6th 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

Scented Rhododendron tour today with 8 people. Only 4 wanted the lecture so we compromised.

Last year’s drought has resulted in many dead flower buds on Rhododendron megacalyx. The few flowers left will not be out for a bit yet. New growth visible today only where there are no flower buds.

Rhododendron megacalyx
Rhododendron megacalyx
Rhododendron ‘Lady Alice Fitzwilliam’ beside the greenhouse.
Rhododendron ‘Lady Alice Fitzwilliam’
Rhododendron ‘Lady Alice Fitzwilliam’
Rhododendron ‘Tinkerbird’ is just coming out rather later than all the other ‘smellies’. A rather spreading habit and here in full tree cover. We lost this twice on the Burncoose drive.
Rhododendron ‘Tinkerbird’
Rhododendron ‘Tinkerbird’
Rhododendron ‘Tinkerbird’
Rhododendron ‘Tinkerbird’
Rhododendron ‘Tinkerbird’
Rhododendron ‘Tinkerbird’
A flower or two on our Rhododendron ‘Royal Flush’ by George’s Hut.
Rhododendron ‘Royal Flush’
Rhododendron ‘Royal Flush’
The rare Rhododendron concinnum now in far too much shade by the Acer griseum.
Rhododendron concinnum
Rhododendron concinnum
The pink form of Rhododendron ‘Royal Flush’ beyond the Acer griseum.
Rhododendron ‘Royal Flush’ beyond the Acer griseum
Rhododendron ‘Royal Flush’ beyond the Acer griseum
Flowers nearly out on Halesia macgregorii. Is it really a Chinese Rehderodendron species and not an American Halesia?
Halesia macgregorii
Halesia macgregorii
Good bronze leaves emerging on Hydrangea aspera ‘Hot Chocolate’. This is our second attempt at the start of the Sinogrande Walk. The first lot were killed in the drought of 2022.
Hydrangea aspera ‘Hot Chocolate’
Hydrangea aspera ‘Hot Chocolate’
First flowers out on Echium pininana by the Gents loos.
Echium pininana
Echium pininana
The Times pretend they want to do an article about our 40 years at Burncoose but of course it’s only a con trick to get us to pay £5k for 6 weeks online advertising. This quickly falls to £2k when we fail to reply.

2023 – CHW

Coronation day here on a drizzly, overcast day with mist and sea fret. Perfect growing weather for the garden but not perhaps the weather that King Charles III would have chosen for HIS big event!

10 signets have hatched off on the lake and the parents allowed us to see them for the first time today. They look a few days old already. Last year only 1 of 7 survived. This pair of swans are breeding for their third year here and are clearly getting the hang of it now. A much earlier hatch off than previously. Lets hope the otters don’t get them all. Interesting that the pair headed off last autumn for a couple of months and took their one surviving signet with them. He came back with them but they never allowed him near the lake and, after a week or two, pushed off.

10 signets have hatched
10 signets have hatched
10 signets have hatched
10 signets have hatched
Slow worms sighted under a rhododendron which was cut back outside the front gate.
Slow worms
Slow worms
Magnolia officinalis var. biloba flowering in Penvergate. Later than usual but the one by Slip Rail is still not showing at all.
Magnolia officinalis var. biloba
Magnolia officinalis var. biloba
Viburnum taiwanianum with huge flower heads.
Viburnum taiwanianum
Viburnum taiwanianum
Merrilliopanax alpinus (BSWJ 13939) with its attractive new growth.
Merrilliopanax alpinus (BSWJ 13939)
Merrilliopanax alpinus (BSWJ 13939)
Picconia excelsa flowering for the first time here. Rather bay-laurel like? Its related to Olea and comes from the Canary Isles. If it survives it will become a large evergreen tree with hard, heavy wood.
Picconia excelsa
Picconia excelsa
Picconia excelsa
Picconia excelsa
Pseudotaxus chienii with attractive new growth.
Pseudotaxus chienii
Pseudotaxus chienii
New growth on a young Carya ovata.
Carya ovata
Carya ovata

