20th March

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

About 50 riders in the rain at the Fourburrow Hunt Meet. Rather too wet for any antis presumably.

About 50 riders in the rain at the Fourburrow Hunt Meet
About 50 riders in the rain at the Fourburrow Hunt Meet
About 50 riders in the rain at the Fourburrow Hunt Meet
About 50 riders in the rain at the Fourburrow Hunt Meet
A Worcester College reunion for several friends. Two of them I had not seen for 40 years.
Worcester College reunion
Worcester College reunion
Clematis armandii ‘Apple Blossom’ below the greenhouse was one Roy Lancaster commented upon. The true ‘Apple Blossom’ is rare in cultivation.
Clematis armandii ‘Apple Blossom’
Clematis armandii ‘Apple Blossom’
The Worcester reunion now looking at magnolias rather than hounds (Joe Sharp, Richard & Jacky Morris, Richard Stovin Bradford, Jeremy & Natalie Johnston, John & Pru Folliot Vaughan).
Worcester College reunion
Worcester College reunion
Worcester College reunion
Worcester College reunion
A young Osmanthus yunnanensis in flower properly for the first time. Now the record tree of this species has been pollarded good to see a youngster taking over. Previously deer nibbled but now too large.
Osmanthus yunnanensis
Osmanthus yunnanensis
Enkianthus serrulatus just out and still leafless – the first Enkianthus species in flower as usual.
Enkianthus serrulatus
Enkianthus serrulatus
The first yellow magnolia to show – Magnolia ‘Petit Chicon’ in Kennel Close.
Magnolia ‘Petit Chicon’
Magnolia ‘Petit Chicon’
Magnolia ‘Gold Finch’ is also out. Nothing 2 days ago.
Magnolia ‘Gold Finch’
Magnolia ‘Gold Finch’
Magnolia campbellii ‘Princess Margaret’ at its best.
Magnolia campbellii ‘Princess Margaret’
Magnolia campbellii ‘Princess Margaret’
Magnolia ‘Atlas’ nearly at its best on the way to George’s Hut.
Magnolia ‘Atlas’
Magnolia ‘Atlas’
Magnolia ‘Atlas’
Magnolia ‘Atlas’
Rhododendron pseudochrysanthum just out below Donkey Shoe.
Rhododendron pseudochrysanthum
Rhododendron pseudochrysanthum
Camellia reticulata ‘Lila Naff’ looking very fine by Higher Quary Nursery.
Camellia reticulata ‘Lila Naff’
Camellia reticulata ‘Lila Naff’

2023 – CHW
The view across to the drive from the front of The Vean today. Splendid in the sun.
view across to the drive
view across to the drive
view across to the drive
view across to the drive
Magnolia ‘Vulcan’ in The Vean garden.
Magnolia ‘Vulcan’
Magnolia ‘Vulcan’
Magnolia ‘Caerhays Splendour’ on the drive.
Magnolia ‘Caerhays Splendour’
Magnolia ‘Caerhays Splendour’
The view down the drive from Red Linney.
view down the drive from Red Linney
view down the drive from Red Linney
Then, further down – 4 magnolias in view with ‘JCW’ top right just coming out.
The further down – 4 magnolias in view
The further down – 4 magnolias in view
Magnolia denudata ‘Forrest’s Pink’ and Magnolia campbellii ‘Alba’ seedling half way down between the two previous photographs.
Magnolia denudata ‘Forrest’s Pink’ and Magnolia campbellii ‘Alba’ seedling
Magnolia denudata ‘Forrest’s Pink’ and Magnolia campbellii ‘Alba’ seedling
Magnolia ‘Bishop Michael’.
Magnolia ‘Bishop Michael’
Magnolia ‘Bishop Michael’
Today the magnolias on the drive are at their absolute best. Karol has made the customary video.
Camellia lapidea newly planted.
Camellia lapidea
Camellia lapidea
Frankie has installed the new water pipe from the old main to the tank above Higher Quarry Nursery.
new water pipe
new water pipe
I was sent a newspaper advert about the garden opening on May 8th 1960. Admission 2/6, children 1/3. Today £10.00. Thats inflation for you.
newspaper advert
newspaper advert

2022 – CHW

Still a strongish east wind.

