Pruning lavender at Casa Debbio is one of my favourite gardening jobs. I put it off as long as I could because the plants were still looking good. We have about 300 lavender plants now and some of them are shoulder height.
There were some wonderful sunrises at Casa Debbio while I was there.
The dry summer meant our figs didn’t do well and the fruit trees didn’t grow much, but we did get raspberries, tomatoes and a few pomegranates. The pomegranate trees turn a gorgeous golden shade.
The persimmon tree did very well and grew fruit. Unfortunately the wild goats tried to clamber up the tree to get to the fruit. I eventually pulled the fruit off and left it on the ground for them.
It was amazing to watch the trees change colour over the weeks I was there.
In my final weeks I pruned the lavender and some other plants that grew well in summer. The flowers were in my hair, pockets and shoes. There were trails of lavender everywhere.
Filippo came after I cut the flowers to shape the larger plants. It is much easier with his power tool than my shears.
My friend Paola came to cut lavender too. She makes lavender sachets.
Before and after.
One lunch time called for a pizza with my new favourite topping, stracchino cheese and prosciutto.
I enjoyed my autumn weeks at Casa Debbio. The garden is now getting ready to sleep through winter. When I return in February my daffodils, jonquils and freesias should be poking through the soil. I look forward to seeing my peonies to come back to life. If they all survive the winter there will be 60 of them. There will be some new plantings next year…I can’t wait to get started.
Good Morning dear Debra, as always fascinating me all your views. Thank you, have a nice day, Love, nia
By: niasunset on November 16, 2017
at 6:39 am
Thank you Nia. Our view is lovely, and I miss it.
By: Debra Kolkka on November 16, 2017
at 11:59 am
The lavender makes for a wonderful harvest and the perfume must have been fabulous.Your photos/views – and the pizza – are so ‘ohh’-making!.
By: Jan on November 16, 2017
at 6:48 am
I cut huge amounts of lavender this year. I need to find something to do with it.
By: Debra Kolkka on November 16, 2017
at 12:01 pm
I think the Autumn is almost as pretty ( not quite) as Spring time at your place. Must have been lovely with the fragrance as you cut back the lavender in readiness for another season ahead.
By: Dianne Cant on November 16, 2017
at 6:49 am
The perfume is heavenly. I love finding bits of lavender in my pockets.
By: Debra Kolkka on November 16, 2017
at 12:02 pm
Your place is looking fabulous Debra!
By: Anonymous on November 16, 2017
at 7:15 am
Thank you, it looks even better in spring.
By: Debra Kolkka on November 16, 2017
at 12:02 pm
Lunch looks rather tasty
By: Elizabeth Litzow on November 16, 2017
at 7:27 am
It was.
By: Debra Kolkka on November 16, 2017
at 12:02 pm
Wow! The garden looks fantastic, Deb! It has grown so much since we were there 👏👏👏
By: Pauline on November 16, 2017
at 7:48 am
We have done lots of work over the last couple of years.
By: Debra Kolkka on November 16, 2017
at 12:03 pm
I loved growing lavender around our olive grove, many moons ago. Now we get to enjoy everyone else’s beautiful gardens. Your vista is spectacular.
By: Suzanne [globalhousesitterX2] on November 16, 2017
at 7:57 am
Lavender does very well at Casa Debbio and the goats don’t eat it.
By: Debra Kolkka on November 16, 2017
at 12:04 pm
Debra, truly inspiring to see what you have done at Casa Debbio over the past few years. Magnificent!
By: Joe on November 16, 2017
at 12:39 pm
When you consider that the property was covered with brambles 5 years ago the transformation is amazing.
By: Debra Kolkka on November 16, 2017
at 7:06 pm
Your worries of last spring when we visited Casa Debbio certainly did not come true thank God……the lavender growth was amazing…..hopefully we will get back one day next spring to see the peonies. I definitely want to see the one you bought at the verde mura last aprile.
By: sealights99 on November 16, 2017
at 2:49 pm
Our spring slowed to a trickle over summer, but luckily did not stop running. I hope that lovely peonie comes up in spring. We will be back to Verde Mura for more next year.
By: Debra Kolkka on November 16, 2017
at 7:08 pm
On my calendar too…..we will go to Bologna the following weekend…….
By: sealights99 on November 18, 2017
at 10:01 pm
Sounds like a day full of wonderful aromas. I adore stracchino cheese but it can be hard to get here!
By: Lorraine @ Not Quite Nigella on November 16, 2017
at 10:01 pm
Stracchino is in supermarkets here. I love it.
By: Debra Kolkka on November 16, 2017
at 10:10 pm
Looks fab Deb. It has changed so much since we visited.
By: Kerry & Jim on November 16, 2017
at 11:07 pm
You won’t recognise it when you see it again.
By: Debra Kolkka on November 24, 2017
at 1:49 pm
Such a beautiful garden. How do you eat the pomegranates?
By: The Year I Touched My Toes on November 24, 2017
at 10:21 am
I juice them and use the seeds in salads.
By: Debra Kolkka on November 24, 2017
at 1:50 pm