2022 – CHW
Jaimie sends me this picture of a blackbird nesting for the third year running in the same place in ivy behind a Callistemon rigidus (as you can see from the gnarled seedpods). Lots to be said for magpie control with Larsen traps in his garden. The chicks have in fact hatched and both parents are feeding them. Vermin control is the secret to the survival of songbirds but that is, ‘naturally’, a politically incorrect statement to those who want corvids and raptors to wipe out all smaller birds in our countryside.
blackbird
blackbird
Scaly rustgill (Gymnopilus sapineus) growing in our eco-friendly green waste compost in which all our herbaceous plants have been potted this year. Can you imagine what the customer would have said if he or she had received this pot by mail order? Carbon credit worthiness at a price! This is the third such green waste fungus that I have shown in the diary.
Scaly rustgill (Gymnopilus sapineus)
Scaly rustgill (Gymnopilus sapineus)
Rhododendron bahuiniflorum and Magnolia ‘Daphne’ and Rhododendron ‘Damaris’.
Rhododendron bahuiniflorum
Rhododendron bahuiniflorum
The new growth on Quercus chapensis from seed grown by Margaret Miles from a conference in China in 2015. Gorgeous reddish-black new growth.
Quercus chapensis
Quercus chapensis
Michelia ‘Touch of Pink’ and Rhododendron ‘Fragrantissimum’ together as I had hoped to see a fortnight or so ago.
Michelia ‘Touch of Pink’
Michelia ‘Touch of Pink’
Michelia (Magnolia) laevifolia ‘Summer Snowflake’ and Rhododendron niveum. What a colour contrast! My mother always said Rh. niveum was suitable only as lavatory wallpaper but I never agreed. Gorgeous colour – gorgeous Chinese species!
Michelia (Magnolia) laevifolia ‘Summer Snowflake’
Michelia (Magnolia) laevifolia ‘Summer Snowflake’
Pomaderis elliptica now full out in flower. Peculiar but not unattractive. Missed any scent during a garden tour (one of many this week).
Pomaderis elliptica
Pomaderis elliptica
Sue Nathan sends me a picture of a late flower on their Magnolia ‘Atlas’ at Bonython where I was earlier this week in light, but welcome, rain. I did not dare say that the flower was ‘unrepresentative’!
Magnolia ‘Atlas’
Magnolia ‘Atlas’

2021 – CHW
After the showers the poplars (left) and oaks in Old Park provide an exciting colour contrast.
poplars (left) and oaks
poplars (left) and oaks
A hard pruning for the hydrangea clump by the top lodge.
hydrangea clump
hydrangea clump
This is Allen Coombes’ 900 collection which he says is now named Quercus kiukiangensis. We had thought it was very close to Nigel Holman’s collection of Quercus oxyodon (see earlier this week).
Quercus kiukiangensis
Quercus kiukiangensis
Quercus kiukiangensis
Quercus kiukiangensis
Quercus kiukiangensis
Quercus kiukiangensis
Quercus kiukiangensis
Quercus kiukiangensis
This is the ancient Quercus glauca in the 1920s Quercus clump below the Pound. The tree is partially dead and not very accessible as far as the foliage goes but still has some vigorous regrowth.
Quercus glauca
Quercus glauca
Quercus glauca
Quercus glauca
This is one of the four 1920s Quercus acuta in the same clump. You could be forgiven for thinking the leaves are quite different from our other Q. acuta but the bark splits and fissures in the same way.
Quercus acuta
Quercus acuta
Quercus acuta
Quercus acuta
Quercus acuta
Quercus acuta
Rhododendron ‘Michael’s Pride’ just out.
Rhododendron ‘Michael’s Pride’
Rhododendron ‘Michael’s Pride’

