24th October

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 (images to follow)

2023 – CHW

A day or two in bed with a lurgy. Not a cold, not flu, and just a severe headache with sore throat. I had the COVID jab a fortnight ago but suspect I have still had mild COVID. Lizzie fine.

Jaimie has picked the first Camellia x williamsii ‘November Pink’ and Camellia ‘Polar Ice’.

Camellia x williamsii ‘November Pink’ and Camellia ‘Polar Ice’
Camellia x williamsii ‘November Pink’ and Camellia ‘Polar Ice’
Reasonable (Cornish) autumn colour on Rhododendron canadense.
Rhododendron canadense
Rhododendron canadense
Colour showing on Camellia sasanqua ‘Yuletide’.
Camellia sasanqua ‘Yuletide’
Camellia sasanqua ‘Yuletide’
The large clump of unnamed Camellia x williamsii on the drive is well out in October which is a new first for me. November usually – October never! A single storm battered flower or, possibly, the passing tarmac machine.
Camellia x williamsii
Camellia x williamsii
Camellia x williamsii
Camellia x williamsii
Tarmac relaying and potholes all now repaired.
Tarmac relaying and potholes all now repaired
Tarmac relaying and potholes all now repaired
Camellia sasanqua ‘Hugh Evans’ now full out but not nearly as good a show as last year albeit a month later.
Camellia sasanqua ‘Hugh Evans’
Camellia sasanqua ‘Hugh Evans’
Camellia sasanqua ‘Hugh Evans’
Camellia sasanqua ‘Hugh Evans’
Reasonable autumn colour on Lindera umbellata.
Lindera umbellata
Lindera umbellata
The evergreen Stachyurus yunnanensis with spring flowers readily apparent.
Stachyurus yunnanensis
Stachyurus yunnanensis

2022 – CHW
Liquidambar styraciflua ‘Red Star’ has improved markedly in a week above 4-in-Hand.
Liquidambar styraciflua ‘Red Star’
Liquidambar styraciflua ‘Red Star’
Overnight Liriodendron tulipifera ‘Aureovariegata’ has started to turn yellow as a result of the northerly winds recently.
Liriodendron tulipifera ‘Aureovariegata’
Liriodendron tulipifera ‘Aureovariegata’
Camellia ‘Snow Flurry’ well out now at the top of Burns Bank. The other 6 sasanqua varieties here are not showing yet.
Camellia ‘Snow Flurry’
Camellia ‘Snow Flurry’
Camellia ‘Snow Flurry’
Camellia ‘Snow Flurry’
Two of the four Nyssa’s on Burns Bank starting to turn lower down. One is ‘Wisley Bonfire’ but not on the planting plans.
Nyssa’s
Nyssa’s
Nyssa’s
Nyssa’s
Neither is this Viburnum species and label gone. Much eaten by deer. In fact none of this area has been properly mapped and recorded (unless I am missing a page of the planting plans c.2000 – 2010).
Viburnum species
Viburnum species
A 2017 planted Malus hupehensis with its fruits now completely red. Unlike those we saw in Old Park last week.
Malus hupehensis
Malus hupehensis
Malus ‘Comtesse de Paris’ with its fruits turning yellow. Also 2017 planted but has not fruited properly before.
Malus ‘Comtesse de Paris’
Malus ‘Comtesse de Paris’
Malus ‘Comtesse de Paris’
Malus ‘Comtesse de Paris’
Fagus longipetiolata has little autumn colour of note.
Fagus longipetiolata
Fagus longipetiolata
Stewartia monadelpha not quite there yet.
Stewartia monadelpha
Stewartia monadelpha
First flower buds on a recently planted Polyspora speciosa (KWJ 12204).
Polyspora speciosa
Polyspora speciosa
We now have 4 different species of Polyspora but the identification remains confused and the taxonomists will have a field day soon changing names.
First flowers now out in the sun high up on one of the Camellia taliensis. I have missed these flower earlier this week.
Camellia taliensis
Camellia taliensis
Next February’s flower buds on Magnolia zenii swelling up already.
Magnolia zenii
Magnolia zenii

