25th 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

Magnolia rostrata is very seldom out in May even in a very early year but here we are with flowers and gigantic leaves.

Magnolia rostrata
Magnolia rostrata
Magnolia rostrata
Magnolia rostrata
The veteran Lithocarpus cleistocarpus trying very hard to produce seed clusters.
Lithocarpus cleistocarpus
Lithocarpus cleistocarpus
Lithocarpus cleistocarpus
Lithocarpus cleistocarpus
Rhododendron stamineum out more or less exactly on time. We have exhibited this at Chelsea a few times over the years.
Rhododendron stamineum
Rhododendron stamineum
Rhododendron ‘Lem’s Monarch’ now at its finest.
Rhododendron ‘Lem’s Monarch’
Rhododendron ‘Lem’s Monarch’
Rhododendron ‘Lem’s Monarch’
Rhododendron ‘Lem’s Monarch’
The very scented Rhododendron excellens (C&H 7180) just opening.
Rhododendron excellens (C&H 7180)
Rhododendron excellens (C&H 7180)
Styrax japonicus ‘Evening Light’ with its black new growth.
Styrax japonicus ‘Evening Light’
Styrax japonicus ‘Evening Light’
A drought battling Magnolia sieboldii which I had pruned again today back to the most promising new shoots.
Magnolia sieboldii
Magnolia sieboldii
Wonderful new growth on Schefflera delavayi.
Schefflera delavayi
Schefflera delavayi
35 year old ash trees below Kennel Close quietly dying. A new threat to all our new planting here. Do we act now or do we wait for them to die and blow down?
35 year old ash trees
35 year old ash trees
Styrax japonicus ‘Jippei-kawamure’ has large flowers but they are well hidden within the tree.
Styrax japonicus ‘Jippei-kawamure’
Styrax japonicus ‘Jippei-kawamure’
Styrax formosanus var. hayatiana in Kennel Close with multiple shoots from the base. Our other mature plant does not yet have this.
Styrax formosanus var. hayatiana
Styrax formosanus var. hayatiana

2023 – CHW
Magnolia ‘Sunset Swirl’ is rather similar to ‘Peachy’, ‘Daybreak’ and ‘Flamingo’. Not bad at all though.

Magnolia ‘Sunset Swirl’
Magnolia ‘Sunset Swirl’
Diplopanax stachyanthus (WWJ 12110) is about to flower for the first time. It was only planted in 2017 but has grown exponentially and is now about 12-15 feet in height. An exciting new development in the garden this year, we hope, when it actually opens.
Diplopanax stachyanthus
Diplopanax stachyanthus
The restoration of Penvergate Farmhouse by KPK Builders has just started. The first picture shows what is left of the “listed” staircase when removed and the others show the sorry state of the front of the building. How much extra repair cost after a 2 year wait for Planning Permission with the building empty? Another disgraceful opt out by government/ local authority officials ‘inundated with work’ but, in reality, working from home when they feel like it (seldom!) Yet another public “service” which is not functioning at all (despite their enormous index linked pensions which we pay for).
Penvergate Farmhouse
Penvergate Farmhouse
Penvergate Farmhouse
Penvergate Farmhouse
Penvergate Farmhouse
Penvergate Farmhouse
Penvergate Farmhouse
Penvergate Farmhouse
Azalea ‘Delicatissimum’ planted last year in Kennel Close. An ancient clump on the drive.
Azalea ‘Delicatissimum’
Azalea ‘Delicatissimum’
Magnolia ‘Peaches and Cream’ – whats in a name like this?
Magnolia ‘Peaches and Cream’
Magnolia ‘Peaches and Cream’
A young Sorbus hedlundii in flower.
Sorbus hedlundii
Sorbus hedlundii
Magnolia ‘Daybreak’ x M. ‘Gold Cup’ – not bad for late season.
Magnolia ‘Daybreak’ x M. ‘Gold Cup’
Magnolia ‘Daybreak’ x M. ‘Gold Cup’
Magnolia ‘Daybreak’ x M. ‘Gold Cup’
Magnolia ‘Daybreak’ x M. ‘Gold Cup’
Magnolia ‘Strawberry Shake’ (I think) although rather past its best.
Magnolia ‘Strawberry Shake’
Magnolia ‘Strawberry Shake’
Carpinus rankanensis in full new growth.
Carpinus rankanensis
Carpinus rankanensis
Azalea ‘Cinzia’ is a new variety and not in the Burncoose catalogue. Quite nice and floriferous.
Azalea ‘Cinzia’
Azalea ‘Cinzia’
Rhododendron ‘Graziella’ nicely into flower in late May by George’s Hut.
Rhododendron ‘Graziella’
Rhododendron ‘Graziella’
Magnolia ‘Touch of Pink’ leafless (as normal) but still with decent flowers with the ‘touch’!
Magnolia ‘Touch of Pink’
Magnolia ‘Touch of Pink’

