Here is the late afternoon view from Casa Debbio. I arrived in time for sunset and a few hours of watering the garden.
Filippo has done a great job keeping the garden alive through one of the hottest summers in many years in Italy. He was here every second day keeping water up to my new plants. Those planted last year did well and the newly planted ones have survived.
The tomato plants are still covered in little red, shiny globes.
Some of the hydrangeas are still flowering.
The new pomegranate tree has ripening fruit, not much, but it is a start.
The geraniums planted around the barbecue are putting on a great show.
The lavender is past its prime, but you can see that it has grown very well.
Some plants have thrived in the heat.
Chestnuts are ripening.
A lizard with a new tail enjoys some sun on our frog.
In the morning light autumn colours are showing on the hill opposite.
As the house has been empty for over a week, the mufloni, deer and porcupines have visited and chewed up some things. The raspberry plants have been stripped of their leaves, along with the roses and azaleas.
The porcupines actually push pots over to get at the contents. I would like to catch one in the act.
I don’t mind too much that the animals come in at the end of the season, the leaves will fall off soon anyway. There isn’t much I can do about it, short of standing guard all day and night.
Standing looking at this view is no hardship.
It is great to be back. I have some serious pruning to do, some planting of bulbs for next spring and working to get the garden ready for winter…all good.
Beautiful!
By: hitchedinitaly on September 10, 2015
at 12:43 pm
It is glorious up here.
By: Debra Kolkka on September 10, 2015
at 12:50 pm
So beautiful place and pictures… it must be a pleasure to be back.
By: maru clavier on September 10, 2015
at 12:44 pm
It is great to be back. I have some work to do, but it is a pleasure.
By: Debra Kolkka on September 10, 2015
at 12:50 pm
Congratulations Debbie. The garden is beautiful. Alison
By: Anonymous on September 10, 2015
at 12:53 pm
The garden is still a work in progress, but we can see a big difference this year. When you consider that the entire property was covered in brambles a few years ago it is doing very well.
By: Debra Kolkka on September 10, 2015
at 1:10 pm
The garden is looking great… And it has not been a particularly kind summer for the plants…
By: Mulino Dominillo on September 10, 2015
at 12:56 pm
It has been a horrible summer for my new plants. The new hydrangeas were burnt to a crisp soon after they were planted, but most have come back and are growing.
By: Debra Kolkka on September 10, 2015
at 1:12 pm
Good God, Deb, that is one beautiful spot on this green earth. It really takes my breath away, and I always look forward to pictures of it.
By: The Daily Cure on September 10, 2015
at 12:59 pm
Vergemoli is gorgeous. I can’t get enough of the view. When Sisto’s music starts in the afternoon the scene is complete.
By: Debra Kolkka on September 10, 2015
at 1:14 pm
so beautiful dear Debra, the view and the garden fascinating. Thank you, love, nia
By: niasunset on September 10, 2015
at 1:10 pm
It is a beautiful place to be.
By: Debra Kolkka on September 10, 2015
at 1:15 pm
Welcome back to Europe, Debra. The pictures are out of this world. I love your garden. Hans and I will be in Orvieto from Sept 25 to 28th and then we’ll spend the afternoon and evening of the 28th in Florence before we go back home on the 29th. What do you think? Can we see each other in Florence……. It would be grand. Keep the flowers blooming! Love, Sondra
By: Sondra on September 10, 2015
at 2:41 pm
I can come to Florence on 28th…sounds like a plan.
By: Debra Kolkka on September 10, 2015
at 3:14 pm
Still looks like the animals didn’t disturb too much
By: Mallee Stanley on September 10, 2015
at 2:50 pm
They have done quite a bit of damage, but the plants should recover.
By: Debra Kolkka on September 10, 2015
at 3:15 pm
Fantastic garden and wonderful views. You do have snow don’t you so I do wonder how do you grow pomegranates?
By: janetknight57 on September 10, 2015
at 2:51 pm
We don’t get snow very often. By the time the snow comes the trees are bare. They seem to grow around here.
By: Debra Kolkka on September 10, 2015
at 3:16 pm
Oh my, it looks so lush and beautiful! Enjoy!!
By: sheilasunshine on September 10, 2015
at 3:12 pm
Things look a little parched. The terraces are very dry and things need watering often, but it looks good.
By: Debra Kolkka on September 10, 2015
at 3:16 pm
Your gardens look fabulous even with all the heat and lack of rain……Fillipo did an incredible job of keeping it all alive. So looking forward to the ne xt months of pictures during your time in Bagni di Lucca and Casa Debbio. Next year we are skipping Lucca……bring my grands and daughter to Rome in February for a week and then Paul and I will spend April and May on Ischia…..how about visiting there then?
By: Anonymous on September 10, 2015
at 5:07 pm
That sounds like a great idea.
By: Debra Kolkka on September 10, 2015
at 5:11 pm
We are there from April 2 to May 26th….May is ideal…..
