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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...

Is Winter Over?

 
Iris reticulata 'Harmony'


It is not even February yet but you would not guess that by the weather and the flowers that are blooming. Yesterday, the dwarf iris started blooming. These were planted last fall.

Hellebore 'Merlin' has been blooming for weeks. I added another last year and it has a fat bud on it. I believe it is 'Berry Swirl'.


Hellebore 'Merlin' 


Hellebore 'Berry Swirl'

More winter interest -


Heather (Calluna vulgaris 'Firefly')

Heather (Calluna vulgaris 'Multicolor')


Winterberry
(Gaultheria procumbens 'Berry Cascade')


Mahonia 'Charity'

What is blooming in your garden?


Text and photos by Phillip Oliver, Dirt Therapy

Comments

  1. Hahahahaaha... Winter is still here. I do have a Galanthus nivalis blooming and buds on some of my hellebores but no other blooms. It is 40F here today. Crazy for January. Your blooms give me hope for the near future.

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  2. It seems like the smaller the iris, the earlier it blooms. Those baby blue ones are lovely. Hellebore is blooming in my garden too, getting me excited for the upcoming gardening season, and the low growing heather that is practically Glowing this time of year (mine is called blazeaway)!

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