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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...
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Sebright Gardens



I've wanted to visit Sebright Gardens in Brooks, Oregon since moving here and finally got the chance this week - many thanks to my friend Linda who invited me on this excursion. It has been eons since I've ventured beyond the house and workplace and it was fun getting away. We also stopped at the Rogerson Clematis Garden and I will share photos of it later.

Sebright Gardens specializes in hostas, epimedium and ferns. I was mainly interested in seeing their display gardens but of course I could not escape without buying something. I did practice restraint, however, and only purchased one epimedium and one fern. I did look at the hostas but so many varieties was frankly overwhelming and I gave up.

The bright midday sun was discouraging for good photos and I'm afraid these are not the best. Hopefully they will give you an idea of the wide array of plants. I was astounded by trees and shrubs, most of them unfamiliar to me.









The retail area for visitors doesn't fully include all of their plants. Many have to be requested in advance or through mail order. Here is a glimpse of the hostas in a holding area, off limits to the public -




And hostas in the greenhouse - as far as the eye can see! -


Text and photos by Phillip Oliver, Dirt Therapy
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Comments

  1. ElaineJuly 16, 2023 at 7:35 AM

    I agree with you on the number of hosta cultivars out there. The specimens at Seabright look incredibly lush and happy. I admire your restraint as it must have been hard to not bring any back. Lovely display gardens.

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  2. danger gardenJuly 16, 2023 at 9:29 AM

    But you didn't tell us what you bought!

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    Replies
    1. Phillip OliverJuly 16, 2023 at 5:00 PM

      Oh yeah - Epimedium 'Waterfall' and Golden Zebra Fern

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  3. Kris PetersonJuly 16, 2023 at 1:00 PM

    What a beautiful nursery!

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  4. Hoover BooJuly 17, 2023 at 4:37 PM

    Oh my! No wonder you've been wanting to visit. Such beautiful Hostas--as well as everything else.

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