2022 – CHW
Meanwhile back at Caerhays Jaimie records the following which I am missing in the garden today.

Magnolia ‘Anilou’ turns out to be as good a yellow as its writeups have suggested.

Magnolia ‘Anilou’
Magnolia ‘Anilou’
Crataegus combyi
Crataegus combyi
Crataegus combyi
Crataegus combyi
Crataegus combyi
Crataegus aprica
Crataegus aprica
Crataegus aprica
Crataegus aprica
Crataegus aprica
Magnolia ‘Daybreak’ x ‘Gold Cup’ – planted 2014
Magnolia ‘Daybreak’ x ‘Gold Cup’
Magnolia ‘Daybreak’ x ‘Gold Cup’
Crataegus laevigata ‘Paul’s Scarlett’ now properly out.
Crataegus laevigata ‘Paul’s Scarlett’
Crataegus laevigata ‘Paul’s Scarlett’
Crataegus laevigata ‘Paul’s Scarlett’
Crataegus laevigata ‘Paul’s Scarlett’
Aesculus sylvatica – not sure?
Aesculus sylvatica
Aesculus sylvatica
Aesculus sylvatica
Aesculus sylvatica

2021 – CHW
A nursery day with a plant order for Lanarth, lots of pictures of new plants but the video programme was interrupted by heavy rain.Rooted camellia liners to be potted next week in the mist benches.
camellia species liners
camellia species liners
Rooted camellia species liners in trays.
camellia species liners
camellia species liners
Luma apiculata self-sown seedlings from Caerhays now potted up.
Luma apiculata self-sown seedlings
Luma apiculata self-sown seedlings
Luma apiculata self-sown seedlings
Luma apiculata self-sown seedlings
Louisa, the chief propagator, keeps stock plants for cuttings of Rhododendron ‘Cornish Red’ in the mist houses. The new growth is now clean and ready for propagation.
Rhododendron ‘Cornish Red’
Rhododendron ‘Cornish Red’
Another mist house of rooted camellia cuttings ready to pot on.
camellia cuttings
camellia cuttings
Paeonia delavayi by the mist houses in full flower at around 6ft tall.
Paeonia delavayi
Paeonia delavayi
Our stock plant for cuttings of Weinmannia trichosperma.
Weinmannia trichosperma
Weinmannia trichosperma
A good batch of recently potted Lomatia ferruginea.
Lomatia ferruginea
Lomatia ferruginea
Embothrium lanceolatum seedlings have germinated well and are now being pricked out and potted in small pots.
Embothrium lanceolatum seedlings
Embothrium lanceolatum seedlings
Embothrium lanceolatum seedlings
Embothrium lanceolatum seedlings
A good new crop of Jacaranda mimosifolia growing on well after suffering in the March frosts.
Jacaranda mimosifolia
Jacaranda mimosifolia
Rhododendron polyandrum is out a fortnight after the very similar Rhododendron crassum. Slightly smaller flowers and twisted branches differentiate it.
Rhododendron polyandrum
Rhododendron polyandrum