2021 – CHW
I think this fungus is birch polypore or Piptoporus betulinus which is relatively common in the UK but only growing on dying or dead birch trees.
Piptoporus betulinus
Piptoporus betulinus
Piptoporus betulinus
Piptoporus betulinus
I am less sure of this one but I think it is grey spotted amanita – Amanita excelsa var. spissa – if only because of the white frills which you can just see on its stem here. Another widespread and common species in deciduous or mixed woodland.
Amanita excelsa var. spissa
Amanita excelsa var. spissa
Amanita excelsa var. spissa
Amanita excelsa var. spissa
One seldom sees ‘runner bean’ seedpods like this on our wisterias.
wisterias
wisterias

2020 – CHW
Sorbus helenae again producing a marvellous autumn show (from Mt Omei 17/2/16 via Roundabarrow nurseries and planted out September 2018).
Sorbus helenae
Sorbus helenae
This may be Xeromphalia campanella near an old dead conifer root. However it is very rare outside Scotland and N England so I am probably quite wrong! The pictures in the Collins Guide are excellent but fungi, as everything else, grow and develop into maturity and these may be more easily identifiable in a few days.
Xeromphalia campanella
Xeromphalia campanella
Xeromphalia campanella
Xeromphalia campanella
The very first, and early, flower high up on Camellia x williamsii ‘St Ewe’ a week after ‘November Pink’. All on the day that the clocks change. The birds have attacked the flower for the nectar when you look closely.
Camellia x williamsii ‘St Ewe’
Camellia x williamsii ‘St Ewe’
Camellia x williamsii ‘St Ewe’
Camellia x williamsii ‘St Ewe’
Corylopsis sinensis ‘Spring Purple’ starting a good show with more to come.
Corylopsis sinensis ‘Spring Purple’
Corylopsis sinensis ‘Spring Purple’
Acer palmatum ‘Sango-kaku’ (‘Senkaki’) in the evening sun. Some leaves falling.
Acer palmatum ‘Sango-kaku’
Acer palmatum ‘Sango-kaku’
Acer palmatum ‘Sango-kaku’
Acer palmatum ‘Sango-kaku’
A large oak branch has fallen on the Acer faberi and Camellia noblissima near Georges Hut since last Sunday.
oak branch
oak branch
Seedpods on Hoheria sextylosa ‘Pendula’.
Hoheria sextylosa ‘Pendula’
Hoheria sextylosa ‘Pendula’
Absurd secondary new growth on Podocarpus henkelli. Another nearby plant has none.
Podocarpus henkelli
Podocarpus henkelli
Enkianthus serrulatus with a fine mix of colours.
Enkianthus serrulatus
Enkianthus serrulatus
Enkianthus serrulatus
Enkianthus serrulatus
Carpinus tschonoskii (BSWJ 10800) planted in 2010 with its autumn show.
Carpinus tschonoskii
Carpinus tschonoskii
Carpinus tschonoskii
Carpinus tschonoskii
Stewartia x henryae again showing just how good it is.
Stewartia x henryae
Stewartia x henryae
Stewartia x henryae
Stewartia x henryae
Stewartia monodelpha has improved greatly in a week or so.
Stewartia monodelpha
Stewartia monodelpha
Stewartia monodelpha
Stewartia monodelpha
Evening sun on Meliosma veitchiorum (planted close to Styrax veitchiorum).
Meliosma veitchiorum
Meliosma veitchiorum
Acer palmatum dissectum ‘Atropurpureum’ outstanding today above the sales point.
Acer palmatum dissectum ‘Atropurpureum’
Acer palmatum dissectum ‘Atropurpureum’
Acer palmatum dissectum ‘Atropurpureum’
Acer palmatum dissectum ‘Atropurpureum’

2019 – CHW
Still plenty of raspberries on the Rubus tricolor.

Rubus tricolor
Rubus tricolor

A leak on the water line from the top lodge to Karol’s house has wasted £1,200 of water. The leak was outside Karol’s backdoor where the old alkathene pipe had split. He had noticed a ‘damp patch’!