2020 – CHW
The news that Hiscox, the insurer who everyone was supposed to like and trust, has refused to pay out on the very few (10,000) business interruption policies which clearly do cover COVID, makes one wonder. The policy wording seems crystal clear and I assume the courts will uphold any challenge from policy holders. Why then are Hiscox playing hardball? One suspects that they fear the government may force them to pay something to all policy holders who have business interruption cover (which does not cover COVID) but no business. At the very least they could refund part of the premiums paid to those whose business has been permanently closed/interrupted as their policies are largely irrelevant now. Fat chance but the estate will try to avoid dealing with Hiscox in future.For once a BBC journalist has a scoop which is outside their normal journalistic line. The Iranians were flying scores of planes from China during the last two months despite pretending they were not. Many of the passengers were then flown on to other Middle East destinations thereby spreading COVID far more widely to other Arab countries. The BBC have seen the passenger lists and spoken to some of the infected. Nice to know that the long arm of China was yet again encouraging its allies to break the lockdown and spread their homemade disease. I wonder how the London Chinese ambassador’s rather pushy spokesman will be able to lie his way out of that one?Crinodendron hookerianum in bud already – three week early.
Crinodendron hookerianum
Crinodendron hookerianum
Meliosma alba flowers nearly over.
Meliosma alba
Meliosma alba
Magnolia x brooklynensis ‘Moonspire’ with the usual unusual colour mix between bud and fully open flower. I had not fully taken in this one before which has its merits.
Magnolia x brooklynensis ‘Moonspire’
Magnolia x brooklynensis ‘Moonspire’
Magnolia x brooklynensis ‘Moonspire’
Magnolia x brooklynensis ‘Moonspire’
Magnolia x brooklynensis ‘Moonspire’
Magnolia x brooklynensis ‘Moonspire’
Magnolia x brooklynensis ‘Moonspire’
Magnolia x brooklynensis ‘Moonspire’
This is the Podocarpus parlatorei which we were given by Tom Hudson and took to the Hampton Court show last year. It is safely in the ground now in a sheltered spot.
Podocarpus parlatorei
Podocarpus parlatorei
Liquidambar styraciflua is, as usual, late into leaf. Its contorted branch structure is typical too. The first one planted here was a gift from Lord Falmouth which got stolen.
Liquidambar styraciflua
Liquidambar styraciflua
Liquidambar styraciflua
Liquidambar styraciflua
One of the wonders of lockdown is finding a new plant which you had no idea you had and having little idea what it is. Not on the planting plans and tucked away as we must have thought it dull. Any ideas anyone?
New Plant
New Plant
New Plant
New Plant
New Plant
New Plant
New Plant
New Plant
Podocarpus nivalis ‘Park Cover’ is genuinely a groundcover plant which has performed well. Covered in new growth.
Podocarpus nivalis ‘Park Cover’
Podocarpus nivalis ‘Park Cover’
Podocarpus nivalis ‘Park Cover’
Podocarpus nivalis ‘Park Cover’
Podocarpus ‘Red Embers’ just starting to live up to its name.
Podocarpus ‘Red Embers’
Podocarpus ‘Red Embers’
Podocarpus ‘County Park Fire’ not quite into new growth yet.
Podocarpus ‘County Park Fire’
Podocarpus ‘County Park Fire’
Podocarpus ‘County Park Fire’
Podocarpus ‘County Park Fire’
Viburnum odoratissimum full out today.
Viburnum odoratissimum
Viburnum odoratissimum
Viburnum odoratissimum
Viburnum odoratissimum
Viburnum odoratissimum
Viburnum odoratissimum
Fagus sylvatica ‘Brathay Purple’ has peculiar curled and twisted leaves.
Fagus sylvatica ‘Brathay Purple’
Fagus sylvatica ‘Brathay Purple’
Fagus sylvatica ‘Franken’ has equally odd mottled white and cream leaves.
Fagus sylvatica ‘Franken’
Fagus sylvatica ‘Franken’
Fagus sylvatica ‘Franken’
Fagus sylvatica ‘Franken’
This is a very much more cut leaf form of Fagus sylvatica ‘Asplenifolia’ than the ones we know. It is probably actually Fagus sylvatica var. heterophylla f. laciniata (a very long name for a very thin leaf!).
Fagus sylvatica var. heterophylla f. laciniata
Fagus sylvatica var. heterophylla f. laciniata
Fagus sylvatica var. heterophylla f. laciniata
Fagus sylvatica var. heterophylla f. laciniata
Fagus longiopetiolata just in leaf.
Fagus longiopetiolata
Fagus longiopetiolata
Fagus longiopetiolata
Fagus longiopetiolata
Salix fargesii is covered in catkins and lots of long red-stemmed new growth.
Salix fargesii
Salix fargesii
Salix fargesii
Salix fargesii
Viburnum prunifolium nicely in flower and leaf.
Viburnum prunifolium
Viburnum prunifolium
Viburnum prunifolium
Viburnum prunifolium
Viburnum prunifolium
Viburnum prunifolium
Viburnum prunifolium
Viburnum prunifolium
Aesculus x bushii in full flower already. Pink and yellow flowers but I see no red ones?
Aesculus x bushii
Aesculus x bushii
Aesculus x bushii
Aesculus x bushii
Laburnocytisus ‘Adamii’ just out.
Laburnocytisus ‘Adamii’
Laburnocytisus ‘Adamii’
Laburnocytisus ‘Adamii’
Laburnocytisus ‘Adamii’
Fallen petals of Magnolia ‘Daphne’ on the path.
Fallen petals
Fallen petals
Azalea mollis ‘Dr M Oosthoek’ is nothing startling when compared to other older clumps on the drive.
Azalea mollis ‘Dr M Oosthoek’
Azalea mollis ‘Dr M Oosthoek’
Azalea mollis ‘Dr M Oosthoek’
Azalea mollis ‘Dr M Oosthoek’
A rather fine double daffodil.
daffodil
daffodil
Azalea mollis ‘Apple Blossom’ is not that wonderful either!
Azalea mollis ‘Apple Blossom’
Azalea mollis ‘Apple Blossom’
Azalea mollis ‘Apple Blossom’
Azalea mollis ‘Apple Blossom’
The early spring lambs are coming on well.
Early spring lambs
Early spring lambs
Is this a bronze form of Fagus sylvatica ‘Asplenifolia’?
Fagus sylvatica ‘Asplenifolia’?
Fagus sylvatica ‘Asplenifolia’?
Fagus sylvatica ‘Asplenifolia’?
Fagus sylvatica ‘Asplenifolia’?

