I arrived at Casa Debbio on a damp, dreary afternoon. The garden looked a bit bedraggled with the lavender drooping under the weight of the rain drops. The perfume was divine as I pushed my way along the paths with wet lavender brushing my legs.
I awoke this morning to mist swirling through the valley below. Then the sun came up and brightened everything.
Filippo has done an amazing job with the garden over the summer. It was extremely hot and there was almost no rain, after a dry spring. He spent lots of time watering, weeding and taking care of new plantings. He walked with me this morning, pointing out the plants that did well and the ones the wild goats feasted on.
The geraniums don’t like the extreme heat of summer, but are happy again now that the days have cooled.
Some of the lavender is shoulder height…I will have some pruning to do soon.
Wisteria is making its way over the pergolas.
I wish I had seen the oak leaf hydrangea when the flowers were new.
My scarecrow is still guarding the tomatoes even though her hat has drooped a bit.
The extremely dry weather meant that the fruit trees didn’t do so well, but there are a few pomegranates, tiny figs and, for the first time, cachi (persimmons).
Filippo has been scouring the hills around Casa Debbio for porcini mushrooms and brought me some fine specimens.
I cooked some in butter, garlic and thyme for lunch.
The afternoon was glorious at Casa Debbio.
The views from Casa Debbio are amazing. Perhaps this is the place for your Italian holiday next year.
It is looking great in spite of the unfavorable weather conditions over the summer. Enjoy!
By: Mulino Dominillo on October 2, 2017
at 5:57 pm
It is interesting to see how things grow and change every year.
By: Debra Kolkka on October 3, 2017
at 5:11 am
What a fabulous place to wake up in. Your garden is looking great.
By: janetknight57 on October 2, 2017
at 6:28 pm
When you consider that we started with a property covered with brambles. The lower garden was planted in 2015. This is only its third summer.
By: Debra Kolkka on October 3, 2017
at 5:12 am
How did you get rid of the brambles? My daughter has moved into an old house and her garden is full of them. Any tips would be greatly appreciated!
By: janetknight57 on October 3, 2017
at 12:28 pm
Our good friend and gardener cut them all out and burnt them. He then painted the stumps with poison. They grow back and have to be cut on a regular basis. I don’t think you are ever absolutely free of them.
By: Debra Kolkka on October 3, 2017
at 12:36 pm
Lovely…….
By: sealights99 on October 2, 2017
at 7:24 pm
The garden gets better every year.
By: Debra Kolkka on October 3, 2017
at 5:16 am
I love your posts, but I think your Casa Debbio ones are my favourite. I don’t know how you ever drag yourself home to Brisbane from such a beautiful place!
By: Celia @ Fig Jam and Lime Cordial on October 2, 2017
at 7:26 pm
Brisbane is pretty lovely too!!!
By: Elizabeth Litzow on October 2, 2017
at 11:15 pm
I love my life in Brisbane too, but it is not easy to leave my garden.
By: Debra Kolkka on October 3, 2017
at 5:13 am
It all looks lovely, Deb. Could you send Filippo to Tassie for a few weeks please?
By: kathy on October 2, 2017
at 8:28 pm
I will see if he would like a working holiday on the other side of the world.
By: Debra Kolkka on October 3, 2017
at 5:13 am
The mushrooms are enviable and the garden looks very good for the autumn
By: tastetravel on October 2, 2017
at 8:33 pm
The mushrooms were delicious!
By: Debra Kolkka on October 3, 2017
at 5:17 am
Looking just beautiful, autum brings its own beauty. Enjoy.
By: Kirsi Säde on October 2, 2017
at 9:13 pm
I love autumn here in Italy.
By: Debra Kolkka on October 3, 2017
at 5:18 am
Looks just fabulous….you’ll be busy with the pruning …enjoy!! Jxx
By: Jan Williams on October 2, 2017
at 9:14 pm
I started yesterday with some of the plants that didn’t make it. Serious pruning will begin in a month.
