Autumn is here. The early morning view from Casa Debbio is misty and golden.
Summer was wet and cool. Some things in the garden grew well and others did not. There was not much success with tomatoes, but the raspberries and strawberries did well. I have been picking the odd raspberry and strawberry every day. Bees are still buzzing around the mint flowers.
A handsome spider is building a web nearby.
I don’t know the name of these plants, but they grew like mad this summer. I will be planting more of these next spring.
The lavender along the driveway did very well and the house is now full of lavender that I have been busily cutting from the bushes.
The geraniums have been beautiful.
The mufloni (wild goats) have been coming ever closer to the house and have eaten all the geraniums along the curved wall at the entrance to the driveway.
Here is a reminder of my spring plantings.
Here are the autumn selections. I bought nearly 40 fruit trees to plant on the terraces around the house.
We have apple, pear, cherry, plum, peach, fig, olive, pomegranate and persimmon trees on the various terraces around the house.
We are reluctantly cutting down some pine trees. Our friends in Vergemoli have been encouraging us to do this for some time. They are not native to the area and take over from the chestnuts and hazelnut trees. We have a dense group at the entrance to the driveway and Battista and Rocco are going to thin them out so the other trees have room to grow.
A large chestnut tree has already become visible after a huge pine was cut down.
Rocco will also clear an area soon to plant more olive trees and prepare the terrace below the house ready for my next project…creating a beautiful flower garden, full of peonies, lavender, roses and whatever else I can get to grow.
I am hoping the spring blossoms will look amazing. Some of our terraces are visible from the village and I think everyone will be happy to see Casa Debbio flourishing once more.
That morning view is spectacular and warms my heart. Cheers to your plantings.
By: aFrankAngle on October 9, 2014
at 11:22 am
The view from Casa Debbio is a never ending delight.
By: Debra Kolkka on October 10, 2014
at 5:24 am
You are right Deb it is flourishing. You have sure brought that old property back to life with the new house and the wonderful typical country home garden. We are currently enjoying Fall colours on the East Coast of USA. Quite different foliage here lots orange,and red leaves falling. This I love – as good as Australia is , we don’t often see the changes in the leaves unless we go South. Keep up your great work. X
By: Dianne CANT on October 9, 2014
at 11:27 am
Autumn is underway here too. Some trees have changed colour, but it is still fairly warm.
By: Debra Kolkka on October 10, 2014
at 5:24 am
How beautifully your garden grows Debra… I can’t believe how established everything looks! You’re doing a wonderful job. I hope you’re still enjoying all the hard work.
By: janinevasta on October 9, 2014
at 11:37 am
We were very lucky that there were some old chestnut, hazelnut, walnut and cherry trees already growing. Most of the things we have planted over the last 2 years have done well. I think the soil here is very good, despite the stones, which we dig up constantly.
By: Debra Kolkka on October 10, 2014
at 5:26 am
Lovely. Is that a writing spider? It look like one…is there a curious zig zag in the middle of her web? My favorites…
By: The Daily Cure on October 9, 2014
at 12:03 pm
I don’t know what type of spider it is, but it is very pretty.
By: Debra Kolkka on October 10, 2014
at 5:27 am
I Must visit you! But when the spider leaves.. :-0
By: TuscanyVillages on October 9, 2014
at 12:05 pm
You are most welcome to visit. I can’t guarantee being spider free.
By: Debra Kolkka on October 10, 2014
at 5:27 am
Your garden is looking great! And that in spite of the mufloni attack… Congratulations!
By: mulino dominillo on October 9, 2014
at 12:33 pm
Things are settling in for the winter and soon many things will be leafless, but I think next spring is going to be beautiful.
By: Debra Kolkka on October 10, 2014
at 5:28 am
Looks wonderful Debra. ‘A reminder of spring plantings’ is particularly lovely. Look forward to seeing the flower garden in bloom.
By: Madhu on October 9, 2014
at 1:14 pm
I will start planting that next spring…can’t wait to see it grow.
By: Debra Kolkka on October 10, 2014
at 5:28 am
Looks like your garden is thriving, Debra. Thanks so much for sharing these photos!
Hugs from Ecuador,
Kathy
By: Kathryn McCullough on October 9, 2014
at 1:44 pm
The garden has come along very well since we started planting last spring. I love to watch it grow.
By: Debra Kolkka on October 10, 2014
at 5:29 am
Gorgeous photos, Debra. Who knew that goats eat geraniums? 😀 Hope your fruit trees do really well. How lovely to be able to go out and pick your own fresh fruit. 🙂
By: anotherday2paradise on October 9, 2014
at 3:28 pm
Goats will eat just about everything. They don’t seem to like wisteria, which is good. It is great fun to pick raspberries and eat them. It is my favourite fruit.
By: Debra Kolkka on October 10, 2014
at 5:30 am
That’s quite a spider!
How long is your growing season there? Will you have a few more weeks of blooms / fruit?
By: Jackie Cangro on October 9, 2014
at 4:36 pm
The growing season for most of the things in my garden is over. I don’t think the raspberries should still be producing, but there are still a few ripe ones every day. We got no figs this year because it was too wet. I ate cherries from the tree in late spring but the birds ate most of them. This is all new for me. I come from sub tropical Brisbane where things are green all year and I grow a pineapple every year on my balcony.
By: Debra Kolkka on October 10, 2014
at 5:33 am
Lovely photos! And I’m very jealous of all those fruit trees!!
By: livinginthelanghe on October 9, 2014
at 5:34 pm
I hope the new ones grow. They should put on a pretty show in spring.
