It has been a busy year at Casa Debbio. There was snow in late December 2014 and January 2015.
I arrived in February, keen to start work on the new garden on the terrace below the house, but I had to wait a while for plants to arrive in the nursery. Meanwhile daffodils began to appear.
As soon as I could I began buying new plants.
In April things started to move in the garden. My weeping cherry put on a great spring show.
Tiny figs began to appear. We have a couple of old fig trees that have been on the property for years and we have planted several new ones.
The magnolia produced flowers. I am hoping this tree will provide shade at the front of the house in a year or two.
The aquilegias grew lots of flowers and they stayed for months.
The bleeding hearts look amazing.
The terrace below the house began to take shape.
I grew a big fat, pink peony.
There was at least one spectacular moon.
…and a rainbow or two.
Our lavender went crazy this year.
We had wild daisies everywhere for a while.
It was a very dry spring and the plants needed lots of watering, but the terrace below the house gradually started to fill up. It is going to look stunning by the end of spring 2016.
We we will eventually have beautiful fruit trees behind the house. We have planted about 40 trees, apples, figs, cherries, peaches, quince, pomegranate, persimmons and pears.
Another of my peony plants produced blooms…22 just like this.
I had to drag myself away in June to return to Australia while Casa Debbio welcomed guests from Australia, Belgium, Germany and England over the summer.
I returned in September to find the garden to find all the figs had been eaten, (I hope not all by birds) but lots of tomatoes and raspberries left.
I had my very own pomegranates.
Hydrangeas were still in bloom.
The geraniums around the barbecue did very well…thank you to Filippo who was at the house every other day at 6.00am to water. It was a long, dry, hot summer. He managed to keep just about everything alive. The only plants I lost were the ones I planted too late in the spring. It was just too hot for them.
I gathered huge bunches of lavender from the garden. We have almost 200 hundred plants now. Every room in the house has vases full of lavender. Then I pruned them so they will keep their shape next year.
We finally got some much needed rain and the garden loved it…so did I. It saved me hours of watering.
There was time for several lunches in the terrace.
…and time to just admire the view.
Filippo and Ricardo built a pergola beside the house, which I hope will be covered with wisteria next spring. They laid some beautiful hand made terra cotta tiles around the house and next year will build another pergola in front of the house to provide shade. I will be back in February to get this underway.
As I left Casa Debbio for the last time this year in late October the yellow leaves were falling from the trees on the way out of Vergemoli…it was difficult to leave.
My friends in the village have told me that the weather there right now is warm and sunny, but winter is expected to finally arrive in the next week or two.
There will be more planting, weeding, watering, building, lunching and enjoying when I return in 2016…can’t wait.
We now have an official website casadebbio.com. I have a bit of work to do on it, but there is lots of information for anyone wanting to rent a gorgeous house in a magnificent mountain setting.
Please share with anyone who might be interested.
Your photos are beautiful. The flowers are all gorgeous and I cannot decide which one I like best. I wish we could grow them so well in Brisbane
By: Lyn on December 30, 2015
at 9:09 am
I wish I could grow peonies here in Brisbane. They are my favourite flower. We now have 35 peony plants at Casa Debbio. I look forward to the day they are all covered in blooms.
By: Debra Kolkka on December 30, 2015
at 9:40 am
Thank you for sharing your garden this year. It was so very beautiful (as are your photos)!
By: lovsjaz on December 30, 2015
at 9:11 am
There is more planting to be done next year, but most is now complete. I just need to see them all grow.
By: Debra Kolkka on December 30, 2015
at 9:41 am
You have worked very hard, but you can see the result of all your efforts and it is great. Perhaps it may be worthwhile to add comments of past guests to your web. It is always helpful. Congratulations!
By: Mulino Dominillo on December 30, 2015
at 9:35 am
That is a good idea about the comments. One person said it was the best equipped holiday house she had ever been in and everyone loves our view. I will check the visitors’ book when I return.
By: Debra Kolkka on December 30, 2015
at 9:43 am
What a sublime and tranquil setting Debra! The garden is bursting with flowers!
By: Lorraine @ Not Quite Nigella on December 30, 2015
at 9:35 am
It is beautiful, and very peaceful. All you hear is birds, until Sisto starts his music in the afternoons.
By: Debra Kolkka on December 30, 2015
at 9:44 am
Your house and gardens are beautiful and what a stunning setting. I bet you find it very hard to leave, I know I would!