Magnolia ‘Fairy White’ is nearly over.

Magnolia ‘Fairy White’
Magnolia ‘Fairy White’
Magnolia ‘Fairy White’
Magnolia ‘Fairy White’
Whereas Magnolia ‘Fairy Cream’ is still in tight bud.
Magnolia ‘Fairy Cream’
Magnolia ‘Fairy Cream’
The rest of the elderly Gevuina avellana has blown open. Last year we cut down most of it as it had suffered in dry summers. Fortunately new shoots are already evident from the base.
Gevuina avellana
Gevuina avellana
Gevuina avellana
Gevuina avellana
Magnolia ‘Atlas’ more or less full out but already wind battered.
Magnolia ‘Atlas’
Magnolia ‘Atlas’
Magnolia ‘Atlas’
Magnolia ‘Atlas’
Magnolia ‘Atlas’
Magnolia ‘Atlas’
A Camellia lutchuensis hybrid which is, I think, called ‘Scentuous’. (On the plans it is C. ‘Scentuous’ x C. lutchuensis’.)
Camellia lutchuensis hybrid
Camellia lutchuensis hybrid
Camellia lutchuensis hybrid
Camellia lutchuensis hybrid
Rhododendron ‘Else Frye’, another scented one out far earlier than usual.
Rhododendron ‘Else Frye’
Rhododendron ‘Else Frye’
Rhododendron impeditum ‘JC Williams’ just showing colour on Burns Bank.
Rhododendron impeditum ‘JC Williams’
Rhododendron impeditum ‘JC Williams’
Magnolia loebneri ‘Wildcat’ at its best in the teeth of the wind. It may look sunny in these pictures but it is far from warm.
Magnolia loebneri ‘Wildcat’
Magnolia loebneri ‘Wildcat’

2021 – CHW
A shot of the record sized (height) Magnolia sargentiana var. robusta in all its finery, but a cloudy day, at Burncoose.
Magnolia sargentiana var. robusta
Magnolia sargentiana var. robusta
Magnolia amoena at Burncoose. I have never seen it flower better especially on low down branches even if it is a fairly unexciting species.
Magnolia amoena
Magnolia amoena
Rhododendron spinuliferum. The Burncoose form is much darker in colour than our plant in the Rockery. The one I saw at Trewithen was different again in colour – reddish but different shaped flowers to these.
Rhododendron spinuliferum
Rhododendron spinuliferum
Rhododendron spinuliferum
Rhododendron spinuliferum

Then back to the greenhouse at Caerhays to see what was out in the greenhouses.

This is a small growing but true to form Magnolia mollicomata by the newer greenhouses with the true ‘lightbulb’ shaped flowers as they open.

Magnolia mollicomata
Magnolia mollicomata
Magnolia mollicomata
Magnolia mollicomata
Magnolia mollicomata
Magnolia mollicomata
Camellia reticulata ‘Red Crystal’. Enormous flowers and an excellent bit of propagating as these reticulatas are difficult from cuttings and are often grafted instead.
Camellia reticulata ‘Red Crystal’
Camellia reticulata ‘Red Crystal’
Camellia ‘Night Rider’ which grows by the mist houses at Burncoose. Not a very vigorous grower but what a colour when first out. Darker even than ‘Midnight Magic’ we saw a day or two ago?
Camellia ‘Night Rider’
Camellia ‘Night Rider’
Camellia ‘Night Rider’
Camellia ‘Night Rider’
Camellia yunnanensis grown from February 2018 set seed. Another new species for the collection here.
Camellia yunnanensis
Camellia yunnanensis
Camellia trichocarpa – unusual buds.
Camellia trichocarpa
Camellia trichocarpa
Camellia trichocarpa
Camellia trichocarpa
Asia has successfully propagated our elderly and very rare pure white form of Rhododendron racemosum.
Rhododendron racemosum
Rhododendron racemosum
Rhododendron racemosum
Rhododendron racemosum
Paulownia elongata flowering in a pot in the greenhouse. A gift from Malcolm Pharoah and Marwood Hill Garden. I do not think I have ever seen a tiny paulownia in a pot do this in the nursery.
Paulownia elongata
Paulownia elongata
Paulownia elongata
Paulownia elongata
Osmanthus americanus now in full flower.
Osmanthus americanus
Osmanthus americanus
A young and new to us Magnolia ‘Simple Pleasures’ with its first flowers. Simple indeed!
Magnolia ‘Simple Pleasures’
Magnolia ‘Simple Pleasures’
Magnolia ‘Simple Pleasures’
Magnolia ‘Simple Pleasures’
Magnolia ‘Festirose’, in a similar state, with its first three flowers. A bit different perhaps.
Magnolia ‘Festirose’
Magnolia ‘Festirose’
Magnolia ‘Festirose’
Magnolia ‘Festirose’
These were the seedlings sent by Jim Gardiner this week:
Stewartia malacodendron
Magnolia fraseri
Magnolia ashei
Pinus yunnanensis (wild collected dwarf form from Yunnan)
seedlings sent by Jim Gardiner
seedlings sent by Jim Gardiner