By: Debra Kolkka on October 10, 2014
at 5:34 am
Your garden is really beautiful Debra. You certainly have a green thumb.
I am sure it has been a lot of work, but certainly worth it. Are you staying for the winter or returning to Australia for summer.
By: Pam Proctor on October 9, 2014
at 5:35 pm
The garden is a delight. I will be here for just a few more weeks, then I will return to Australia until mid February next year.
By: Debra Kolkka on October 10, 2014
at 5:34 am
Hi Deb, your beautiful photos bring back lovely memories for me. The plants look fabulous and the red geraniums look almost too good to be real. Gosh you have a busy time with planting all of those fruit trees. Lyn
By: Lyn on October 9, 2014
at 7:38 pm
Filippo dug the holes and I helped with the fences around the trees. I hope they keep the goats away.
By: Debra Kolkka on October 10, 2014
at 5:35 am
More lovely photos, more lovely memories. Thank you Debra 🙂
By: Kathy Hill on October 9, 2014
at 10:20 pm
Your plants grew well over the summer, but alas were the victims of goats last week.
By: Debra Kolkka on October 10, 2014
at 5:36 am
stunning Deb, was telling a friend here about you and he said ‘I stayed there’ he is Joe Look who was ex wife Andree at the time. Joe has a house here and comes down regularly. Roz
By: Roz MacAllan on October 9, 2014
at 10:28 pm
Joe stayed at the Ponte apartment several years ago. I know Joe, and knew about his house near you. I hope he is well and happy.
By: Debra Kolkka on October 10, 2014
at 5:37 am
the garden and how it looks is amazing – knowing how much you love your gardening must give you so much enjoyment. enjoy.
By: Helen Close on October 10, 2014
at 12:10 am
It is great to see things grow so well. Of course, I am impatient and want to see it all happen at once. I think it will be looking pretty good by spring 2016. You will have to come over and have a look.
By: Debra Kolkka on October 10, 2014
at 5:38 am
It looks like you are taking a very good care of the garden. I will have to learn to do it too. Just about to buy a new house and I hope I will be able to have a beautiful garden there.
By: Renata on October 10, 2014
at 4:43 pm
This is all new for me. I have never had a space like this to work in. I have a balcony back in Australia.
By: Debra Kolkka on October 11, 2014
at 9:09 am
Oohhhh, I remember years ago you posting about th land & the very beginning of the house build…. I seem to remember some hunky young builders (lol…… a little eyecandy seems to sit pemnently in ones brain!!!!), but here you are all finishd & creating a stunning garden.
That spider looks like he’s half bee 🙂
By: shenANNAgans on October 10, 2014
at 9:44 pm
The house has been finished for 2 years. The garden is a work in progress.
By: Debra Kolkka on October 11, 2014
at 9:10 am
Wow, the photos make me feel nostalgic and the place isn’t even mine! You’re some lucky woman. The plant that you can’t identify; hmmm, I might be wrong, but could it be Russian sage? It’s very hardy and drought resistant, if it is. The mixture of silvery gray and spikey mauve, I love it. If I’m right, it’s a perennial and will come back to charm you again next year. I’ve had other sages that multiply but not so sure this one does. If it is..
This wknd. we celebrate Thanksgiving in Canada; I’m thankful for your blog and I’m sure you’re thankful for all your good fortune. Salute!
By: Caterina on October 10, 2014
at 11:54 pm
Those 2 plants were given to me as cuttings. They did just about nothing the first year, but have really taken off this year. I don’t know what it is called, but I love it and will be planting lots more.
By: Debra Kolkka on October 11, 2014
at 9:12 am
It is all looking so lovely….and the fruit trees will be a great addition (and food for the birds and wild animals in the area).
By: Jim & Kerry on October 11, 2014
at 3:27 am
I am sure the birds are going to love our garden next year.
By: Debra Kolkka on October 11, 2014
at 9:12 am
Thats a beautiful garden you’ve got there. Quite a feat in such a short time. Congrats.
By: chris oconnor on October 11, 2014
at 2:56 pm
I am delighted with our garden. I am impatient to see it grow even better.
By: Debra Kolkka on December 1, 2014
at 11:16 am
Lovely gardens!
By: composerinthegarden on October 11, 2014
at 9:35 pm
Thank you.
By: Debra Kolkka on December 1, 2014
at 11:16 am
Your gardens are spectacular Deb! They look beautifully designed, like they flow really well.
By: Lorraine @ Not Quite Nigella on October 12, 2014
at 11:51 am
I think it is going to be beautiful in a year or 2.
By: Debra Kolkka on December 1, 2014
at 11:17 am
Looks beautiful Debra! We are currently enjoying the Autumn/ Fall colours in Canada
By: Pauline on October 13, 2014
at 3:36 am
Autumn is a beautiful season…I love it.
By: Debra Kolkka on December 1, 2014
at 11:18 am
Thanks for these photos, I have been so curious to how your garden is evolving! Seems like a good decision to thin those pines, doesn’t it, although it is hard to kill things that have been putting in so much effort. Ah well.
By: Nicolet on October 23, 2014
at 2:30 pm
Ultimately the garden will look better without the pines, but it broke my heart to cut them down.
By: Debra Kolkka on December 1, 2014
at 11:19 am
the “mad grewing” plants – grey leaves, blue flowers- are called, in Latin: TEUCRIUM FRUTTICANS
By: agostino on December 1, 2014
at 9:39 am
Thank you for that. I look forward to planting lots more.
By: Debra Kolkka on December 1, 2014
at 11:19 am