weigelia florida ‘Variegata’
The much smaller leaves of Tilia kiuisiana.
Tilia kiuisiana
Tilia kiuisiana
Tilia kiuisiana
Tilia kiuisiana
Tilia endochrysa
Tilia endochrysa
Tilia endochrysa
Tilia endochrysa
Tilia endochrysa
Nyssa sinensis (FMW 713122) has exceptional spring new growth as well as autumn colour.
Nyssa sinensis
Nyssa sinensis
Nyssa sinensis
Nyssa sinensis
Rhododendron polyandrum and Rhododendron crassum are very similar. The difference seems to be the contorted branch growth of polyandrum.
Rhododendron polyandrum
Rhododendron polyandrum
Rhododendron polyandrum
Rhododendron polyandrum
Rhododendron griersonianum has always been a sparse flowerer but this clump is very old indeed.
Rhododendron griersonianum
Rhododendron griersonianum
Rhododendron griersonianum
Rhododendron griersonianum
Rhododendron haematodes nearly over.
Rhododendron haematodes
Rhododendron haematodes
Carpinus fangiana leaves are easily recognisable.
Carpinus fangiana
Carpinus fangiana
Carpinus fangiana
Carpinus fangiana

2019 – CHW
We start at 8am to finish off. Gerry with the final labels.
Gerry
Gerry
Christine is titivating leaves and removing dead flowers or damaged leaves.
Christine
Christine
Karol and Rob (not yet) on the turf.
Karol and Rob
Karol and Rob
Karol and Rob
Karol and Rob
Leo is sorting the seed rack.
Leo
Leo
Virtually finished and looking good.
Virtually finished
Virtually finished
The Radio Cornwall team turn up for an interview. Liam Shoesmith (who once worked at the nursery) and Daphne Skinnard.
Radio Cornwall team
Radio Cornwall team
Karol Klein (VMH) does a brief filmed walk past the stand.
Karol Klein
Karol Klein
Karol Klein
Karol Klein
The final touches as the gate gets hung.
final touches
final touches
Nearly finished.
The farewell photos as Rob and Louisa head off back to Cornwall in the lorry at 2.30pm. As early a finish as for many years at Chelsea.
farewell photos
farewell photos
farewell photos
farewell photos
Christine, Louisa and Gerry who did most of the work and all the planning for the stand. A fabulous team with some (soon to be Gold medal) chrysanths in the background – no doubt shipped from Holland.
Christine, Louisa and Gerry
Christine, Louisa and Gerry

2018 – CHW
I have left this lot to fill the day as it will be another 48 hours before I can get decent quality (ie not mobile) ‘live’ pictures back from Chelsea.I first photographed flowers on Camellia x williamsii ‘Mary Jobson’ in December. Here are the last few flowers in late May still with a little scent. Six months flowering is not bad!
Camellia x williamsii ‘Mary Jobson’
Camellia x williamsii ‘Mary Jobson’
Magnolia x brooklynensis ‘Woodsman’ x Magnolia ‘Patriot’ has astonishing blue buds with a silvery indumentum. They open blueish and then a blueish yellow. Better than Magnolia acuminata ‘Blue Opal’ I believe. Not the most startling magnolia from a distance but a genuinely new magnolia colour close up. One for Asia to perform her aerial layering on.
Magnolia x brooklynensis ‘Woodsman’ x Magnolia ‘Patriot’
Magnolia x brooklynensis ‘Woodsman’ x Magnolia ‘Patriot’
Magnolia x brooklynensis ‘Woodsman’ x Magnolia ‘Patriot’
Magnolia x brooklynensis ‘Woodsman’ x Magnolia ‘Patriot’
Magnolia x brooklynensis ‘Woodsman’ x Magnolia ‘Patriot’
Magnolia x brooklynensis ‘Woodsman’ x Magnolia ‘Patriot’
Magnolia ‘Ossies Yellow’ is now full out and as good a yellow as thought 10 to 12 days ago. The buds particularly so.
Magnolia ‘Ossies Yellow’
Magnolia ‘Ossies Yellow’
Magnolia ‘Ossies Yellow’
Magnolia ‘Ossies Yellow’
Rhododendron zaleucum (KW 20837) flowering for the first time since planting in 2017. Yellow flowers on this species which is normally pink-rose-purple in colour suggest it is Rhododendron zaleucum var flaviflorum from north Burma or so the pocket handbook says.
Rhododendron zaleucum
Rhododendron zaleucum
Camellia pitardii (wild collected) still has a few flowers left. Very late for this species.
Camellia pitardii
Camellia pitardii
Rhododendron elliottii is just coming out but not enough flowers to have cut for Chelsea and the plants are too small and precious to mess with.
Rhododendron elliottii
Rhododendron elliottii
Rhododendron elliottii
Rhododendron elliottii
Fagus sylvatica ‘Aurea Pendula’ looking splendid in the early morning sun. This plant once went to Chelsea but is now growing away well.
Fagus sylvatica ‘Aurea Pendula’
Fagus sylvatica ‘Aurea Pendula’
Fagus sylvatica ‘Aurea Pendula’
Fagus sylvatica ‘Aurea Pendula’

