1st November

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

2023 – CHW

First flowers seen on Camellia x williamsii ‘J. C. Williams’. Very high up and not worth photographing. A wet and windy week in prospect although there is precious little autumn colour this year even before these forthcoming gales.

I have never seen this dwarf, creeping, groundcover camellia in flower before. In fact I didn’t even know it was there until fairly recently. 12-15 foot in the round but no more than 2-2½ feet tall. The ICS ‘Splendid Sasanquas’ book makes no mention of a single pink flowered Camellia sasanqua with this sort of growth habit. It looks a bit like C. sasanqua ‘Plantation Pink’ when the flower is open but ‘Plantation Pink’ has an upright habit as we know. The immature flowers are nothing like ‘Plantation Pink’. I need to send these pictures to Caroline Bell. I guess this plant was planted out in the early 1960’s. Until recent clearings took place the plant could have been in full shade which may be why it is only now flowering.

Camellia x williamsii ‘J. C. Williams’
Camellia x williamsii ‘J. C. Williams’
Camellia x williamsii ‘J. C. Williams’
Camellia x williamsii ‘J. C. Williams’
Camellia x williamsii ‘J. C. Williams’
Camellia x williamsii ‘J. C. Williams’
Camellia x williamsii ‘J. C. Williams’
Camellia x williamsii ‘J. C. Williams’
Camellia x williamsii ‘J. C. Williams’
Camellia x williamsii ‘J. C. Williams’
Camellia x williamsii ‘J. C. Williams’
Camellia x williamsii ‘J. C. Williams’
Camellia x williamsii ‘J. C. Williams’
Camellia x williamsii ‘J. C. Williams’
Camellia x williamsii ‘J. C. Williams’
Camellia x williamsii ‘J. C. Williams’
Nyssa sinensis ‘Jim Russell’ has good colours even though newly planted.
Nyssa sinensis ‘Jim Russell’
Nyssa sinensis ‘Jim Russell’
Mature small trees of Camellia sasanqua ‘Narumigata’ in the Rookery are looking good today and, as usual, covered in dopey wasps.
Camellia sasanqua ‘Narumigata’
Camellia sasanqua ‘Narumigata’
Camellia sasanqua ‘Narumigata’
Camellia sasanqua ‘Narumigata’
Camellia sasanqua ‘Narumigata’
Camellia sasanqua ‘Narumigata’

2022 – CHW
Cornus capitata with ripe fruits, flies and wasps galore.
Cornus capitata
Cornus capitata
Cornus capitata
Cornus capitata
Camellia sasanqua ‘Dazzler’ now full out.
Camellia sasanqua ‘Dazzler’
Camellia sasanqua ‘Dazzler’
Disanthus cercidifolius in flower and with the finest autumn colours. At last we have one growing well after many disasters over the years. I am not sure I have even seen these peculiar flowers before?
Disanthus cercidifolius
Disanthus cercidifolius
Disanthus cercidifolius
Disanthus cercidifolius
Disanthus cercidifolius
Disanthus cercidifolius
Azalea ‘Kirin’ with early flower.
Azalea ‘Kirin’
Azalea ‘Kirin’
‘Golden Scalycap’ (Pholiota aurivella) I think? On beech stumps and roots.
‘Golden Scalycap’ (Pholiota aurivella)
‘Golden Scalycap’ (Pholiota aurivella)
‘Golden Scalycap’ (Pholiota aurivella)
‘Golden Scalycap’ (Pholiota aurivella)
‘Golden Scalycap’ (Pholiota aurivella)
‘Golden Scalycap’ (Pholiota aurivella)
Euonymus morrisonensis with open seed capsules and just the odd orange seed left inside.
Euonymus morrisonensis
Euonymus morrisonensis

2021 – CHW
Sweet chestnuts covered in fruits but the seeds themselves are small this year and mainly not worth attempting to roast.
Sweet chestnuts
Sweet chestnuts
Camellia taliensis now full out in flower.
Camellia taliensis
Camellia taliensis
Daphniphyllum oldhamii (CWJ 12351) flowering away.
Daphniphyllum oldhamii
Daphniphyllum oldhamii
Seed from Aextoxicon punctatum as new flower buds form.
Aextoxicon punctatum
Aextoxicon punctatum
Aextoxicon punctatum
Aextoxicon punctatum
Self-sown tree ferns appearing on the top ride in Forty Acres wood.
tree ferns
tree ferns
Seed on Carpinus betulus ‘Purpurea’.
Carpinus betulus ‘Purpurea’
Carpinus betulus ‘Purpurea’
Seedpods on Euonymus tingens.
Euonymus tingens
Euonymus tingens
Euonymus tingens
Euonymus tingens
Gigantic fungi in Forty Acres – perhaps Lactarius decipiens (a milkcap)?
fungi
fungi
fungi
fungi

