It is fascinating to watch things come to life in our growing garden at Casa Debbio. The blossoms are making me sneeze, but through watering eyes I see these beautiful things.
We have cherry blossoms.
Pear blossoms.
The walnut trees are sprouting new growth.
The hazelnuts are doing the same.
Ferns are poking through.
I have planted geraniums and the big pots are waiting patiently to be filled.
Fruit trees, wisteria and roses are waiting to be planted.
The pine trees in front of the house are covered in tiny…no bigger than my little finger nail…pine cones. (At least that’s what I think they are)
This gorgeous flower is called Aquilegia caerulea, or Rocky Mountain Columbine. I hope it likes the mountains of the Garfagnana as well as the Rockies. It is supposed to be self seeding. With a bit of luck they will soon be everywhere. I think it is absolutely fascinating.
I guess you can tell I am fairly new to this gardening thing.
love columbine–can never have too many varieties!
By: lahgitana on April 20, 2013
at 9:29 pm
I have never seen them before…what incredible plants!!! I want them growing everywhere!
By: Debra Kolkka on April 20, 2013
at 9:37 pm
How fun that yours will seed themselves! The color combos are amazing too. Enjoy being a gardener–it’s addictive!
By: lahgitana on April 20, 2013
at 10:38 pm
I love your big terracotta pots!!
By: jann on April 20, 2013
at 9:38 pm
They somehow look bigger now that we have them at home. I love them!
By: Debra Kolkka on April 20, 2013
at 9:48 pm
Deb, how absolutely gorgeous! I don’t know how you can ever bring yourself to leave! xx
By: Celia @ Fig Jam and Lime Cordial on April 20, 2013
at 9:40 pm
It will be difficult leaving at the end of June just when things will really be growing…but I have to spend some time in Brisbane, I love it there too.
By: Debra Kolkka on April 20, 2013
at 9:44 pm
Ah! Ah! Ah! So beautiful! Thank you for posting such lovely images!
By: composerinthegarden on April 20, 2013
at 9:48 pm
The spring blossoms are wonderful, even though they make me sneeze.
By: Debra Kolkka on April 21, 2013
at 4:34 pm
I love the Mountain Columbines. Even their name has a lyrical lilt about it. They look like little ladies with their fairy hats on, and when they open up, they remind me of the Follies dancers (during the 1940s) facing the sun. Such exquisite flowers! I’m glad you found them, Debra. They’ll bring many smiles to Casa Debbio.
By: Sandra Hoopmann on April 20, 2013
at 10:15 pm
I think the Columbines are heavenly. I haven’t seen them before. I can’t wait to see them growing everywhere.
By: Debra Kolkka on April 21, 2013
at 4:36 pm
Debbio, like the flowers, you and your blog are endlessly fascinating!
By: Paddy Hintz on April 20, 2013
at 11:23 pm
Thank you, I can’t take any credit for the flowers.
By: Debra Kolkka on April 21, 2013
at 4:36 pm
I never get tired of spring photos. I also love the Rocky Mountain Columbine flowers. They look so tropical. I could imagine being somewhere on a beach with a fruity drink enjoying these lovely flowers
By: Jackie Cangro on April 20, 2013
at 11:46 pm
It is amazing that something looking so delicate can be fairly hardy.
By: Debra Kolkka on April 21, 2013
at 4:37 pm
No, I couldn’t tell as it looks absolutely amazing. I love the pots too.
By: linneabylinneanilsson on April 21, 2013
at 12:42 am
We have discovered fruit trees all over the property…I can’t take credit for those. I hope the things I plant do as well.
By: Debra Kolkka on April 21, 2013
at 4:38 pm
absolutely gorgeous.. c
By: cecilia on April 21, 2013
at 1:24 am
Thank you!
By: Debra Kolkka on April 21, 2013
at 4:39 pm
The fruit tree blossoms are so beautiful and how lovely to have the possibility of fruit from them. The tiny pine cones look like little honeycombs and the columbine is beautiful. There is such joy to be had in a garden isn’t there even If the price is aching bones! It’s going to look very beautiful – love the pots.
By: Jan on April 21, 2013
at 2:28 am
I hope the garden starts to take shape soon. I am impatient to see everything growing.
By: Debra Kolkka on April 21, 2013
at 4:40 pm
The blossoms are beautiful Debra as are the gorgeous purple columbines. The mountains must be a picture at this time of the year.
By: jenny@atasteoftravel on April 21, 2013
at 3:04 am
The mountains are just beginning to show their spring colours. The trees are turning the most glorious shades of green and there are cherry trees with their white blossoms appearing all over.
By: Debra Kolkka on April 21, 2013
at 4:41 pm
Spring sure is bursting out around your Casa Debbio – it’s terrific to see the fruit trees blooming – the chaste, private little pear blossoms are a revelation! Your choice of purple columbines to naturalise up the hillsides is fantastic – have fun pottering and planting 🙂
By: The Wanderlust Gene on April 21, 2013
at 4:19 am
I couldn’t resist the columbines when I saw them at the plant nursery. I hope they do well at Casa Debbio.