2020 – CHW
The magnolia lecture and tour is completed with around half the 24 attendees actually turning up. Strong cold easterly winds pick up in the afternoon as Jaimie, Michael and I visit Tregrehan.

This is the original Trewithen form (ie George Johnstone’s) of Camellia reticulata. Very different to our 1931 plantings below Donkey Shoe.

Camellia reticulata
Camellia reticulata
Camellia reticulata
Camellia reticulata
Rhododendron veitchiorum in the glasshouse – not much scent surprisingly.
Rhododendron veitchiorum
Rhododendron veitchiorum
Rhododendron veitchiorum
Rhododendron veitchiorum
White Lapageria flowers still out (Lapageria rosea var. albiflora).
Lapageria rosea var. albiflora
Lapageria rosea var. albiflora
Clianthus puniceus ‘Maximus’ an exceptional show.
Clianthus puniceus ‘Maximus’
Clianthus puniceus ‘Maximus’
Clianthus puniceus ‘Maximus’
Clianthus puniceus ‘Maximus’
Grevillea ‘Fireworks’ just starting to flower as a large shrub under glass.
Grevillea ‘Fireworks’
Grevillea ‘Fireworks’
Grevillea ‘Fireworks’
Grevillea ‘Fireworks’
An unnamed wild collected Hedychium which Tom gave us a plant of last year. Tender and spring flowering. It grows in crevices in rocks and spreads to new crevices with long extending roots.
Hedychium
Hedychium
Hedychium
Hedychium
Hedychium
Hedychium
Euonymus trapococcus – bark.
Euonymus trapococcus
Euonymus trapococcus
Tom’s Magnolia sprengeri (TH 2823) was planted in 2005. It is delightful and massively different to our Magnolia sprengeri ‘Diva’. Seed was collected from a lowish altitude (2,000ft) in a roadside gutter below a hillside which had been totally felled. A lone survivor of what was once a wild colony of plants.
Magnolia sprengeri
Magnolia sprengeri
Magnolia sprengeri
Magnolia sprengeri
Magnolia sprengeri
Magnolia sprengeri
Magnolia sprengeri
Magnolia sprengeri
Three superb plants of Magnolia maudiae (all slightly different) were the showstopper for the visit. Seed collected (not by Tom) from a selected plant in a Chinese temple originally. Huge flowers and much larger than anything I have ever seen on M. maudiae here. The scent is very similar to Magnolia doltsopa.
Magnolia maudiae
Magnolia maudiae
Magnolia maudiae
Magnolia maudiae
Magnolia maudiae
Magnolia maudiae
Magnolia maudiae
Magnolia maudiae
Magnolia maudiae
Magnolia maudiae
Tom thought this was a grafted Magnolia sprengeri ‘Marwood Spring’. We did not!
Magnolia sprengeri ‘Marwood Spring’
Magnolia sprengeri ‘Marwood Spring’
Magnolia sprengeri ‘Marwood Spring’
Magnolia sprengeri ‘Marwood Spring’
Wonderful bark on Meliosma simplicifolia subsp. rigida which had flowered for the first time last year but failed to set any seed. Our Meliosma oldhamii does not have bark like this but it did set seed last year.
Meliosma simplicifolia subsp. rigida
Meliosma simplicifolia subsp. rigida
Magnolia maudiae var. platypetala just coming out.
Magnolia maudiae platypetala
Magnolia maudiae platypetala
Betula albosinensis ‘Pink Champagne’ growing in a clump below the ponds.
Betula albosinensis ‘Pink Champagne’
Betula albosinensis ‘Pink Champagne’
Betula albosinensis ‘Pink Champagne’
Betula albosinensis ‘Pink Champagne’
Rhododendron fansipanense as we saw from Tregye at the Rosemoor show last Saturday. Ideal for hybridisation as a new and unknown species while we think how to occupy ourselves during lockdown.