2020 – CHW
Visited Burncoose on a drizzly day last Friday.Viburnum bodnantense ‘Dawn’ and Camellia x vernalis ‘Yuletide’ are a good combination.
Viburnum bodnantense ‘Dawn’ and Camellia x vernalis ‘Yuletide’
Viburnum bodnantense ‘Dawn’ and Camellia x vernalis ‘Yuletide’
Viburnum bodnantense ‘Dawn’ outside the nursery cash point. A harbinger of winter.
Viburnum bodnantense ‘Dawn’
Viburnum bodnantense ‘Dawn’
The groundworks for the new loading bay and larger covered area outside the main packing are now well underway in the wet. Phil Knuckey in his element!
groundworks
groundworks
Bergenia ‘Morgenrote’ in flower.
Bergenia ‘Morgenrote’
Bergenia ‘Morgenrote’
And Bergenia ‘Overture’.
Bergenia ‘Overture’
Bergenia ‘Overture’
Camellia sasanqua ‘Narumigata’ out in the nursery as well as at Caerhays.
Camellia sasanqua ‘Narumigata’
Camellia sasanqua ‘Narumigata’
Camellia sasanqua ‘Alba Plena’
Camellia sasanqua ‘Alba Plena’
Camellia sasanqua ‘Alba Plena’
Camellia sasanqua (white No. 3 from Caerhays) plants propagated here. They take a few years to grow into a saleable size.
Camellia sasanqua
Camellia sasanqua
These are Camellia sasanqua (pink No. 1 from Caerhays).
Camellia sasanqua
Camellia sasanqua
Camellia sasanqua
Camellia sasanqua
Camellia sasanqua ‘Show Girl’ fades quickly in colour as you can see here.
Camellia sasanqua ‘Show Girl’
Camellia sasanqua ‘Show Girl’
Camellia sasanqua ‘Show Girl’
Camellia sasanqua ‘Show Girl’
First flower this year on Camellia x williamsii ‘Donation’. Earlier than most other x williamsii today in our tunnels.
Camellia x williamsii ‘Donation’
Camellia x williamsii ‘Donation’
Last flowers and some seed heads on Abelia chinensis. Rather a nice effect.
Abelia chinensis
Abelia chinensis
Rather splendid autumn colour on Rhodotyphos scandens which I had not taken in before.
Rhodotyphos scandens
Rhodotyphos scandens
Rhodotyphos scandens
Rhodotyphos scandens
Arbutus unedo ‘Rubra’ with fruits.
Arbutus unedo ‘Rubra’
Arbutus unedo ‘Rubra’
Eucommia ulmoides with good autumn colour.
Eucommia ulmoides
Eucommia ulmoides
Ripe fruits now on Diospyros lotus. We saw them forming a month ago.
Diospyros lotus
Diospyros lotus
Fothergilla major strutting its stuff.
Fothergilla major
Fothergilla major
A surprise unseasonal flower on Rhaphiolepsis umbellata.
Rhaphiolepsis umbellata
Rhaphiolepsis umbellata
Grevillea juniperina sulphurea just in flower.
Grevillea juniperina sulphurea
Grevillea juniperina sulphurea
Itea virginica ‘Henry’s Garnet’ earning its name!
Itea virginica ‘Henry’s Garnet’
Itea virginica ‘Henry’s Garnet’
Hebe franciscana ‘Variegata’ (‘Silver Queen’) still in full flower today.
Hebe franciscana ‘Variegata’
Hebe franciscana ‘Variegata’
Hebe franciscana ‘Variegata’
Hebe franciscana ‘Variegata’
Yesterday evening the Prime Minister, Boris Johnson, announced another national lockdown from next Thursday, 5th November, for a month (at least).
Our staff will return to being on furlough and we will lose the main month of the shooting season with no recompense.
The morning is spent trying to reorganise what is left of the shoot.
History will record this as an especially bad day for the country with yet more bankruptcy, misery and hopelessness. The Covid levels in Cornwall are tiny!

2019 – CHW
Thick fog and drizzle today where you could scarcely see 100 yards especially in the village.Camellia ‘Noblissima’ has been out by the front door for a couple of days. I need to check how this compares to recent years? About seven flowers full out so far.
Camellia ‘Noblissima’
Camellia ‘Noblissima’
Camellia ‘Noblissima’
Camellia ‘Noblissima’
Vinca major with a flower growing through the lower branches of Picea omorika.
Vinca major
Vinca major
Vitis coignetiae colouring nicely as it grows (yet again) through the Rhododendron ‘Cornish Red’ beside the lawn.
Vitis coignetiae
Vitis coignetiae
The last of the old Camellia sasanquas through the arch is now out about a month after the first ones showed colour. These flowers are larger than the others and a few rather damp and scarcely alive wasps are going after the nectar.
Camellia sasanquas
Camellia sasanquas
Camellia sasanquas
Camellia sasanquas
Camellia sasanquas
Camellia sasanquas