2020 – CHW
The news from Porthluney beach and café, as well as at Burncoose, is that people are obeying the distancing rules, behaving sensibly and normally in the new queue system. I am not sure why anyone would have expected anything else?The BBC is of course on the killjoy theme of disgraceful crowds at south coast beaches but I spoke to people today who have visited the beaches at St Ives and Perranporth where the towns/villages were still deserted. That is quite something for St Ives which can be heaving with people even in February. ‘Keep the emmets away’ is the prompt but the same locals still do not get it. The vast majority of them rely on tourists for some part of their wages or business income.Once gardens and other visitor attractions (which are outdoors) can open with new rules I guess that we can start charging for the beach car park. The National Trust are already charging for some of their coastal parks but the local council park at Perranporth was still free to use.Quite a performance for us setting up a contactless payment system at the car park which has previously only taken cash (£4.00 per day). Let us hope that the new Wi-Fi booster aerial works as there is, as yet, no electricity in the car park hut. Next year we will try to install machines but this will be an expensive exercise with cable digging.Looking good at Burncoose today on a photography visit:
Acradenia frankenii
Acradenia frankenii
Acradenia frankenii
Acradenia frankenii
New growth on Clerodendron trichotomum.
Clerodendron trichotomum
Clerodendron trichotomum
Rhododendron ‘Marcel Menard’
Rhododendron ‘Marcel Menard’
Rhododendron ‘Sneezy’
Rhododendron ‘Sneezy’
Rhododendron ‘Sneezy’
Rhododendron ‘Sneezy’
Clematis montana ‘Grandiflora’ and Wisteria ‘Caroline’.
Clematis montana ‘Grandiflora’ and Wisteria ‘Caroline’.
Wisteria floribunda ‘Alba’ and Rosa banksiae ‘Alba Plena’
Wisteria floribunda ‘Alba’ and Rosa banksiae ‘Alba Plena’

Then quickly back here. The nursery was not at all busy but the few customers had large laden trollies.

Rhododendron ‘Polyroy’ making a fine display by Georges Hut.

Rhododendron ‘Polyroy’
Rhododendron ‘Polyroy’
A large Philadelphus (10-12ft x 6-8ft) tucked away by Georges Hut which is not on Jaimie’s post 1997 planting plans.
Philadelphus
Philadelphus
Philadelphus
Philadelphus
First signs of reshooting on the record Magnolia ‘Cecil Nice’ which fell over in a gale and was pollarded last winter.
Magnolia ‘Cecil Nice’
Magnolia ‘Cecil Nice’
Firmania simplex struggling into leaf. At Ventnor Botanic’s this is a small tree. I do not think it can survive with us unfortunately even in a sheltered spot.
Firmania simplex
Firmania simplex
Photinia davidiana in the Rookery (formerly Stransvaesia davidiana).
Photinia davidiana
Photinia davidiana
Photinia davidiana
Photinia davidiana
Acer maximowiczianum (Acer nikoense) with fully formed seeds already.
Acer maximowiczianum (Acer nikoense)
Acer maximowiczianum (Acer nikoense)
Acer maximowiczianum (Acer nikoense)
Acer maximowiczianum (Acer nikoense)
Azalea ‘Silver Slipper’ by the Green Gate.
Azalea ‘Silver Slipper’
Azalea ‘Silver Slipper’
Azalea ‘Silver Slipper’
Azalea ‘Silver Slipper’
The deciduous azaleas below the Green Gate are quite a sight today.
deciduous azaleas
deciduous azaleas
deciduous azaleas
deciduous azaleas
The huge clump of Rhododendron ‘Sappho’ in Forty Acres from a distance.
Rhododendron ‘Sappho’
Rhododendron ‘Sappho’
The new swans nest under construction in the centre of the picture.
Swans nest
Swans nest
The two swans soon drive a single Canada goose off the water with menaces.
Two swans
Two swans

One-hundred cars parked at Porthluney Beach mid-afternoon today. All for free!

Azalea ‘Gina Mae’ is a cross between Azalea ‘Cecile’ and Azalea ‘Homebush’. The latter gives it its double flower.

