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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 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 Georg...

A few early blooming rhododendrons





The rhododendrons are just beginning to bloom. The first one is the beautiful red 'Taurus'. This is one of the first I planted and it has improved every year. This is the first time it has had this many blooms.



 
'Blue Baron' is one I found at Home Depot after first moving here. It is a puny shrub but that color makes me weak.




Another small one is 'Ramapo'. It is planted next to the front steps. True to the description, it is staying under 2 feet.

'Ramapo'


And finally, 'PJM', the very first rhododendron to bloom. It has been blooming about two weeks now.


'PJM'




Text and photos by Phillip Oliver

Comments

  1. These photos make me want to dash out and purchase some early blooming Rhodies. I too love that blue one.

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  2. Azaleas were once widely planted in SoCal because they were familiar plants to the many people who moved here from elsewhere, but have been vanishing--too vulnerable to our increased heat and higher water bills. The Rhodies in your garden are marvelous. It is a treat to see them.

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