Coleton Fishacre (Devon, England)
Coleton Fishacre was in my top 5 gardens on the tour. This Arts & Crafts style house and garden was the country home of Rupert D'Oyly Carte and his wife Lady Dorothy Carte. He was the well-known theater owner (The Savoy) and producer (Gilbert & Sullivan). They spotted the property from their yacht and thought it would be a great spot for a country home and garden. Ah, to have that much money... They commissioned Oswald Milne, a former student of Edward Lutyens to design the house. Both Rupert and Lady Dorothy were interested in gardening but it was Lady Dorothy who mainly planted the garden, filling it with exotic and tender plants that survived with the influence of the Gulf stream. They employed six full-time gardeners! I often wonder if people who have that much money are really able to enjoy a property like this and actually live in it? Their tenure here wasn't that long (a dozen years or so), although Dorothy lived here full-time in the late 19...
Aren't they a handsome Hummingbird?! Maybe they will nest in your garden this summer. Wouldn't that be great!! Nice photo.
ReplyDeleteSo sweet!
ReplyDeleteStunning. You are one lucky guy.
ReplyDeleteWonderful! Aren't their colors and their tiny little feet just amazing? I love hummers!
ReplyDeleteWow - great shot! I saw a hummer in my garden on Monday. It was so nice to spend some time out there, and to see that they are still there. It was just me, who was gone for a while.
ReplyDeleteOh how I wish we had these lovely little birds here in the uk! Still, I can enjoy yours thanks to your great photos Philip.
ReplyDeleteOh my! I love it! I won't see any hummers here till late May or so. Can't wait.
ReplyDeleteWell done, getting a shot of one of these elusive fellows. They were a rare sight where I lived in Massachusetts, much less rare now that I live in Washington, but no less amazing and wonderful. I hope you're also growing plants that they can feast on, then you'll see even more of them.
ReplyDeleteWe've had Annas right through the winter but the rufous have yet to arrive. They're small but combative, making for some entertaining rufous ruckus at the feeder. I'm impressed by your photo.
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