Azalea ‘Gina Mae’
Azalea ‘Gina Mae’
Azalea ‘Jock Brydon’ back from the Four-in-Hand is now a good clump although only planted in 2007. Looks good beside ‘Gina Mae’.
Azalea ‘Jock Brydon’
Azalea ‘Jock Brydon’
Azalea ‘Jock Brydon’
Azalea ‘Jock Brydon’
Rhododendron kiusianum is not flowering much this year.
Rhododendron kiusianum

Rhododendron kiusianum
Rhododendron ‘Tally Hoo’ on the drive is just out.
Rhododendron ‘Tally Hoo’
Rhododendron ‘Tally Hoo’
Rhododendron ‘Tally Hoo’
Rhododendron ‘Tally Hoo’
Azalea ‘Sun Chariot’ growing in shade.
Azalea ‘Sun Chariot’
Azalea ‘Sun Chariot’
Azalea ‘Sun Chariot’
Azalea ‘Sun Chariot’
First flower on Hydrangea ‘Ayesha’.
Hydrangea ‘Ayesha’
Hydrangea ‘Ayesha’
Rhododendron ‘Moonstone Group’ has now been out for ages.
Rhododendron ‘Moonstone Group’
Rhododendron ‘Moonstone Group’
Rhododendron ‘Moonstone Group’
Rhododendron ‘Moonstone Group’
Rhododendron ‘Moonstone Group’
Rhododendron ‘Moonstone Group’
Crataegus laevigata ‘Paul’s Scarlet’ had been recently blown over in the wind. Now righted and looking no worse for the fall. Quite some show for a 2011 planting.
Crataegus laevigata ‘Paul’s Scarlet’
Crataegus laevigata ‘Paul’s Scarlet’
Crataegus laevigata ‘Paul’s Scarlet’
Crataegus laevigata ‘Paul’s Scarlet’
Crataegus laevigata ‘Paul’s Scarlet’
Crataegus laevigata ‘Paul’s Scarlet’
Philadelphus sericanthus in its second year of flowering.
Philadelphus sericanthus
Philadelphus sericanthus
I have absolutely no idea what this is. We clearly thought it dull on planting as it was put in a bad spot. This is the first time that I have seen the flowers. Chelsea week again. It is actually quite pretty!
No idea what this is
No idea what this is
No idea what this is
No idea what this is

2019 – CHW

One of the best cut things which we had on the Burncoose Chelsea stand was Rhododendron “Lem’s Monarch”. Here it is in its full splendour by Georges Hut looking exactly as behind the sales point at the show.

Rhododendron “Lem’s Monarch”
Rhododendron “Lem’s Monarch”
Rhododendron “Lem’s Monarch”
Rhododendron “Lem’s Monarch”
Rhododendron “Lem’s Monarch”
Rhododendron “Lem’s Monarch”
Calycanthus floridus ‘Athens’ with far more greenish yellow flowers than I have seen before on what is still a small plant. I first saw this at Chelsea 20+ years ago on the Mallet Court Nursery stand.
Calycanthus floridus ‘Athens’
Calycanthus floridus ‘Athens’
Calycanthus floridus ‘Athens’
Calycanthus floridus ‘Athens’
Calycanthus floridus ‘Athens’
Calycanthus floridus ‘Athens’
Aesculus sylvatica planted in Tin Garden has its first six flowers. This is another good addition to the Aesculus collection although the second plant in Kennel Close does not look so good after a wind battering as its first leaves appeared.
Aesculus sylvatica
Aesculus sylvatica
Aesculus sylvatica
Aesculus sylvatica
Aesculus sylvatica
Aesculus sylvatica
The younger of our two Magnolia ‘Summer Solstice’ is growing in full sun. Its flowering is later than the much older plant by Donkey Shoe and, for now at least, the flowers are larger. What a simply wonderful magnolia this is!
Magnolia ‘Summer Solstice’
Magnolia ‘Summer Solstice’
Magnolia ‘Summer Solstice’
Magnolia ‘Summer Solstice’
Magnolia ‘Summer Solstice’
Magnolia ‘Summer Solstice’
A few Crataegus species in flower perhaps for the first time:
Crataegus combyi
Crataegus combyi
Crataegus combyi
Crataegus aprica
Crataegus aprica
Crataegus aprica
Crataegus aprica
Crataegus aprica
The new growth on two separate (but male) Cephalotaxus fortunei is (today) quite different but very attractive indeed.
Cephalotaxus fortunei
Cephalotaxus fortunei
Cephalotaxus fortunei
Cephalotaxus fortunei
Cephalotaxus fortunei
Cephalotaxus fortunei
Cephalotaxus fortunei
Cephalotaxus fortunei
This original Enkianthus campanulatus remained hidden above a camellia for decades without anyone seeing or noticing it. Usually I now miss it during Chelsea week but a few flowers remain and they are a good colour.
Enkianthus campanulatus
Enkianthus campanulatus
Enkianthus campanulatus
Enkianthus campanulatus
Cornus florida ‘Daybreak’ with exceptionally large white bracts offsetting the emerging green leaves with irregular yellow edging. The leaves develop pink and red striping later in the year which is also a very attractive and long lasting combination as we have seen before in this blog.
Cornus florida ‘Daybreak’
Cornus florida ‘Daybreak’
Cornus florida ‘Daybreak’
Cornus florida ‘Daybreak’

