6th January

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

Each year I have a trawl down from the Top Lodge to see exactly what camellias are showing in this very early year. These 50 or so plants were all planted out in 2007 and are now coming into their prime. Quite a show today but still only about a third are yet in flower. (I showed you a few a fortnight or so ago so will not repeat these here).

Camellia japonica ‘Desire’ just beginning.

Camellia japonica ‘Desire’
Camellia japonica ‘Desire’
Camellia japonica ‘Sunburst’ properly out and a bit rain damaged.
Camellia japonica ‘Sunburst’
Camellia japonica ‘Sunburst’
Camellia japonica ‘Magnoliaeflora’ absolutely full out although the elderly plant on the top wall above the front door is not.
Camellia japonica ‘Magnoliaeflora’
Camellia japonica ‘Magnoliaeflora’
Camellia japonica ‘High Hat’ is normally one of the very first japonicas to show but not this year. Only just starting.
Camellia japonica ‘High Hat’
Camellia japonica ‘High Hat’
Camellia japonica ‘Debutante’ – another one which is usually fairly early here. It is in fact well ahead of ‘High Hat’ this year.
Camellia japonica ‘Debutante’
Camellia japonica ‘Debutante’
Camellia japonica ‘Margherita Coleoni’ also a bit storm battered but nicely out.
Camellia japonica ‘Margherita Coleoni’
Camellia japonica ‘Margherita Coleoni’
Camellia x williamsii ‘Monica Dance’ is full out here but, yesterday, on the Main Ride not a hint of colour anywhere on the original bush. More wind in this location is the probable explanation.
Camellia x williamsii ‘Mathotiana Alba’ – just a couple of flowers on two separate plants. I would call this very early for any Mathotiana.
Camellia x williamsii ‘Monica Dance’
Camellia x williamsii ‘Monica Dance’
Camellia x williamsii ‘Monica Dance’
Camellia x williamsii ‘Monica Dance’
Camellia x williamsii ‘Elegans’ – full out but also a bit battered.
Camellia x williamsii ‘Elegans’
Camellia x williamsii ‘Elegans’

2023 – CHW
A visit to the greenhouse but not much in flower to see here yet.Bursting seeds pods on Microtropis petelotii.

Microtropis petelotii
Microtropis petelotii
Still tiny flowers out on Pittosporum michiei. Its still covered in fact. A most peculiar species which we first saw a month ago at least.
Pittosporum michiei
Pittosporum michiei
Fuchsia cordifolia (now Fuchsia splendens var ‘Cordifolia’) has lost its leaves but still a few flowers left. In the December video from Gorwell this plant (outside) was still in full leaf and flower. Pre frost at Gorwell though.
Fuchsia cordifolia
Fuchsia cordifolia
This red camellia was given to us as cuttings from Hergest Croft Gardens 3-4 years ago. The original plant was one of Jimmy Smart’s hybrids from Marwood Hill which the late Laurence Banks thought might have been lost at Marwood. First flower not properly formed I fear. No name as yet.
red camellia
red camellia
The yellow Vireya rhododendron is out again at its normal time and looking healthy.
Vireya rhododendron
Vireya rhododendron
New growth and bud on Camellia costei. The odd flower had already dropped.
Camellia costei
Camellia costei
Camellia costei
Camellia costei
Look at all the new magnolias (of which most are ready) for planting out in the spring!
new magnolias
new magnolias
new magnolias
new magnolias
Despite all our efforts in the autumn there is still also plenty of tender stuff to go out from this bed in the frames too.
tender stuff
tender stuff
The fruits on Sorbus zahlbruckneri are now ripe and the leaves shrivelled or gone. On arrival from Holland 2 or 3 years ago the plant had a broken root ball but has fully recovered after repotting.
Sorbus zahlbruckneri
Sorbus zahlbruckneri
Sorbus zahlbruckneri
Sorbus zahlbruckneri