2019 – CHW

To the Coach House to view Tony & Carolyn Townsend’s developing garden. In the six years that I have known it the transformation is impressive. The high hill was once a mass of ponticum and trees. Now it is becoming a woodland garden of note despite squirrels, sitka deer, munjac deer and rabbits which mean everything has to be fenced and protected not just plant by plant but area by area with many gates.

Coach House
Coach House
Coach House
Coach House
Coach House
Coach House
Coach House
Coach House
Coach House
Coach House
Coach House
Coach House
Coach House
Coach House
Coach House
Coach House
Coach House
Coach House
A record sized Metasequoia glyptostroboides ‘Gold Rush’.
Metasequoia glyptostroboides ‘Gold Rush’
Metasequoia glyptostroboides ‘Gold Rush’
Malus toringo ‘Scarlett’ was a good new form.
Malus toringo ‘Scarlett’
Malus toringo ‘Scarlett’
Malus toringo ‘Scarlett’
Malus toringo ‘Scarlett’
Calocedrus decurrens ‘Berrima Gold’ [Not ‘Burma Gold’ – thanks to Wolfgang Keidel for pointing this out] may revert but was a vivid yellow.
Calocedrus decurrens ‘Burma Gold’
Calocedrus decurrens ‘Burma Gold’
Calocedrus decurrens ‘Burma Gold’
Calocedrus decurrens ‘Burma Gold’
Clerodendron ugandense in the conservatory.
Clerodendron ugandense
Clerodendron ugandense
Clerodendron ugandense
Clerodendron ugandense
An unnamed but highly scented conservatory plant.
unnamed
unnamed
unnamed
unnamed
Wild Ajuga growing in meadowland.
Ajuga
Ajuga
Ajuga
Ajuga
Ilex castaneifolia in flower – once from Burncoose I think.
Ilex castaneifolia
Ilex castaneifolia
Ilex castaneifolia
Ilex castaneifolia
A newly installed driftwood pig!
driftwood pig
driftwood pig
Camellia ‘Bella Lambertii’ growing in a large pot in the shade. Enormous flowers and very late season.
Camellia ‘Bella Lambertii’
Camellia ‘Bella Lambertii’
Camellia ‘Bella Lambertii’
Camellia ‘Bella Lambertii’