Rhododendron fansipanense
Rhododendron fansipanense
Rhododendron fansipanense
Rhododendron fansipanense
Rhododendron fansipanense
Rhododendron fansipanense
Rhododendron fansipanense
Rhododendron fansipanense
Enkianthus serrulatus is the first species to flower each year. Greenish white.
Enkianthus serrulatus
Enkianthus serrulatus
Enkianthus serrulatus
Enkianthus serrulatus
Camellia trichocarpa with its amazing bark. Older plants not flowering very heavily but a smaller plant was. Tom kindly gave us a plant as our cuttings seem to have failed.
Camellia trichocarpa
Camellia trichocarpa
Camellia trichocarpa
Camellia trichocarpa
Camellia trichocarpa
Camellia trichocarpa
Camellia trichocarpa
Camellia trichocarpa
Schefflera bodinieri with an extraordinary leaf structure as you can see. The petioles on the leaflets are of different lengths.
Schefflera bodinieri
Schefflera bodinieri
Schefflera bodinieri
Schefflera bodinieri
Schefflera bodinieri
Schefflera bodinieri
Schefflera bodinieri
Schefflera bodinieri
Schefflera bodinieri
Schefflera bodinieri
Acer sikkimense just coming into leaf. Here just the bark.
Acer sikkimense
Acer sikkimense
Tom’s Melliodendron xylocarpum is just as florescent as ever and now 40ft tall. The second best plant seen in flower today.
Melliodendron xylocarpum
Melliodendron xylocarpum
Melliodendron xylocarpum
Melliodendron xylocarpum
The evergreen Quercus marlipoensis just planted out.
Quercus marlipoensis
Quercus marlipoensis
Quercus marlipoensis
Quercus marlipoensis
Strobilanthes rankanensis – Asia has this in full flower. We were given a plant of this last year by Lawrence Banks.
Strobilanthes rankanensis
Strobilanthes rankanensis
Strobilanthes rankanensis
Strobilanthes rankanensis
Illicium simonsii full out by the tennis court at Tregrehan. Attractive dark bark and red buds on last year’s new growth.
Illicium simonsii
Illicium simonsii
Illicium simonsii
Illicium simonsii
Illicium simonsii
Illicium simonsii
Illicium simonsii
Illicium simonsii
Persea brevifolia with red new growth just starting.
Persea brevifolia
Persea brevifolia
Debregeasia longifolia plastered in flower. A most peculiar shrub of about 6ft in height and a similar width.
Debregeasia longifolia
Debregeasia longifolia
Debregeasia longifolia
Debregeasia longifolia
Debregeasia longifolia
Debregeasia longifolia
Debregeasia longifolia
Debregeasia longifolia

2019 – CHW Higher Quarry Nursery now planted up with a nice crop of young rhododendrons from Glendoick. They will grow on here for around three years before being moved out into the garden itself.

Higher Quarry Nursery
Higher Quarry Nursery
Fritillaria meleagris in the nursery. Quite variable in colour with the buds and open flowers very different.
Fritillaria meleagris
Fritillaria meleagris
Fritillaria meleagris
Fritillaria meleagris
Fritillaria meleagris
Fritillaria meleagris
The Beaufort Hunt are visitors at the Four Burrow Hunt meet on the beach. Seventy to eighty riders and 400+ followers/spectators.
Hunt meet on the beach
Hunt meet on the beach
Hunt meet on the beach
Hunt meet on the beach
Hunt video, click here for short video clip.

2018 – CHW
On the train to London for the Garden Society dinner. Very few flowering plants on show for obvious reasons and no magnolias at all. Evelyn Boscawen had a nice display of Camellia reticulata varieties.