This is the brick lined well culvert below the Cart House holiday let which was investigated along the way.

brick lined well culvert
brick lined well culvert
Just across from Georges Hut Hoheria populnea ‘Alba Variegata’ in full flower. This tender plant has revived from the 2012 coldish winter and the March 2018 Beast from the East which largely defoliated it.
Hoheria populnea ‘Alba Variegata’
Hoheria populnea ‘Alba Variegata’
Hoheria populnea ‘Alba Variegata’
Hoheria populnea ‘Alba Variegata’
Gevuina avellana just coming out into flower also by Georges Hut.
Gevuina avellana
Gevuina avellana
Gevuina avellana
Gevuina avellana
Tim has cut the banks for the second time leaving the cyclamen to be lightly strimmed over rather than mown.
banks
banks

2018 – CHW
Eriobotrya japonica flowering away in a garden in the village. Far too late for there to be any production of fruits despite the dry summer. Only once have we seen loquats produced on the plant at Burncoose.
Eriobotrya japonica
Eriobotrya japonica
Hydrangea aspera ssp. robusta is still full out in late October. The only hydrangea species to achieve this.
Hydrangea aspera ssp. robusta
Hydrangea aspera ssp. robusta
Good autumn colour on Rhododendron mucronulatum.
Rhododendron mucronulatum
Rhododendron mucronulatum
Rhododendron mucronulatum
Rhododendron mucronulatum

2017 – CHW
Sorbus folgneri ‘Emiel’ now has many ripe red berries.
Sorbus folgneri ‘Emiel’
Sorbus folgneri ‘Emiel’
Sorbus folgneri ‘Emiel’
Sorbus folgneri ‘Emiel’
The strawberries on the cornus beside it, whose name I forget, are huge and numerous.
cornus
cornus
cornus
cornus

2016 – CHW
More autumn colour today. However the first subject has hardly turned yet although it appears autumnal.Cercis ‘Forest Pansy’ is most striking on the drive.
Cercis ‘Forest Pansy’
Cercis ‘Forest Pansy’
Cercis ‘Forest Pansy’
Cercis ‘Forest Pansy’
Cercis ‘Forest Pansy’
Cercis ‘Forest Pansy’
The schima is still full out and receiving the strong winds.
schima
schima
Calycanthus raulstonii ‘Hartlage Wine’ is turning a vibrant yellow. Again I have not seen this autumn performance before.
Calycanthus raulstonii ‘Hartlage Wine’
Calycanthus raulstonii ‘Hartlage Wine’
A young Magnolia ‘Caerhays Belle’ is two thirds dead opposite. Flowering last autumn may well be the reason. It will have to be cut down sadly.
Magnolia ‘Caerhays Belle’
Magnolia ‘Caerhays Belle’
Lindera umbellata var lancea is also a vibrant yellow by Tin Garden. New Trees says this is in fact Lindera sericea but I bet Crug Farm and the Wynn-Joneses who collected it would not agree.
Lindera umbellata var lancea
Lindera umbellata var lancea
Lindera umbellata var lancea
Lindera umbellata var lancea
Lindera umbellata var lancea
Lindera umbellata var lancea
2015 – CHW
I have always read about the blue berries on Symplocos paniculatus but never actually seen them in the flesh. This is a record tree, or rather a clump, according to the Tree Register. Actually I am too late and many of the berries have already dropped leaving only stalks behind. The pictures are not that great but you can see the ultramarine blue fruits – or just a couple actually.
Symplocos paniculatus
Symplocos paniculatus
Symplocos paniculatus
Symplocos paniculatus

Wind and rain forecast for tomorrow after a very lengthy spell of dry which has been great for farmers drilling their autumn crops but less good for shooting while all the leaf remains on the trees and the pheasants cannot easily fly out. I fear we are in for an unsettling wet spell in November as nature always catches up. The lapageria by the front door is still full out.

2001 – FJW
Flowers on November Pink – dryish September, wet October.

1989 – FJW
Flowers on November Pink.

1933 – JCW
As in 1933.

1932 – JCW
Some flowers on the Mag delavayi near Engine House.

1930 – JCW
The first of Prunus mignelleana shows flower. Many buds and flowers on Mag grandiflora. Rhodo lutescens, dahuricum, tethropeplum etc show some flowers.

1924 – JCW
Just as in 1920 including no frost but much rain since the spring. Lately harvest in for about a week. Haematodes and hippophaeoides are the best rhodo’s. No C sasanqua yet. Election next week.

1920 – JCW
Hydrangea are good. Lapagerias and roses are nice. Say 30 rhodo’s one could get pollen off including Maddeni x Roylei. No frost as yet.

1902 – JCW
Came back last night, away since June 14th (Nauheim), a few Soleil d’Or above ground. An odd seedling in the pans. Woodwardias have done well, it has been a raw cold season. Roses nearly a failure except on the wall. Primula megasoefolia is out.