By: Debra Kolkka on April 21, 2013
at 4:42 pm
Great work. What a wonderful thing to be able to do Debra and I’m sure you take none of it for granted. Your beautiful house deserves the beautiful new garden you’re creating.
By: janinevasta on April 21, 2013
at 4:31 am
The house is going to look wonderful once the garden is established…it will be worth all the work and waiting.
By: Debra Kolkka on April 21, 2013
at 4:43 pm
Absolutely gorgeous, Debra! I love those columbines. Thank you for sharing with us.
By: mulino dominillo on April 21, 2013
at 5:58 am
The columbines almost don’t look real. It is as if somebody made them up.
By: Debra Kolkka on April 21, 2013
at 4:45 pm
Beautiful! Cant wait to see the progress you have made!
By: eponato on April 21, 2013
at 6:57 am
You will be able to see it very soon.
By: Debra Kolkka on April 21, 2013
at 4:45 pm
I think you are doing a marvellous job Debra if you are new at this gardening thing. So many beautiful plants. I have my fingers crossed for you that the Aquilegia caerulea takes to the Garfagnana environment.
By: Cathy Powell on April 21, 2013
at 8:56 am
I can’t take any credit for the fruit trees. The property was a working farm many years ago and we have been uncovering all kinds of wonderful things under the brambles.
By: Debra Kolkka on April 21, 2013
at 4:46 pm
You’ve got a fabulous garden in the making there. We plant Aqualigia in the UK and they do pretty well here, so they’ll rip away in sunny Italy. I can imagine how good the garden will look after just a short period of time.
By: christopher oconnor on April 21, 2013
at 11:03 am
I hope the columbines do well. I bought them from a local nursery and all his plants looked healthy.
By: Debra Kolkka on April 21, 2013
at 4:48 pm
If you ever need anyone to care for that garden while your back in Brisbane, I volunteer! It would be challenging but I think I am up to it! ;). Gorgeous!
By: Anonymous on April 21, 2013
at 3:05 pm
Come on over, we need all the help we can get.
By: Debra Kolkka on April 21, 2013
at 4:48 pm
Looking lovely – especially the blossoms…
By: The Travelbunny on April 21, 2013
at 6:04 pm
Spring is a beautiful time to be in Italy.
By: Debra Kolkka on April 22, 2013
at 7:39 pm
The blossom is so pretty, it’s a shame it makes you sneeze.
By: Just Add Attitude on April 21, 2013
at 7:42 pm
I am hoping it is the cut grass and it will pass soon.
By: Debra Kolkka on April 22, 2013
at 7:40 pm
those columbines are just wonderful, and it’s beautiful watching the seasons change here in Italy x
By: Lisa | Renovating Italy on April 21, 2013
at 7:58 pm
I love the way the trees turn green is a matter of days, it is amazing.
By: Debra Kolkka on April 22, 2013
at 7:41 pm
Brilliant photos, Debra. I suspect a macro lens has been employed to capture such pictures. Worthy of the best gardening books.
By: kayrpea61 on April 22, 2013
at 7:32 am
I have a single lens camera, a Canon G12, and I love it.
By: Debra Kolkka on April 22, 2013
at 7:41 pm
Great captures of spring … bummer about your sneezing … and I hope has the rain has left!
By: aFrankAngle on April 22, 2013
at 11:55 am
It is actually raining…again, and work has stopped in the garden for the moment.
By: Debra Kolkka on April 22, 2013
at 7:42 pm
🙁
By: aFrankAngle on April 23, 2013
at 10:54 am
Ohhh, worth the sneezing! So gorgeous…I can almost smell the sweet aroma…lovely photos and reminders of the gifts of spring.
Grazie!
By: Victoria on April 22, 2013
at 3:26 pm
Spring is gorgeous here in Italy, despite the incessant rain.
By: Debra Kolkka on April 22, 2013
at 7:43 pm
I love that purple flower
By: aussiegirl0905 on April 23, 2013
at 4:16 am
The columbines are gorgeous. I hope they do well.
By: Debra Kolkka on April 24, 2013
at 8:17 am
Lots of work but how satisfying. I pruned my wisteria just in time and can’t for my front door to be framed by mauve sweet-scented bells.. and then the Jasmine after that, then the orange flowers. It’s truly a feast isn’t it? I can’t wait for this year’s cherries.
By: Catherine on April 23, 2013
at 7:04 am
I hope we get some cherries before I have to leave.
By: Debra Kolkka on April 24, 2013
at 8:21 am
These are beautiful.
By: Tuxedo Sophisticated Cat on April 23, 2013
at 5:49 pm
Spring is a gorgeous time to be in the mountains.
By: Debra Kolkka on April 24, 2013
at 8:24 am
Beautiful photos. There is nothing as beautiful as spring, all that new life… You’ve got a lot of fruit trees in your garden!
By: dearrosie on April 24, 2013
at 9:41 pm