Skip to main content

Featured

Coleton Fishacre - Inside the House

Coleton Fishacre has been described as "the perfect combination of the simple architecture and high standards of craftmanship of the nineteenth century Arts and Crafts movement with the modernity of the Jazz Age." I was told that there are not that many Art Deco style houses in the UK and this is one of the few private residences that are open to the public. Among the furnishings are Lalique wall lights, an eighteenth century Venetian chandelier and a carpet designed by Marion Dorn. Most of the furniture was designed by the architect of the house, Oswald Milne.   After the Rowland and Freda Smith bought the house in 1949, they did not make many changes and the furnishings that they didn't use were stored. After the National Trust took over the property, they meticulously recreated the furnishings based on photographs that had appeared in Country Life magazine.   The library, pictured above and below, features a celebrated wind-dial map that was created by noted mapmaker G...
Post a Comment
Read more
Labels

First hummingbird

This morning as I was washing the breakfast dishes, I glanced out the kitchen window and saw the first hummingbird of the season. It was flying around the archway covered with the climbing rose "Blaze", yellow honeysuckle and a white clematis that I can't remember the name of. This photo was taken two weeks ago and the honeysuckle flowers had not fully opened yet. They are open now and the hummingbird was really enjoying them.



Text and photos by Phillip Oliver, Dirt Therapy
Email Post
Labels:

Comments

  1. scottweberpdxApril 27, 2012 at 7:53 AM

    Don't you love those little guys! I haven't seen them around much this spring...but I've heard them chirping around the garden...they are so quick!

    ReplyDelete
  2. gathering lifeApril 27, 2012 at 9:45 AM

    Oh, goody. I have not seen one yet. At least I know they are coming soon!!!!

    ReplyDelete
  3. ConnieApril 27, 2012 at 10:15 AM

    Hi Phillip. Love your blog; I always enjoy your posts about your roses and hydrangeas. I wanted to know if the white flower pictured with your 'Blaze' rose is a clematis. If so, do you know the cultivar? Thanks.

    ReplyDelete
  4. rebeccaApril 27, 2012 at 10:21 AM

    What a beautiful photograph! did you use some kind of special technique? Those roses are literally jumping off the screne into the room with me!!!!!!!!!!!!!

    ReplyDelete
  5. Cyndia MontgomeryApril 27, 2012 at 11:32 AM

    Gotta get my feeders out! So exciting to see the hummingbirds.
    LOVE that peony! So beautiful!

    ReplyDelete
  6. Phillip OliverApril 27, 2012 at 12:10 PM

    Connie-Nicole, that is a clematis and unfortunately I don't recall the name of it.

    Rebecca, some tweaking in Photoshop. It is probably just the red though, they tend to jump out at you.

    ReplyDelete
  7. TeresaApril 27, 2012 at 4:07 PM

    So pretty!

    ReplyDelete
  8. Anne BoykinApril 27, 2012 at 6:31 PM

    What a beautiful combination!

    ReplyDelete
  9. Gardener on Sherlock StreetApril 27, 2012 at 8:04 PM

    What a great combination.

    ReplyDelete
  10. CarolApril 28, 2012 at 6:25 AM

    I have had then at the feeders now for about 3 weeks. Not many-just a couple, but I love watching them. Carol

    ReplyDelete
  11. AnonymousApril 28, 2012 at 6:07 PM

    That Clematis looks like Duchess of Edinburgh. Gorgeous companions!

    ReplyDelete
  12. Tatyana@MySecretGardenApril 28, 2012 at 8:45 PM

    Wonderful, summery, cheerful picture! Those little birds can make us so happy! I need to wait many weeks to see them in my garden. Their favorite plant is red monarda. Last summer, I even saw them fighting around it.

    ReplyDelete
  13. Lisa at GreenbowApril 30, 2012 at 8:42 AM

    Yummy, I would be drawn to these flowers too. I haven't seen a hummer in my garden as yet. I have red roses blooming too. Where is my hummer?? WHINE...

    ReplyDelete
  14. Phillip OliverApril 30, 2012 at 8:44 AM

    Well Lisa, I have not seen him since! Perhaps he was a scout?

    ReplyDelete
  15. GailApril 30, 2012 at 4:12 PM

    Love when they arrive and someday hope they let me get a decent photo. gail

    ReplyDelete
  16. Mr. McGregor's DaughterMay 1, 2012 at 3:12 PM

    There's nothing to get your heart pumping like the sight of a hummer. (Cute little buggers.) I got my act together early this year & put my feeder up already, even though my honeysuckle hasn't even thought about forming buds yet.

    ReplyDelete

Post a Comment