2017 – CHW
We arrive at the Chelsea Flower Show before midday. The stand is well on course to be ready for the judges at 7.30am on Monday and, barring incidents, will be virtually finished by Sunday. Gerry, Louisa and Jon have worked incredibly hard in the previous three days to get this far. The Rayner fountain at the centre of the stand has a burst pipe so Giles has to return from Oxfordshire to fix it. The cut stuff has travelled well and Rob proves to be a dab hand at floral arrangements. The Magnolia sieboldii is hellish to arrange properly in a vase.Karol starts to take some pictures of the developing stand.
pictures of the developing stand
pictures of the developing stand
pictures of the developing stand
pictures of the developing stand
pictures of the developing stand
pictures of the developing stand
pictures of the developing stand
pictures of the developing stand
pictures of the developing stand
pictures of the developing stand
pictures of the developing stand
pictures of the developing stand
pictures of the developing stand
pictures of the developing stand
pictures of the developing stand
pictures of the developing stand

2016 – CHW
Cut stuff all loaded on the lorry and on its way. Weather in London dry Saturday, wet on Sunday so it may well not open as much as we would like by Monday! Nothing we can do about it now of course except listen to the judges moan and criticise as sometimes they do. Photographed a really rare new plant for next year’s catalogue in the nursery today – Euptelia pleiosperma. Nice looking new growth and something to read up about after the rigors of Chelsea. Also the very striking but obviously tender Passiflora piresii with its bright red flowers.
Euptelia pleiosperma
Euptelia pleiosperma
Euptelia pleiosperma
Euptelia pleiosperma
Passiflora piresii
Passiflora piresii
Daphne gemmata
Daphne gemmata

Daphne gemmata used to grow here in full shade by the playhouse or perhaps it was Daphne pontica? Nice but not exactly a woodland plant for Caerhays. It was the first daphne I ever saw and I had no idea what it was until I went to work at Windsor and discovered ‘daphnes’. Today we have here two or three forms of the short lived Daphne bholua varieties.

I have been pondering what this species is in the rockery and thought at first Rhododendron pentaphyllum but it is actually a light coloured form of Rhododendron reticulatum. The new leaf form gives it away. It is our only plant of this. Rh reticulatum comes in a wide variety of colours and subspecies (we have Rhododendron kyosumense). They are not quite fully deciduous in our climate.
Rhododendron reticulatum
Rhododendron reticulatum
Rhododendron reticulatum
Rhododendron reticulatum
Also in the rockery is a dwarf Azalea indicum (Rhododendron indicum) which I thought last year was called ‘Bungo-Nishiki’. I now cannot find this name or picture. The closest I can get to it in Galle’s azalea book is Azalea indicum ‘Balsaminaeflorum’ but it is clearly orange here and a pinkish/red in the book. Perhaps I was right first time around?
Azalea indicum ‘Balsaminaeflorum’
Azalea indicum ‘Balsaminaeflorum’
Azalea indicum ‘Balsaminaeflorum’
Azalea indicum ‘Balsaminaeflorum’
Azalea ‘Purple Splendour’ beside it is much younger and needs cutting down. A fair bit of it is on its way to Chelsea where it will hopefully open more fully.
Azalea ‘Purple Splendour’
Azalea ‘Purple Splendour’
Azalea ‘Purple Splendour’
Azalea ‘Purple Splendour’
The Echium pininana on the lawn photographed after the winter gales looked black and nearly dead – today they are 20ft tall and coming nicely into flower. Pink buds opening to blue. They will quickly die after flowering and seed everywhere which is no problem. We have a fine 6ft plant in flower on its way to Chelsea.
Echium pininana
Echium pininana
Echium pininana
Echium pininana
2015 – CHW
News reaches us at 6.30am that the stand has won its first GOLD medal in four years so I hurry into the show and start ringing the press and our PR people.  Lots of the usual shrieks and kissing for some and tears and angry faces from others.  We do not go in for any of that!
Burncoose Nurseries 2015 Gold Chelsea Stand
Burncoose Nurseries 2015 Gold Chelsea Stand