2018 – CHW
The sunlight through the autumn leaves of the champion Acer palmatum ‘Sango-Kaku’ (‘Senkaki’). Quite a spectacle.
Acer palmatum ‘Sango-Kaku
Acer palmatum ‘Sango-Kaku
Acer palmatum ‘Sango-Kaku
Acer palmatum ‘Sango-Kaku
Acer palmatum ‘Sango-Kaku
Acer palmatum ‘Sango-Kaku
Acer palmatum ‘Sango-Kaku
Acer palmatum ‘Sango-Kaku
More unusual fungi. No mushrooms on the lawn this year despite the drought but lots of unknown and interesting growths through the garden.
fungi
fungi
fungi
fungi
fungi
fungi
fungi
fungi
The fruits are now ripe on Rubus lineatus. It has taken a long time for them to ripen and they are by no means large or yet all ripe.
Rubus lineatus
Rubus lineatus
Rubus lineatus
Rubus lineatus
Saw the first two woodcock today and so did the keepers. The first fall of birds in these nights of full moon. Some frost today in the valley.

2017 – CHW
Hoheria populnea ‘Alba Variegata’ in full flower but very late in the year. H. populnea was out ages ago. This is a borderline hardy plant with lots of green reversions but, when cut today in a vase, looks fine indoors. Here it is tucked away by Georges Hut. The best show I have ever seen from it as November begins.
Hoheria populnea ‘Alba Variegata’
Hoheria populnea ‘Alba Variegata’
Camellia oleifera is now full out. This original shrub is now around 25ft tall and seedlings occur naturally here and there in the garden. A much underrated species which is perfectly hardy with us.
Camellia oleifera
Camellia oleifera
Camellia oleifera
Camellia oleifera
Camellia oleifera
Camellia oleifera

2016 – CHW
Below the tower today with lots to see.Metasequoia glyptostroboides ‘Gold Rush’ has turned a brownish yellow in this autumn. An odd colour in marked contrast to its spring yellow but attractive all the same.
Metasequoia glyptostroboides ‘Gold Rush’
Metasequoia glyptostroboides ‘Gold Rush’

A prunus is showing up nicely beside it.

prunus
prunus
The Podocarpus salignus which had blown over and were cut down in the spring are shooting vigorously from ground level.
Podocarpus salignus
Podocarpus salignus
Podocarpus salignus
Podocarpus salignus
What odd roots Araucaria araucaria has. Knobbly and grey.
odd roots Araucaria araucaria
odd roots Araucaria araucaria
odd roots Araucaria araucaria
odd roots Araucaria araucaria
The last large Cotoneaster franchettii has some berries but this old shrub is on the way out too. The birds spread the seed widely and there are seedlings here and there.
Cotoneaster franchettii
Cotoneaster franchettii

What a colour on this hydrangea! Unworldly.

What a colour on this hydrangea!
What a colour on this hydrangea!
This hypercium, a gift from Roy Lancaster, is not on the planting plan. It first flowered last year. The flowers are very late and slightly inverted. It may well be Hypercium lancasteri reintroduced in 1980 (after Forrest found it in 1906).
hypericum
hypericum
hypericum
hypericum

2015 – CHW
A further catch up on some autumn colour at the very top of the garden before I start on the worst job of the year – Christmas cards! (Hundreds.) Since we still have not had a major westerly gale there is more intact than usual.

Maakia hupehensis. Planted in 1991 this tree is now showing excellent bark and although the autumn colour is nearly over you can still get a flavour from the remnants. Maakias are awful plants in the nursery and always look manky in pots and are slow to get away when planted.

Maakia hupehensis
Maakia hupehensis
Maakia hupehensis
Maakia hupehensis

Kalopanax septemlobus is a superb yellow with just a few leaves on the ground. Perhaps the best autumn colour of anything in the garden today. Again a 1991 planting to replace a grafted M sargentiana robusta which grew and died here. The kalopanax must be nearly 30 feet tall in 24 years.

Kalopanax septemlobus
Kalopanax septemlobus
Kalopanax septemlobus
Kalopanax septemlobus
Euonymus alatus takes some beating too but on a much smaller and more compact scale. Strangely the three other plants in shade and wind by the Top Lodge are still green. This one is mollycoddled in a hot spot.
Euonymus alatus
Euonymus alatus
Euonymus alatus
Euonymus alatus
Euonymus alatus
Euonymus alatus

1994 – FJW
Flower out on November Pink.

1968 – FJW
Uncle George stated in the middle of the assizes that he would not be mocked.

1966 – FJW
4 flowers out on Nov Pink.

1934 – JCW
Just as in 1930. No real frost yet. Most of the fuchsias hold on.

1930 – JCW
Some good flowers on Magnolia grandiflora. I saw my first flowers of R momenthum yesterday. The fuchsias and the lapagerias remain good.

1926 – JCW
Very little water in the Tin Garden tanks even now. Hydrangeas have come on a little in the moisture. Sasanquas on the Billiard Room have been good but east wind smashed them. Perhaps the best thing in the place is the foliage of Magnolia delavayi.

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