Tag: Devon

A Slice of Saturday at Coleton Fishacre

Posted on Posted in England, Gardens, Photography, TravelTagged , , , , , , , , 17 Comments

What could possibly come between asked Christine, commenting on my post yesterday. So, so many things but I’ll try not to overload you all!
The people who discovered this valley by the sea were none other than the D’Oyly-Carte’s, best known for their company that staged Gilbert and Sullian operas and as owners of the Savoy hotel.It was Rupert and his wife Lady Dorothy that built Coleton and planted its beautiful gardens with a mix of rare and exotic plants that wouldn’t usually grow in our English climate.
The house has a stunning art deco interior – sadly photos were not permitted inside the house, but it was gracious, elegant living at its best. A family home in the country with ample space for house guests, each room had a view over the gardens and some of the sea beyond.
Here are some of the vistas and peep betweens that have evolved.

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The D’Oyly-Carte’s had two children, Michael who died in a car accident at twenty-one in 1932 and a daughter, Bridget. In 1941, Rupert divorced Dorothy and Bridget took over the house. Dorothy moved to the Bahamas with her new man and Rupert continued to visit the house at weekends until his death in 1948.
The dream ended, Bridget sold the house after her father’s death and a number of years in private ownership, it became a National Trust property in 1982.
So, we can all see it, we can stroll along the paths, gaze out to sea and enjoy the wonderful garden, surely one of the best in the country.
Here are some of the plants, holding up well in mid October.

I hope you enjoyed my day out at Coleton Fishacre, I’ll be going back in the spring to see what’s blooming and for another nice lunch and cake break.

The Middle of Yesterday

Posted on Posted in Devon, England, Photography, TravelTagged , , , , , , 24 Comments

Imagine yourself ninety years ago. You find yourself sailing past one of the loveliest parts of England, an unspoilt valley by the sea in Devon. You decide you have to buy it and have the architect Oswald Milne design your perfect country house.

The house was built so that all the main rooms faced south and once it was complete Milne, who was Sir Edward Lutyens assistant designed the hard landscape.

The stone was quarried on the land and the landscaping even included channeling a stream through a rill, damming to form pools before it returned to its natural state in the lower slopes of the valley.
coleton 6
Stand and enjoy the view,
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your own private beach lies below.
coleton 7

and all the while your paradise is being planted with a sheltering belt of Monterey pine and holm oak that will eventually create a micro climate.
One day your paradise will be filled with fragrant and exotic plants, flowers so colourful that everyone will want to see it.
Tomorrow perhaps I’ll show YOU how it turned out.

Starting and Finishing with Boats

Posted on Posted in Devon, England, PhotographyTagged , , , , , , , , , 11 Comments

I spent the day exploring with a friend today and turning right too soon led us to Galmpton Creek, sleepy on a Saturday but a nice diversion. It’s on the river Dart and Dittisham can be seen in the distance.

The last stop was at Shaldon beside the river Teign estuary, more boats and a lovely evening light.

Tomorrow I’ll try to show you the space between!

Capture the Colour 2013

Posted on Posted in Photography, TravelTagged , , , , , 33 Comments

Last year I took part in Capture the Colour, a competition run by Travel Supermarket. The idea is that you submit a photo that conveys each of five colours. This year Georgia invited me to join in, go check her entries at http://rainbowbakery.wordpress.com/2013/09/20/capture-the-colour/ Georgia’s White photo is my favourite, I wonder which you would choose?

Reds
My RED photo was taken at Rosemoor, my favourite Royal Horticultural Society garden, I like the double dose the reflections bring.
yellows
For YELLOW I’m still in Devon, this time on the Exe estuary when the tide was so far out you could almost walk to Starcross.

Greens
GREEN is Rosemoor’s pristine hedges and borders in late summer.
Blues
And for BLUE I’m bringing you Brixham harbour in June.

Whites
A bit further afield, this is Mount Etna. It’s peak is shrouded in a mixture of smoke, steam and cloud, each a fluffy WHITE.
I think the competition closes at midnight tonight so if you’re quick you can still enter. http://www.travelsupermarket.com/c/holidays/capture-the-colour/

October tomorrow

Posted on Posted in Devon, England, Photography, TravelTagged , , , 24 Comments

I love summer. I try to convince myself that autumn is beautiful, a palette of rich colour,a time to prepare for Christmas, settling in the warm for winter with some good books, but it doesn’t work. I just start counting the days until spring, especially once the shortest day has past. Leaving for work in the dark and not returning home until dark, I could easily fall prey to seasonal affective disorder. Photos are one the things I use to keep myself sane, looking back over best parts of the year, so I’ve chosen one from each month of the summer to share with you.
April at Buckland
April, not quite summer but full of promise.

May on the quay
May in bright blue.

June my birthday in Brixham
June at Brixham harbour.

July The Grand Western Canal
July relaxed on the water.

August patchwork to the bay_edited-1
August across fields to Lyme Bay.

September Rosemoor
September, my favourite garden full of colour.
It hasn’t been the easiest summer, but it has been rich with experiences and adventures. Now, let winter be short and gentle!

Tom’s Cakes

Posted on Posted in England, Food, PhotographyTagged , , , , , 16 Comments

Yesterday I went to the RHS garden, Rosemoor at Great Torrington, North Devon, you may have seen my rose photos. What I didn’t know until I got there, was that they were having a local food festival. There was fish, preserves, cheese, cider, wonderful sausages and ethically produced meat and the strongest chilli chocolate I’ve ever tasted. I wasn’t going to let it beat me, but I bought a milder bar with coffee added. The bread was gorgeous, I chose a densely textured, dark loaf with apple that is perfect on its own or with the tiniest sliver of cheese.

My favourite stand by far was Tom’s Cakes. Tom has a little shop in Combe Martin where he sells heavenly mousses and bavarois, truffles, tarts and loads more indulgent, diet busting, delights. My photos do not do them  justice, they are exquisite, but look at these and drool.

They are made with pate sablee pastry, real vanilla and must be the best outside of France. Tom has won Gold awards for his Blueberry Frangipane, and White Chocolate and Rasberry Bavarois in the Taste of the West Awards. There are a couple of wedding cakes on his website, have a peep. http://www.northdevoncakes.co.uk/#/photos/4572073167