2022 – CHW
Rhododendron ‘Christmas Cheer’ is a little late again this year.
Rhododendron ‘Christmas Cheer’
Rhododendron ‘Christmas Cheer’
Rhododendron ‘Christmas Cheer’
Rhododendron ‘Christmas Cheer’
The first daffodil this year.
daffodil
daffodil
Uplifting and tidying up around the Hoherias. Two camellias cut back to reshoot.
tidying up
tidying up
tidying up
tidying up
tidying up
tidying up
Peumus boldus now full out.
Peumus boldus
Peumus boldus
Peumus boldus
Peumus boldus

2021 – CHW
A visit to Burncoose today to find four lorries pouring concrete to create the level access for lorries delivering to the now extended shed beside the main pack house. The Dutch herbaceous delivery is spread out in the extended shed awaiting potting on a very cold day.
pouring concrete
pouring concrete
Burncoose has had some snow (unlike Caerhays) and much of the nursery was frozen underfoot and quite risky without boots.
frozen
frozen
The revised layout of the growing area of the nursery to allow full vehicular access to all (rabbit free and fenced) beds is now more or less complete barring moving and tidying up all the plants that had to be moved.
growing area
growing area
growing area
growing area
Just potted for a client in Guernsey – Tulbaghia violacea by the thousand!
Tulbaghia violacea
Tulbaghia violacea
Out today in the nursery:
Salvia ‘Waverley’
Salvia ‘Waverley’
Salvia ‘Waverley’
Sarcococca ruscifolia
Sarcococca ruscifolia
Sarcococca ruscifolia
Salvia confertiflora
Salvia confertiflora
Salvia confertiflora
Cornus sanguinea ‘Winter Beauty’ looking spectacular. As good as ‘Winter Fire’?
Cornus sanguinea ‘Winter Beauty’
Cornus sanguinea ‘Winter Beauty’
Viburnum x bodnantense ‘Dawn’
Viburnum x bodnantense ‘Dawn’
Viburnum x bodnantense ‘Dawn’
Camellia ‘Jingle Bells’
Camellia ‘Jingle Bells’
Camellia ‘Jingle Bells’
Camellia ‘Little Bit’
Camellia ‘Little Bit’
Camellia ‘Little Bit’
Camellia ‘Rusticana’
Camellia ‘Rusticana’
Camellia ‘Rusticana’
Ilex x altaclarensis ‘Golden King’
Ilex x altaclarensis ‘Golden King’
Ilex x altaclarensis ‘Golden King’
Viburnum tinus in bud and flower. Pink buds and white flowers.
Viburnum tinus
Viburnum tinus
Viburnum tinus
Viburnum tinus

2020 – CHW
Jasminum nudiflorum – winter jasmine – with pinkish buds but, as yet, no white flowers. A substantial wall shrub which survived the builders and scaffolding over it last summer. 10-12ft in height with a similar spread.
Jasminum nudiflorum
Jasminum nudiflorum
Jasminum nudiflorum
Jasminum nudiflorum
Jasminum nudiflorum
Jasminum nudiflorum
An unnamed Camellia x williamsii seedling full out outside the Carlton Club. Shows up well today from the road after a period of no wind and no frost. I do not remember it better but it is not good enough to name. The plant is at least 60 years old and has been pruned several times.
unnamed Camellia x williamsii seedling
unnamed Camellia x williamsii seedling
I had not realised that Clematis armandii was already out. One tiny and rather dubious single flower lower down but plenty of flowering spikes on the newer growth at the top of this huge 20ft plus climber.
Clematis armandii
Clematis armandii
Clematis armandii
Clematis armandii
Clematis armandii
Clematis armandii

2019 – CHW
Jaimie visited Heligan gardens yesterday where he photographed Cestrum elegans in full flower with plenty of bud on a large multi-stemmed bush in full leaf. There is always confusion with C. elegans and Cestrum fasciculatum / C. fasciculatum ‘Newellii’. C. elegans is variable in flower colour and grows twice the size of C. fasciculatum here on the top wall where it is at least 12ft tall. I may be wrong but I think the Heligan plant is indeed C. elegans although a bit different in colour to ours which is certainly not out today. I will check to see if the buds are obvious yet.
Cestrum elegans
Cestrum elegans
Cestrum elegans
Cestrum elegans
Also at Heligan a solitary early flower on Lonicera fragrantissima with plenty of leaf still on the bush.
Lonicera fragrantissima
Lonicera fragrantissima