At 8am the first public are let in and we brace ourselves for the repetitive spiel about the Plant of the Year brandishing the order books.  Helpfully the Plant of the Year stand with 10,000 leaflets per day is very close to us.  We are on the front cover or rather the viburnum is.

Chelsea stand
Burncoose Nurseries Gold winning stand at Chelsea stand
Chelsea stand (2)
Burncoose Nurseries Gold winning stand at Chelsea 2015
Burncoose Nurseries at Chelsea 2015
Burncoose Nurseries at Chelsea 2015
Chelsea 2015 Javado 4744
Chelsea 2015 Plant of the year award
Charles Williams with Plant of the Year award Chelsea 2015
Charles Williams with Plant of the Year award Chelsea 2015

At midday Chris and I go off for the prize giving.  Showers are forecast so instead of a trip to the bandstand the president (Nikko Bacon) comes in person to the Plant of the Year stand to make the presentation accompanied by Sue Biggs, the RHS Director General, who is exactly as her name implies.  Yet more photos of the trophy which is Dartington glass and then to the Burncoose stand for more smiles and snaps.  The public crowd in and I am glad not to have had a hangover after the gala night and be in bed by 10pm.

Plenty to celebrate after a hectic day talking to the punters so 5pm and the President’s Drinks are very jolly.  Lots of friends and a few RHS ears to bend.  Stagger off to Buckingham Palace for a private view of horticultural paintings in the Queens Gallery hosted by the Game Conservancy and Prince Philip.  Very much the worse for wear by the end but no incidents that I recollect.

Chelsea 2015-Javado
Chelsea 2015- with Sue Biggs RHS Director General
Chelsea gold award
Chelsea gold award

1941 – CW
First rain for weeks last night. Bracken cut by frost below 4 in Hand a few days ago. Auklandii at its best and Zealanicum hybrid. Mag wilsoni and nicholsiana just coming out. Also Azaleas. There are still flowers on Camellia speciosa but the last. The hybrids over. All small Azaleas very good.

1940 – CW
Mag nicholsiana at best but big one mostly over. Wilsoni fully out, Parviflora just first lot of flowers. Auklandii still good in places. Tally Ho just coming out and Azaleas at their best. Took 2200 odd flowers off the Rho orbiculare. It has layered itself. Rain badly wanted.

1932 – JCW
Augustinii very good in most places, and so are the Maddeni x Roylei. Mag speciosa and alba superba are very good.

1927 – JCW
Mag parviflora is very very good the big one, Nicholsoniana with about 9 flowers is very promising. Rhodo’s burnt out by the sun and dry air. Some Azaleas in the Hovel are nice.

1926 – JCW
Primula pulverulenta has been long of flower. May was open on April 24th. Blue beds at their best. Roylei cinnabarinum in the new planting is nice, also Rho zealanicum.

1906 – JCW
The first flower of Primula pulverulenta open.

1900 – JCW
Moved seven trumpets from the Kitchen Garden to the rose bed. No waterlilies.

One thought on “19th May

  1. Congratulations Charles on another herculean effort and hugely amusing blog. I bet it was hellish hot in that marquee. Look forward to seeing the pictures.

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