2018 – CHW
It is amazing what a difference a week away has meant in the garden. The grass has grown 6’’ and the laurel hedges 9-12’’. Still plenty of decent rhododendrons but we have undoubtedly moved on from the very best of this year’s spring season; late though it was and magnolia-less for the first six weeks.

The pure white or albino sport from the pink Azalea ‘Greenway’ by the cash point. This group was grown from cuttings taken from a white flowering branch on one of our older plants.

Azalea ‘Greenway’
Azalea ‘Greenway’
Syringa vulgaris ‘Sensation’ with a flower or two of a pure white reversion. Although still excellent today here we cut this for Chelsea a week ago but it flopped in the heat and had to be binned before judging.
Syringa vulgaris ‘Sensation’
Syringa vulgaris ‘Sensation’
Syringa vulgaris ‘Sensation’
Syringa vulgaris ‘Sensation’
Azalea ‘Gena Mae’ is a gorgeous orange double flowered variety with a yellow flare. About eight years from planting out. Bought from Glendoick.
Azalea ‘Gena Mae’
Azalea ‘Gena Mae’
I have never known the name of this ancient deciduous azalea by the Four in Hand but the yellowish orange flare against the dark red makes it a wow. It would certainly sell if we could propagate it in quantity.
deciduous azalea
deciduous azalea
deciduous azalea
deciduous azalea
Rhododendron ‘Glendoick Velvet’ is one I normally miss over Chelsea week. Very fine here with a hint of a yellow stripe amid the dark purple.
Rhododendron ‘Glendoick Velvet’
Rhododendron ‘Glendoick Velvet’
Rhododendron ‘Glendoick Velvet’
Rhododendron ‘Glendoick Velvet’
Reevsia sinica has shed what was left of its old leaves after the ‘Beast’ and is thankfully producing attractive red new growth. An unexpected survival.
Reevsia sinica
Reevsia sinica
Laburnocytisus ‘Adamii’ is a most peculiar mix of two separate plant genera. We had cut sprays on the stand at Chelsea which held up well for the week.
Laburnocytisus ‘Adamii’
Laburnocytisus ‘Adamii’
Laburnocytisus ‘Adamii’
Laburnocytisus ‘Adamii’
Laburnocytisus ‘Adamii’
Laburnocytisus ‘Adamii’
Enkianthus chinensis has huge flower clusters with yellow insides and large leaves. An excellent species. This clump of three below Slip Rail is the best form we have.
Enkianthus chinensis
Enkianthus chinensis
Enkianthus chinensis
Enkianthus chinensis
Aesculus flava in full flower. The nearest to yellow of any aesculus species.
Aesculus flava
Aesculus flava
Three plants, now 12-15ft tall, above Hovel Cart Road are labelled (as sold to us) Enkianthus cernuus rubens. Although a pleasant red they are not this species as the anthers and stamens do not protrude below the base of the bell flower. Quite nice plants but wrongly named.
Enkianthus cernuus rubens
Enkianthus cernuus rubens
Enkianthus cernuus rubens
Enkianthus cernuus rubens

2017 – CHW

Home in a state of total exhaustion. Swollen ankles, blistered feet and cricked neck. Thank goodness it is all over for another year except, of course, it is not.