By: janetknight57 on December 30, 2015
at 9:57 am
I find it very difficult, especially in summer, when it looks wonderful. It is a bit easier later in the year when I shut it down for the winter.
By: Debra Kolkka on December 30, 2015
at 10:38 am
I am surprised that you ever want to leave it!
By: Andrew Petcher on December 30, 2015
at 10:47 am
I do have to return to Australia sometimes, and we rent the house for the summer, but I do have to drag myself away.
By: Debra Kolkka on December 30, 2015
at 10:53 am
What a spectacular garden! If I had been there, I would have eaten the figs too; a treat to pluck them from the tree fresh. Did you know bleeding hearts are a native of Canada? I see them all the time growing wild on my forest walks.
By: Mallee Stanley on December 30, 2015
at 4:57 pm
The garden is coming along. I want it to grow much faster of course. I love bleeding hearts. They grew in my Grandmother’s garden and I loved them then. I didn’t know they were Canadian, thank you.
By: Debra Kolkka on December 30, 2015
at 9:00 pm
Such a stunning view from your house Debbi, You must be torn leaving. But then missing makes the heart grow fonder. I love that part of the world… and now to your web site.
By: Francesca on December 30, 2015
at 7:24 pm
I hate leaving, but there isn’t much to be done in the garden in winter, and I can’t gaze at the view all day. Besides, I love Australia too. I have the best of both worlds.
By: Debra Kolkka on December 30, 2015
at 9:02 pm
Che paradiso!!!! Happy New Year!
By: jann on December 30, 2015
at 11:07 pm
Happy New year to you too. We are venturing down to Sicily in the spring…can’t wait.
By: Debra Kolkka on December 31, 2015
at 1:08 am
Stunning place. I’m so jealous – not of the work, though.
By: Coral Waight on December 31, 2015
at 4:56 am
Building the garden has been lots of work. It is hard work, but the results make it worthwhile.
By: Debra Kolkka on December 31, 2015
at 10:03 pm
Such beautiful views from a beautiful home. I love bleeding hearts! I never saw one growing up in California. Too dry and sunny perhaps? All your plants are wonderful but I have a special fondness for those. Thanks for sharing.
By: sheilasunshine on December 31, 2015
at 1:26 pm
I love the bleeding hearts too. I hope they come up again this year.
By: Debra Kolkka on December 31, 2015
at 10:04 pm
A wonderful year in review from a beautiful place. Cheers to your efforts with Casa Debbio. Happy New Year to you and yours.
By: aFrankAngle on December 31, 2015
at 2:06 pm
Happy New Year Frank. Perhaps you will visits us at Casa Debbio one day.
By: Debra Kolkka on December 31, 2015
at 10:05 pm
Now that would be a pleasure.
By: aFrankAngle on December 31, 2015
at 10:34 pm
Hi Deb,
Fabulous pictures!! Casa Debbia looks gorgeous.
Looking forward to seeing you in 2016. Buon anno!
Ciao,
Libby
By: Anonymous on December 31, 2015
at 5:08 pm
Merry Christmas Libby, I will return to Italy in mid February…see you soon.
By: Debra Kolkka on December 31, 2015
at 10:06 pm
Gorgeous photos! The new website is fantastic, I don’t know how you can bear to be away from Casa Debbio.
By: kathyhill on December 31, 2015
at 10:44 pm
It is difficult to tear myself away, but it must be done. I am already mentally planning my next work in the garden.
By: Debra Kolkka on January 2, 2016
at 8:14 am
Your website looks great. I will let friends know about your lovely house.
By: paninigirl on January 1, 2016
at 3:50 pm
Thank you. We have our first bookings for the house for 2016 and I am hoping it goes well.
By: Debra Kolkka on January 2, 2016
at 8:16 am
Just gorgeous Debra….sigh.
By: cityhippyfarmgirl on January 3, 2016
at 5:12 am
Debra what an incredible place you have created with such a beautiful garden. I can only imagine how much joy it brings you. Thanks for sharing your home with us!
By: thirdeyemom on January 3, 2016
at 11:08 pm
[…] place to visit… and stay. Have a look at the website. You can algo see a lot of photos in Debra’s post at Bagni di Lucca and […]
By: A place to visit… and stay. | aminobuana, inc. on January 20, 2016
at 1:57 pm
It has developed in such a wonderful place, I mentioned it in my blog, as the previous comment shows.
By: maru clavier on January 20, 2016
at 2:02 pm
Thank you! I am very keen to be back there soon to get stuck into the garden.
By: Debra Kolkka on January 20, 2016
at 8:33 pm