I showed Abies delavayi and Photinia prinophyllum which were photographed last Sunday.

2017 – CHW
A part planting day amid the usual chaos of the house opening for the first time and 40 Italians on the first house tour! Wet and noisy they were too.

The young Magnolia ‘Princess Margaret’ is not too bad but smaller flowers than the older plant which is more sheltered.

Magnolia ‘Princess Margaret’
Magnolia ‘Princess Margaret’
Magnolia ‘Princess Margaret’
Magnolia ‘Princess Margaret’
Magnolia ‘Crystal Chalice’ is just coming.
Magnolia ‘Crystal Chalice’
Magnolia ‘Crystal Chalice’
Magnolia ‘Crystal Chalice’
Magnolia ‘Crystal Chalice’
Magnolia ‘Crystal Chalice’
Magnolia ‘Crystal Chalice’
Magnolia ‘Cleopatra’ is a bit battered in the wind but promising.
Magnolia ‘Cleopatra’
Magnolia ‘Cleopatra’
Magnolia ‘Cleopatra’
Magnolia ‘Cleopatra’
Magnolia ‘Black Tulip’ x ‘Deep Purple Dream’ shows potential for the future but damaged today.
Magnolia ‘Black Tulip’ x ‘Deep Purple Dream’
Magnolia ‘Black Tulip’ x ‘Deep Purple Dream’

2016 – CHW
Off to Tregothnan with our gardening weekend guests where we are shown around by Evelyn Boscawen. Great and generational changes have been made to the gardens to replace windbreaks and to fell the huge Rhododendron ‘Cornish Red’ in the garden to rejuvenate them from the base.The rather horrible (if you do not like variegation) Rhododendron ‘President Roosevelt’ is out beside the summerhouse and flowering well in full sun now that the dying tree canopy of ilex oak and scots pine has been removed.
Rhododendron ‘President Roosevelt’
Rhododendron ‘President Roosevelt’
Rhododendron ‘President Roosevelt’
Rhododendron ‘President Roosevelt’
Much evidence of badger digging and badger lavatories all over the lawns. Rabbits and deer also a major problem in the arboretum but loss of shelterbelts means more wind damage to flowers and evergreens.

Rhododendron praestans above the ponds is a fantastic colour.

Rhododendron praestans
Rhododendron praestans
A newish planting of Camellia reticulata hybrids is particularly good. These are such difficult and temperamental plants to grow. Grafted plants snap off easily, they have a leggy habit which makes staking difficult and are very fussy about soil and shelter not to mention their attraction to deer.
We see:
Camellia reticulata ‘Crimson Robe’

Camellia reticulata ‘Crimson Robe’
Camellia reticulata ‘Crimson Robe’

Camellia reticulata ‘Lasca Beauty’

Camellia reticulata ‘Crimson Robe’
Camellia reticulata ‘Crimson Robe’

Camellia reticulata ‘K O Hester’

Camellia reticulata ‘K O Hester’
Camellia reticulata ‘K O Hester’

Rhododendron arboreum, the blood red form, is the best thing in the garden today.

Rhododendron arboreum, the blood red form
Rhododendron arboreum, the blood red form
Just above it is a huge Camellia reticulata ‘Francie L’ is full out and excellent with a bit of wind damage and a branch split out.
Camellia reticulata ‘Francie L’
Camellia reticulata ‘Francie L’
A eucalyptus species has white flower forming below last year’s seed pots and is really quite nice in the sun. Not sure of the name.
eucalyptus
eucalyptus
Michelia foveolata (or perhaps Michelia platypetala) is flowering away nicely in a sheltered spot by a good Magnolia nitida. This species is doing well at Burncoose but no flowers as yet or at Caerhays.
Michelia foveolata (or perhaps Michelia platypetala)
Michelia foveolata (or perhaps Michelia platypetala)
Michelia foveolata (or perhaps Michelia platypetala)
Michelia foveolata (or perhaps Michelia platypetala)
Michelia foveolata (or perhaps Michelia platypetala)
Michelia foveolata (or perhaps Michelia platypetala)

What a pity there is not more time to look more closely at other rare plants (Maytenus boraria) or the huge number of other Camellia reticulatas in their national collection.