Now to process all the orders and to write all the thank you letters over the bank holiday weekend.

But first a day in bed with the cricket to watch.

If anyone else says ‘how much we must have all enjoyed Chelsea’ I will have a seizure!

Anyway that is enough of plants so here is a wonderful picture of Isla Rose starting to pay attention. Perhaps I will not have a seizure after all.

Isla Rose
Isla Rose

2016 – CHW 

Rhododendron Society 100 Years
Rhododendron Society 100 Years – Courtesy BBC.

Coldish day where we seem to take more orders than we did on the Tuesday. Nothing much of note happens until the BBC turn up amazingly on time to film us in our tweeds on the RCMG stand with Joe Swift. Four huge cameras and about 20 people assemble for this great moment where we each have one sentence to say. I ask Joe if he knows what he will be talking about (the centenary of the Rhododendron Society) he says not really but they will tell him on autocue – he has no scope to say other than what he is told to. Amusingly the camera monitor then shows the spelling of ‘rhododendron’ incorrectly. Much pissing round and the big moment comes. We manage to get through without any retakes. The BBC clearly is in a rush to get something on air. Eley appears somewhat tongue tied and witters on about the number of members we have (750). Millais lets slip another statistic which proves how small the group is but it does not really seem to matter.

BBC Coverage of RCMG Stand
BBC Coverage of RCMG Stand
BBC Coverage of RCMG Stand
BBC Coverage of RCMG Stand
BBC Coverage of RCMG Stand
BBC Coverage of RCMG Stand

2015 – CHW

Azalea 'Arneson's Gem'
Azalea ‘Arneson’s Gem’
Azalea 'Arneson's Gem'
Azalea ‘Arneson’s Gem’

The plan is unnamed deciduous azaleas on the drive but Jaimie suggests I start at Hovel Cart Road.  An eight to ten year old clump of what I think is Azalea ‘Arnason Gem’.  On checking the photograph does not look quite right.

Azalea ‘Rosebud’
Azalea ‘Rosebud’
Azalea ‘Rosebud’
Azalea ‘Rosebud’

Then, amid the trash, I stumble into a good clump of the evergreen Azalea ‘Rosebud’.  This nicely replaces the old one on Burns Bank.

Lindera cinnamomifolia
Lindera cinnamomifolia

Next comes Lindera cinnamomifolia which is not listed in ‘New Trees’ but which has grown exponentially and will clearly become a tree.  I did see it in flower two to three years ago with small yellow linderish flowers but quite nice.Of course I cannot resist looking at the enkianthus which were not out pre Chelsea.

Enkianthus hirtinervus
Enkianthus hirtinervus
Enkianthus hirtinervus
Enkianthus hirtinervus

Enkianthus  hirtinervus (three plants) – has very dark flowers and is the last one to flower.  In my mind I think I have confused this colour wise with Enkianthus deflexus.  I cannot find this species at all in The Plantsman article on enkianthus dated June 2011.

Enkianthus chinensis
Enkianthus chinensis
Enkianthus chinensis
Enkianthus chinensis
Enkianthus chinensis
Enkianthus chinensis
Enkianthus chinensis
Enkianthus chinensis

Enkianthus chinensis is now full out (three plants) and looks about right.

However there is another older single plant of Enkianthus chinensis nearly over with much bigger bells. It still looks like the picture in The Plantsman but a better form.

1908 – JCW
Azaleas at their best, also Fortunei hybrids in the Old Park.