By: sealights99 on September 10, 2015
at 7:55 pm
How very beautiful Deb. You must be so happy to be back in your gorgeous Casa Debbio
By: Lyn on September 10, 2015
at 7:18 pm
It is excellent to be back. I have been picking lavender and it smells divine sitting in front of me right now.
By: Debra Kolkka on September 11, 2015
at 4:55 am
God love Fillippo. Your casa is magnificent.
By: Doreen Novotny on September 10, 2015
at 8:44 pm
Filippo is a treasure. We have been talking about our next projects…tiling the area around the house and building another pergola. Not only is he a gardener, but he is handy as well, and a good organiser.
By: Debra Kolkka on September 11, 2015
at 4:56 am
Dear Debra, I left Camden in London, 27th June this year and moved to the huge house I had just bought, seen on Rightmove and agreed to buy before I had seen it. It is in the village of Ponti di Pornassio, near Pieve di Teco, liguria. Is it possible to chat to you? Exciting but a trifle lonely. I too have been in the fashion industry, in London. I put on the first ever punk fashion show, in Chelsea. Love to share stories and hope this is a private post. Im not good on the internet!! Date: Thu, 10 Sep 2015 12:38:05 +0000 To: j.hurford@outlook.com
By: Jennifer Hurford on September 10, 2015
at 8:59 pm
It sounds like fun! I have sent an email to you.
By: Debra Kolkka on September 11, 2015
at 4:57 am
Must have felt great to return to such beauty.
By: Kirsi Säde on September 10, 2015
at 9:43 pm
Waking up here is the best.
By: Debra Kolkka on September 11, 2015
at 4:57 am
Breath-taking view! 🙂
By: Marisa's Italian Kitchen on September 10, 2015
at 10:16 pm
It is always spectaculars.
By: Debra Kolkka on September 11, 2015
at 4:58 am
Gorgeous views! And what cheeky porcupines. I’d love to see that in action!
By: Lorraine @ Not Quite Nigella on September 10, 2015
at 11:19 pm
We have found their quils. They can be quite big, about 8 kilos. People eat them around here…revenge possibly.
By: Debra Kolkka on September 11, 2015
at 4:59 am
What gorgeous scenery – the flowers are lovely!
By: megtraveling on September 11, 2015
at 12:41 am
I am already planning what I will plant next year. A friend suggested dahlias…I can already see them growing.
By: Debra Kolkka on September 11, 2015
at 4:59 am
That is the most stunning view across your garden to the mountains. It must be great to be back home in Italy.
Cheers
Robyn
By: italia4ever on September 11, 2015
at 1:33 am
It is wonderful to be back. I love my garden.
By: Debra Kolkka on September 11, 2015
at 5:00 am
I remember christening that BBQ — in the rain!
By: Richard the terrible on September 11, 2015
at 2:19 am
I remember it well. We could do with some rain now. Everything is dry and crisp.
By: Debra Kolkka on September 11, 2015
at 5:00 am
Hello Debra
My husband John and I have been following your writings ever since Noela S introduced us to it at the start of the year. We are spending three months – December to February at Ponte a Serraglio this year. Your photography is amazing and the information you provide really gives great insight into a beautiful part of the world.
Hope we can meet up if you are still there in early December. Caroline McCormack
By: Caroline McCormack on September 11, 2015
at 4:41 am
I won’t be here in December, but I will be around in February. We can have an aperitivo at Bar Italia.
By: Debra Kolkka on September 11, 2015
at 5:01 am
So glad everything is OK at Casa Debbio…..the geraniums are looking lovely.
By: Kerry & Jim on September 11, 2015
at 7:39 am
The geraniums are amazing. They are growing in a little pot.
By: Debra Kolkka on September 12, 2015
at 4:42 am
Welcome home. I know how beautiful the autumn can be so it must be wonderful to be back.
By: paninigirl on September 11, 2015
at 9:25 pm
The trees beside the road on the way to Vergemoli are already changing colour…beautiful.
By: Debra Kolkka on September 12, 2015
at 4:43 am
Amazing photos as always! And those tomatoes on the vine are something else! Wow!
By: Roberta Briffa on September 14, 2015
at 7:58 am
I like to stand at the vines and pick the tomatoes off and eat them immediately…delicious.
By: Debra Kolkka on September 15, 2015
at 5:29 pm
Now *that* is simply amazing! I would love to eat tomatoes like that someday!
By: Roberta Briffa on September 16, 2015
at 3:08 pm
Lovely to see evidence of Filippino’s and your hard work around the idyllic Casa Debbio property. The geraniums look gorgeous trailing over the pizza oven area, and love the look of the ripening pomegranates. I sense your delight in returning to your lovely mountain home.
By: Sandra Hoopmann on September 15, 2015
at 1:32 am
It is great to be back and to see that the garden has survived the hot summer.
By: Debra Kolkka on September 15, 2015
at 5:29 pm
[…] had to leave my garden at Casa Debbio in late October. I shut down the house for the winter and dragged myself […]
By: A year of travel | Bagni di Lucca and Beyond on December 26, 2015
at 1:20 pm