2018 – CHW
The Rockery is looking splendid in the early morning sun.Rhododendron reticulatum is only out in parts but still early into flower. Despite the very cold spring it has held onto quite a lot of its leaves. Last year it was completely deciduous at the same stage.
Rhododendron reticulatum
Rhododendron reticulatum
Rhododendron russatum in two forms. The darker older one is an original which just about survives 100 years on. The paler one has been saved from an encroaching podocarpus as I had requested.
Rhododendron russatum
Rhododendron russatum
Rhododendron russatum
Rhododendron russatum
Azalea ‘Tebotan’ with its semi-double flowers is quite splendid and plastered in flower. The form of this which grew near the Burncoose Lodge had a much floppier habit and more ruffled flowers. These too are 100 year old plants.
Azalea ‘Tebotan’
Azalea ‘Tebotan’
Azalea ‘Tebotan’
Azalea ‘Tebotan’
Rhododendron ‘Yaku Fairy’ is not flowering well this year unlike last when it was completely covered. It likes more sun I expect.
Rhododendron ‘Yaku Fairy’
Rhododendron ‘Yaku Fairy’
Rhododendron ‘Yaku Fairy’
Rhododendron ‘Yaku Fairy’
The evergreen Berberis insignis var insignis suffered badly in the cold but is putting on a great show despite being virtually leafless at present. It has flowered before but only with small flower clusters and nothing like these great balls of flower. This is becoming a popular berberis species which the nursery ought to stock. Perhaps we will get some seed this year. Berberis amurensis var latifolia nearby is in full leaf but the flower buds are far from out yet.
Berberis insignis var insignis
Berberis insignis var insignis
Berberis insignis var insignis
Berberis insignis var insignis
Still not much sign of the house martins in any quantity. A pair of swallows are now nesting in the dog kennels in the yard as they did last year. I am seeing more swallows diving about than martins. They appear to have had a bad winter although some were still here in early October.

2017 – CHW
At last a flower on one of the three plants of Enkianthus campanulatus ‘Wallaby’ which is a dwarf. I think we may have seen an odd flower on a small plant in the nursery at Burncoose but it was red (I think). Perhaps it will change colour when full out but pretty ‘wishy washy’ here.
Enkianthus campanulatus ‘Wallaby’
Enkianthus campanulatus ‘Wallaby’
Enkianthus campanulatus ‘Wallaby’
Enkianthus campanulatus ‘Wallaby’
The mini digger has removed the laurel stumps here to create a good new planting area for next spring. We have been awaiting its arrival throughout the drought of April and it is still dry despite last Sunday’s good rain.
new planting area
new planting area
Another one here where we ripped out some old unnamed x williamsii camellias. Dry and easy to work cleanly for the digger. Still one to two more days work to do on other old stumps in the garden.
where we ripped out some old unnamed x williamsii camellias
where we ripped out some old unnamed x williamsii camellias
Magnolia ‘Banana Split’ in a strong east wind which has made it cold. The only thing to say about this one is that it has a bold upright habit like a totem pole. This means you do not have to see the fairly disgusting flowers close up.
Magnolia ‘Banana Split’
Magnolia ‘Banana Split’
Magnolia ‘Banana Split’
Magnolia ‘Banana Split’
My father told Jaimie that Rhododendron ‘Hotei’ (yellow) never set seed. When he found that it did he grew them and we now have a clump of four adult plants outside the arch. One of the two shown here has a hint of yellow. All are pleasant and different but imbued with too much other varied pollen to be anything special or for any to be worthy of a name. Worth their place though with a compact habit and Jaimie is chuckling at my father’s expense although FJW has been proved right for the wrong reasons! It has perhaps taken 15 years for the point to be made though.
Rhododendron ‘Hotei’
Rhododendron ‘Hotei’
Rhododendron ‘Hotei’
Rhododendron ‘Hotei’
Rhododendron ‘Hotei’
Rhododendron ‘Hotei’
Rhododendron ‘Hotei’
Rhododendron ‘Hotei’
A clump of Rhododendron ‘Halfdan Lem’ nearby are a splendid red. Doing well in a quite exposed position near the Hotei seedlings.
Rhododendron ‘Halfdan Lem’
Rhododendron ‘Halfdan Lem’
Rhododendron ‘Halfdan Lem’
Rhododendron ‘Halfdan Lem’
Rehderodendron macrocarpum is not out at Burncoose yet but this young tree is really starting to perform. Why do not more people grow this? Better than the halesias I think?
Rehderodendron macrocarpum
Rehderodendron macrocarpum
Rehderodendron macrocarpum
Rehderodendron macrocarpum
Berberis latifolia is now full out and the shape of its bluish-green new leaves is rather dramatic. This will be a big plant before long and one Burncoose should stock as I have said before.
Berberis latifolia
Berberis latifolia
Berberis latifolia
Berberis latifolia