2018 – CHW
Returning to beyond Georges Hut.Tetrapanax papyifera ‘Rex’ has had some leaves blown off by wind or are they just dropping naturally off the main stem? The new growth and indumentum on the new shoots is impressive as is the developing clump of suckers.
Tetrapanax papyifera ‘Rex’
Tetrapanax papyifera ‘Rex’
Tetrapanax papyifera ‘Rex’
Tetrapanax papyifera ‘Rex’
Tetrapanax papyifera ‘Rex’
Tetrapanax papyifera ‘Rex’
Tetrapanax papyifera ‘Rex’
Tetrapanax papyifera ‘Rex’
Tetrapanax papyifera ‘Rex’
Tetrapanax papyifera ‘Rex’
Rabbits have nibbled a couple of the small suckers. It is the time of year when rabbits nibble trees for extra nutrition.
Rabbit nibbled suckers
Rabbit nibbled suckers
Alniphyllum aff eberhardtii (from Crug) is a whole new genus to us. Crug say it has attractive bark and flowers which are a bit styrax like but in clusters. It is clearly tender but shows no sign yet of shedding its leaves. The stem shows promise and the leaves have an unusual shape and stance on the tree. I think alniphyllum are classed as styracaceae.
Alniphyllum aff eberhardtii
Alniphyllum aff eberhardtii
Alniphyllum aff eberhardtii
Alniphyllum aff eberhardtii
Alniphyllum aff eberhardtii
Alniphyllum aff eberhardtii
Flower buds on Michelia doltsopa still covered in velvet indumentum. Two years ago they were blown open in January on this elderly tree. Some way to go yet it would seem – hopefully.
Michelia doltsopa
Michelia doltsopa
Michelia doltsopa
Michelia doltsopa
A few red berries remain on Berberis wilsoniae at the top of the clump only.
Berberis wilsoniae
Berberis wilsoniae
A blackbird or thrushes nest stands out in the top branches of a dormant Rosa roxburgii. Might it be reused?
Rosa roxburgii
Rosa roxburgii

2017 – CHW
First flowers on Camellia x williamsii ‘Monica Dance’ on the main ride. Not yet a decent shape or colour.
Camellia x williamsii ‘Monica Dance’
Camellia x williamsii ‘Monica Dance’
Camellia x williamsii ‘Monica Dance’
Camellia x williamsii ‘Monica Dance’
First flowers on Rhododendron barbatum which are a little early.
Rhododendron barbatum
Rhododendron barbatum
Rhododendron barbatum
Rhododendron barbatum

Main ride now swept of leaves and looking smart.

Main ride
Main ride

2016 – CHW
Hydrangea ‘Geoffrey Chadbund’ by the cash point still has one untouched flower at the very top and no leaf loss atall.The Camellia ‘St Ewe’ overhanging the cash point is full out but the wind has already blown off many scores of flowers onto the tarmac.

Hydrangea ‘Geoffrey Chadbund’
Hydrangea ‘Geoffrey Chadbund’
Camellia ‘St Ewe’
Camellia ‘St Ewe’
Camellia ‘St Ewe’
Camellia ‘St Ewe’


1998 – FJW
First snowdrop – very wet and thunderstorms.1985 – FJW
Cold spell started.1968 – FJW
Picked newly open bud of Trewidden Grande.

1952 – CW
Still mild – none can remember more grass, still fuschias, roses and Lapageria. 5 of original Saluenensis out, but little else bar Nobleanum Pink. Hardly any Rhodos and Hamamelis also late. One snowdrop at Vean where [Camellia] J.C.W. out for over a week. Here only odd buds show pink. Very bad storms.

1911 – JCW
I found 14 blooms of Narcissus M Clusii open outside

1908 – JCW
A hard frost for the last 4 days, Coums well on, a few roses yet.

1906 – JCW
The first daffs, Tin Garden, Tenby x Minimus.

1904 – JCW
The first Camellia

1902 – JCW
The first Camellia.