By: Debra Kolkka on October 3, 2017
at 5:19 am
I’m completely envious of your life.. as beautiful and as lucky as we are here on the Gold Coast, Australia… it’s my dream to be able to travel between the 2 countries like you do. For now I live through you..
By: Sonia on October 2, 2017
at 11:06 pm
I grew up at Main Beach. I love the Gold Coast too.
By: Debra Kolkka on October 3, 2017
at 5:19 am
I was lucky enough to see the Oakleaf Hydrangea in full flower and they were gorgeous – it all looks very beautiful in any season – seems to be a great season for porcini – my mouth is watering !!! Enjoy Deb
By: Elizabeth Litzow on October 2, 2017
at 11:13 pm
I almost bought some from the market, but Filippo’s were just picked and fabulous.
By: Debra Kolkka on October 3, 2017
at 5:20 am
The gardens are looking beautiful as always. We have recently been getting memories come up on our Facebook feeds with photos of our wonderful time at Casa Debbio last year. We miss it so much, and hope to return some day when we visit Italy again. Can not recommend your beautiful home highly enough. Enjoy your stay Deb 🤗
By: Karen on October 2, 2017
at 11:50 pm
Casa Debbio would love to have you back one day soon.
By: Debra Kolkka on October 3, 2017
at 5:21 am
I think that’s a place of complete enchantment. Have you read the Cruden Farm Diaries? Your description of walking through the gardens with Filippo made me think of Dame Elisabeth Murdoch and her gardener, Michael Morrison. A garden is such an abiding passion – if you enjoy gardening, that is – and noting the changes and the markers of the seasons is such a pleasure. I know it’s not luck, Deb, but … lucky you.
By: Jan on October 3, 2017
at 3:28 am
This is my first attempt at a large garden. We are learning along the way and it is great fun. Seeing the results of hard work is very rewarding. I will look for the book.
By: Debra Kolkka on October 3, 2017
at 5:22 am
Amazing..!!! nice pict,
By: pusatdistriutoralatolahraga on October 3, 2017
at 6:46 am
Thank you.
By: Debra Kolkka on October 3, 2017
at 6:36 pm
Beautiful as always Debra! So are you back for awhile in Italy?
By: thirdeyemom on October 3, 2017
at 6:55 pm
I am here until mid November. I will be preparing the garden for winter.
By: Debra Kolkka on October 4, 2017
at 4:44 am
Lovely Debra! Looking forward to more posts. As you know I always love them!
By: thirdeyemom on October 5, 2017
at 4:14 pm
Just stunning!
By: Andrea Waterhouse on October 3, 2017
at 8:54 pm
The garden gets bettter every year.
By: Debra Kolkka on October 4, 2017
at 4:44 am
These gardens look so refreshing, they remind me of Himachal region in India 🙂
Cheers, Charu
By: Untraveled Routes on October 4, 2017
at 5:13 am
Thank you. We are happy with the progress in the garden.
By: Debra Kolkka on October 4, 2017
at 6:07 am
It is looking wonderful in the sunshine Deb. You (and Filippo) are doing such an amazing job in creating this beautiful garden.
By: Kerry & Jim on October 4, 2017
at 9:08 am
The work has paid off. We love our garden.
By: Debra Kolkka on October 20, 2017
at 1:05 pm
Your garden is flourishing beautifully! And those mushrooms look so interesting. I’ve never seen them that colour before.
By: Lorraine @ Not Quite Nigella on October 5, 2017
at 7:32 am
The porcini are delicious this year.
By: Debra Kolkka on October 20, 2017
at 1:05 pm
So picturesque Debra .. Love the runner on the table !! I hope to pop in next time I am near or even stay ?
By: Lorraine Wagner on October 20, 2017
at 11:01 am
Come to visit us next spring.
By: Debra Kolkka on October 20, 2017
at 1:07 pm