2016 – CHW
A trip to compare the bark on some betulas planted in only 2008.Azalea ‘Fedora’ is just full out on the drive while the Azalea ‘Amoena’ opposite, which has been out for weeks is now over. Normally the two would overlap.
Azalea ‘Fedora’
Azalea ‘Fedora’
Azalea ‘Fedora’
Azalea ‘Fedora’
The first hydrangea flower heads (white) are nearly out. Bear in mind that in this extraordinary year we were still photographing hydrangeas in early January in this diary. I wonder if this has ever been bettered?
hydrangea flower heads (white)
hydrangea flower heads (white)

Betula utilis var jacquemontii ‘Greyswood Ghost’

Betula utilis var jacquemontii ‘Greyswood Ghost’
Betula utilis var jacquemontii ‘Greyswood Ghost’

Betula ermarii ‘Greyswood Hill’

Betula ermarii ‘Greyswood Hill’
Betula ermarii ‘Greyswood Hill’

Betula utilis ‘Doorenbos’

Betula utilis ‘Doorenbos’
Betula utilis ‘Doorenbos’
Betula costata – dead
Betual dahurica ‘Maurice Foster’
Betual dahurica ‘Maurice Foster’
Betual dahurica ‘Maurice Foster’
Betual dahurica ‘Maurice Foster’
Betual dahurica ‘Maurice Foster’

Betula utilis var jacquemontii ‘Knightshays’

Betula utilis var jacquemontii ‘Knightshays’
Betula utilis var jacquemontii ‘Knightshays’

Betula szechuanica ‘Liuba White’

Betula szechuanica ‘Liuba White’
Betula szechuanica ‘Liuba White’

Betula albosinensis

Betula albosinensis
Betula albosinensis
Betula utilis var jacquemontii ‘Jermyns’
Betula utilis var jacquemontii ‘Jermyns’
Betula utilis var jacquemontii ‘Jermyns’
Betula utilis var jacquemontii ‘Jermyns’
Betula utilis var jacquemontii ‘Jermyns’
Betula utilis var jacquemontii ‘Silver Shadow’
Betula utilis var jacquemontii ‘Silver Shadow’
Betula utilis var jacquemontii ‘Silver Shadow’
Betula utilis var jacquemontii ‘Silver Shadow’
Betula utilis var jacquemontii ‘Silver Shadow’

An interesting birch display above the drive where their mainly white mature trunks will one day show up well as you go past.

So what do we conclude from this lot? ‘Silver Shadow’ and ‘Maurice Foster’ have grown the quickest. ‘Jermyns’ has the best white bark colour at a very young age. More importantly, I have undoubtedly undertaken this exercise at the wrong time of the year when the bark on young trees is only just starting to peel to reveal the best colours.

None are perhaps yet as spectacular as Betula albosinensis ‘Bowling Green’ and ‘Chinese Garden’ (the two Werrington wild collected original ferns) or, indeed, the newly named ‘China Ruby’. I have featured the Werrington plants now growing here in earlier blogs and you can easily search them out.

A young Magnolia ‘Red Lion’ was in perfect condition, and very late indeed, nearby.
Magnolia ‘Red Lion’
Magnolia ‘Red Lion’

Now off to Wisley for the RHS centenary rhododendron show with the Crawshays and Thomas Methuen-Campbell. A fairly liquid trip I expect with the odd rhododendron thrown in!

2015 – CHW

Reports of ‘a dog’ chasing the young Saler cattle heifers in the Outer Park above the beach.  Others say the white animal with the cattle is a calf!  The telescope reveals that it is in fact a stray sheep which has escaped and taken up residence with its new friends.  As the young cattle have only recently been let out of their over wintering sheds they are naturally frisky and the solitary sheep has enjoyed running about with them.  A year or two ago stray dogs did drive some cattle over the cliff and our visitors have generally no idea of the damage that free range dogs can do.  We have also lost several sheep mauled by dogs in the Park.

