Days Out - Daphne Du Maurier Festival: 12 - 21 May 2011

I have recently booked my tickets to attend 'Alistair Campbell: The Diaries' which is an evening that forms part of the 2011 Du Maurier Festival of Arts & Literature held in and around Fowey.   

Daphne Du Maurier

Dame Daphne du Maurier (1907 - 1989 DBE 1969, Fellow of the Royal Society of Literature) began writing short stories in 1928, and in 1931 her first novel, 'The Loving Spirit' was published, it received rave reviews and further books followed. Then came her most famous three novels, 'Jamaica Inn', 'Frenchman's Creek' and Rebecca'; each novel being inspired by her love of Cornwall.  She lived and wrote for many years in nearby Menabilly, Du Murier's home also called Menabilly is thought to be the inspiration for Rebecca's 'Manderlay'.

The festival has been running for many years now and attracts 'big' names (this year Ann Widdecombe, Prof. Robert Winston, Evelyn Glennie, Rory McGrath, Tim Rice, John Sergeant, Fisherman's Friends, Prue Leith and Shakin' Stevens no less!) as well as there being garden tours, literary walks and talks, dancing lessons, local 'Am Dram', historians and musicians.  Tickets vary in price from £6.50 to £29.50 (for Shaky!)

Do have a look at the festival's website for more information and book soon - those Shaky tickets won't last long!

Days Out - Camellia's at Caerhays Castle

Further to our 'signs of spring' post, things have moved on quickly here at the farm; the camellia's in the garden are in full bloom and looking beautiful.  Camellia's thrive here in Cornwall and have a fascintating history. 

In the 19^th Century camellias were perceived as being tender greenhouse plants which could only be grown by the largest landowners with huge conservatories. All this was to change with the discovery of what we now know as Camellia saluenensis by the famous Chinese planthunter George Forrest in 1918. This was a new species of camellia unknown in Western Europe.  Camellia japonica (from Japan) had been introduced to Europe some 100 years before but it was generally considered simply as a foliage plant as it only had very small red flowers.   Seed from Forrest’s new discovery was sent back to Caerhays Castle, about a 20 minute drive from Poltarrow. 

The owner of the Caerhays estate, J.C. Williams had funded all of Forrest’s previous expeditions to China but his primary interest was in rhododendrons and not camellias.

Nevertheless in 1923 J.C. Williams crossed Camellia japonica with dark and pale forms of Camellia saluenensis. These original plants at Caerhays still survive in extreme old age today. The resultant seedlings began to flower in 1926 and the first of the new strain of x williamsii camellias was named ‘St Ewe’ (after a village close to Caerhays). Other hybrids were named ‘Caerhays’, ‘J.C. Williams’, ‘St Michael’ and ‘Charles Michael’ (after the head gardener of the time).  Now is the perfect time to visit Caerhays and discover more about the camellias; the gardens close again until next spring on the 5th June.

Gardens Open

14th February to 5th June

seven days a week 10.00 to 5.00 (last admission 4.00)

House Open - (conducted tours only)

14th March to 30th May weekdays only (including Bank Holidays)

tours 12.00   1.30   3.00 (due to restricted numbers on tours, reservations are advised)

Jobs at Poltarrow - The pine tree gets a trim - gulp!

Those who have visited Poltarrow before may remember this large pine tree next to the telephone box and tumble room; it was grown from seed collected on a family holiday to Jersey in the late '80s.

However a combination of the pine starting to lean precariously near the tumble room as well as the roots undermining the walls meant it was for the chop!

Firstly the branches were trimmed off and then the limbs were removed, Barry cut them up for firewood whilst Peter loaded the chopped wood and stacked it ready for next winter.

Farm Friends - greedy Mr Pheasant!

Positioned just outside our kitchen window a number of bird feeders hang from a tree, a couple of days ago Libby spotted an uninvited guest looking for an easy meal!

He steals the seed that has fallen from the feeders above; judging by the size of him this is not his first visit!  Looking at these photos I can't help but hear the song from the 'Famous Grouse' whiskey advert.... dom, dom, dom, dom, dom, dom, dom-dom!