2015 – CHW
‘Magnolia Mania’ continues with yet another still day. We may be lucky tomorrow for the wedding. David and Jenny Knuckey (my long since retired partners from Burncoose) are doing Serena’s flowers. The nursery have failed to send up the bowls or oasis with the stockplants for the tent. Not a good start so I am keeping a low profile.

Magnolia 'Lanarth'
Magnolia ‘Lanarth’
True LANARTH
A true M. ‘Lanarth’

It is interesting to compare what the New Zealander’s sell as Magnolia ‘Lanarth’ against the true original Magnolia ‘Lanarths’ that still grow today at Lanarth near St Keverne on the Lizard Peninsula. True ‘Lanarth’ is a small growing and spreading magnolia of probably no more than 15 to 20 feet in height. The flowers are mollicomata shaped (ie lightbulb and cup as they open). It is a shy flowerer and one true plant took 50 years to flower here. The New Zealand form is much more erect and vigorous. The flowers are larger and more campbellii (ie erect) shaped in bud. If one had to choose which to grow yourself the New Zealander would win but that does not mean it is true to name!Exactly the same is true of the New Zealand Magnolia campbellii ‘Alba’ which is a very poor imitation of the real thing in every respect.

The true campbellii alba has not a hint of pink, at the base, and is a far larger and more upright pure white.
New Zeland Magnolia campbellii ALBA
A New Zealand Magnolia campbellii ‘Alba’
True CAMPBELLII_Alba
True M. campbellii ‘Alba’
CAMELLIA 'Anticipation Variagated'
CAMELLIA ‘Anticipation Variagated’
Camellia ‘Anticipation Variegated’ towers over the main ride and is well worth being more widely grown. It is the large flowers not the leaves which are ‘variegated’.Questing further to photograph more ‘Endangered in the Wild’ plants for Chelsea 2015 we locate three species of ‘yew-like’ Torreya above Hovel Court Road. Torreya nucifera and Torreya taxiflora are labelled. Planting records suggest the third is Torreya grandis. Despite rabbit damage shortly after planting all three are making into decent small trees now.
TORREYA nucifera
TORREYA nucifera
TORREYA nucifera
TORREYA nucifera

1972 – FJW
Magnolias nearly at their best – Donkey Shoe Robusta, Philip T, Campbellii and Caerhays Belle = first

1959 – FJW
Magnolias coming to their best. The prize must go to the Donkey Shoe Robusta. Campbellii excellent – no Michelia yet – Red Admirals in Beech Walk superb. Best Rho sutchuenense hyb above crino hedge – best show of Camellias on St Ewe hedge.

1943 – CW
Many daffodils over – part mild season – Magnolia campbelli mollicomata, Sargentiana, Campbellii over or nearly over – Michelia wonderful, some branches weighed down with flowers. Large lot of Rho Royal flush in 40 Acres. Blood red at its best. Auklandii arboreum beginning. Still some fuschias. Very dry.

1931 – JCW
Kobus is the first magnolia as in 1929. The blood red hybrids are good and so is Cam speciosa.

1929 – JCW
150 flowers on the early Kobus show white.

1926 – JCW
Isceuticum, Roxieanum, a new Irroratum and Martinianum all should flower for the first time this week.

1915 – JCW
Bob came in from France for two days. Frost last night hit the Thomsoni hybrids hard, Mrs Butler hybrids just coming on. Princep Mary not open, not much colour yet.

1911 – JCW
We are far from Princep Mary or Mag halleana. Argenteum and Arboreum nice, most of the Arboreums are over. Some Ciliatums over, some very nice, some double C reticulata.

1907 – JCW
We are now close to 1902. Caerhays trumpet is at its best. Anenome alpinina open, and Sir Watkin.

1904 – JCW
Some days behind the above but I picked some very nice P in seedlings, Horsfieldii out.

1902 – JCW
Several Princep Mary, North S, some C J Backhouse, an old Emperor, most of the Sir Watkin, a few M Humes, two King A, a fair lot of Magnolia halleana, saw the Tregothnan Rho argeteum with 300 flowers.

1901 – JCW
Snow which melts and none of the above open.

1898 – JCW
A few Princep Mary open and most of the Kate Spurrell.