Cutting up fir tree
Cutting up fir tree
Laurels overhanging Symplocus paniculata
Laurels overhanging Symplocus paniculata

A fir tree which fell in the horrendous gales of February 2014 has finally been cut up.  Jaimie’s team can now cut back the laurel swamping the original Symplocos paniculata.  We need to consider too if the ancient deciduous azaleas here are worth keeping or whether to cut them down and dig out.  A nice bank for some new large growing colourful rhododendrons.  Perhaps cut down the Cornish Reds to reshoot too as Tregothnan have done so successfully.  After inspection the azaleas can all go to make room for new planting.

Nearer the house there are a few good plants:

RHODODENDRON ‘Fragrantissimum’ / ’Lady Alice Fitzwilliam’
RHODODENDRON ‘Fragrantissimum’
Rhodo fragrantissimum_Lady Alice Fitz 1
Rhodo fragrantissimum ‘Lady Alice Fitzwilliam’
Fuchsia exorticatica
Fuchsia exorticatica
FUCHSIA excorticata
FUCHSIA excorticata

– What better for the front of a border by the castle than the highly scented Rhododendron ‘Fragrantissimum’ / ’Lady Alice Fitzwilliam’.  The two plants are pretty similar and both Rhododendron edgeworthii x Rhododendron formosum.  The backdrop here is Fuchsia excorticata which has been in flower since mid-January.

Arum lilies 1
The Arum lilies are untouched by the winter and in full flower already
Grannys Bonnets 1
Granny’s bonnets – Aquilegia – my father’s favourite wild(ish) flower
Euphorbia mellifera 1
Euphorbia mellifera is about to come out.
Euphorbia mellifera 2
It’s a shrub really rather than a herbaceous plant and very happy up against a turret.
Cytisus Porlock
Cytisus Porlock – what a show
Tropaedum ciliatum 1
Tropaedum ciliatum, also in full growth after a no frost winter. Tropaeolum speciosum has however, as usual, died down to the ground.
Wisteria Black Dragon
Wisteria ‘Violacea Plena’ (‘Black Dragon’) is coming out. Unlike any other wisteria which Burncoose sells this has double flowers but no great scent. It sits happily above the old gents’ loo

1979 – FJW
Nothofagus (see 5/5/63 entry) still ok. Winter days and still frost at night. Beech leaves late in coming.

1933 – JCW
I saw the first Fuschia open. Much as in 1933.

1931 – JCW
Very much like 1924. The big cherries are over but several of the new 3 to 4 year old Japanese ones are flowering. Magnolia kobus is very good. Several hybrids are well open i.e nigra, Brozzoni, alba, superba and speciosa etc. Falconeri is just opening. Auklandii is very good, much of it is to come.

1924 – JCW
The first Magnolia Wilsoni was open. The cherries of all kinds have been hurt by the heavy rain, the first heavy rain since Christmas. The Augustinii and many forms of Triflorum are excellent. Falconeri just opening.

1922 – JCW
The fat cherries are very good. Davidsonianum nice. Calophytum half of them open. Fastigiatum impeditum lot good.

1915 – JCW
Probably the best day of the year for bloom here, and the Auklandii’s are an easy first with the Rookery Cherries next, R alpanicum is nice and the Oarbiculare are very good indeed.

1911 – JCW
Bardon just open some, Clematis m rubra half open, ⅔ of the cushion iris, ½ Campylocarpum, white Thomsonii going over, R keysii very good. Auklandii ⅓ open.

1903 – JCW
Picked a bunch of I Pavonia to send to Dinton. Not one good pod ripe yet.

1902 – JCW
A lot of Bardon del under the big wall, picked Luciana three days ago, moved Southern Star, foliage nearly dead.

1901 – JCW
Some (two or three) nice roses, Maples began to look well.

1900 – JCW
Picked the first Lortetti, and one or two good roses.

One thought on “6th May

  1. Really, your third Quercus acuta doesn’t look like…leaves too long, not so stout as they should be.
    Podocarpus parlatorei on the other hand does look like it should, although Podocarps are difficult to tell apart…like oaks. A rare species in collections (and nature, too), from Bolivia and north-western Argentina.
    Your unnamed, odorous conservatory plant could be Murraya, I forgot the species. Rehderodendron macrocarpus is nice, even within its styrax-relatives, but I fear somewhat choosy (also like its relatives), maybee it flourishes in a sheltered valley, I’d like to give it a try.

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