Leaving my garden at Casa Debbio to come home to Australia is difficult. After watching it grow in spring, planting, weeding and watering I have to leave it behind for the summer.
This year, after a late spring dotted with snow, hail and lots of rain, the garden grew like Topsy.
This is what the entrance to the house looked like at the end of winter.
This is what it looked like a few months later.
The lavender is stunning. I love to walk along the paths early in the morning with the sun shining through the plants. Before I left the flowers were almost open. One day I will be there to see them in full bloom.
The weeping cherry is doing well this year. The wild goats didn’t come this year since wolves have been reintroduced to the area and the leaves are no longer chewed off to goat height. The peonies at the start of the driveway will be finished now, but they were amazing this year.
The terrace below the house is looking great. We lost a few plants to the tricky weather, but the replacements will catch up soon.
Roses, rhododendrons, peonies, delphiniums and ricotta flowers grew beautifully.
We have several fig trees which are covered with fruit, but this one is a favourite. It was caught up amongst lots of acacia and when we cut those down is began to grow.
The frassino, flowering ash, trees put on the best show this year. The mountainsides were dotted with these gorgeous white flowering trees. They don’t bloom every year, but this year they were spectacular.
Last year we planted lavender along the driveway to the house. This year it is waist high.
Wisteria is growing and may cover our pergolas this year.
The area beside the house is thriving. Wisteria is growing along the fence, my favourite peonies are doing well and our tomatoes, raspberries, kiwi and gooseberries are on the way.
I prefer to leave flowers in the garden but there were so many peonies this year I picked lots.
We planted grass in front of the house this year.
Behind the house the hydrangeas and peonies have doubled in size since last year. We have acanthus flowers, wild flowers on the old walls, forsythia and the beech hedge is coming along.
The house and garden have been left in Filippo’s capable hands. We are very lucky to have him. When I return in autumn it will be time to prune the 350 lavender plants, a job that I love doing. The fragrance is delightful and I find lavender flowers in my pockets for weeks afterwards.
Casa Debbio is available for rent and we have time left this August. Next year we would like to rent the house on a monthly basis. If you know someone who might be interested pass on this post. Anyone who loves garden will love Casa Debbio.
WOW Deb
I can’t think of words to adequately describe your garden. …… Just….. ???????
The Oxford dictionary does not suffice!!!!
Congratulations
By: Nadya Tuxworth on June 23, 2018
at 12:31 am
Thank you. 6 years ago the property was covered with brambles and acacia. We have come a long way.
By: Debra Kolkka on June 23, 2018
at 12:41 am
Strolling through your garden photos brought back great memories of a beautiful home with beautiful gardens. A credit to you, Jim and the wonderful back up man Filippo. Thanks Deb.
By: Christine collins on June 23, 2018
at 2:14 am
I hope we have a good summer with a little bit of rain to help Filippo look after it.
By: Debra Kolkka on June 23, 2018
at 7:44 am
Just beautiful. The garden is a credit to you.
By: Jenny brown on June 23, 2018
at 4:40 am
Thank you, we love our garden.
By: Debra Kolkka on June 23, 2018
at 7:47 am
The garden looks amazing Deb!! Well done … your creative flair and hard work results in this spectacular space! I just love the way nature gets such a move on in the Northern hemisphere … only a few short months to procreate! Jxx
By: Jan Williams on June 23, 2018
at 5:21 am
It all seems to grow overnight. We love it.
By: Debra Kolkka on June 23, 2018
at 7:48 am
It’s looking just lovely. I hope you find plenty of people to enjoy it.
By: Coral Waight on June 23, 2018
at 5:21 am
It is a beautiful garden and the views are amazing. I hope we find some people to enjoy it as much as we do.
By: Debra Kolkka on June 23, 2018
at 7:49 am
It is looking just wonderful. Let’s hope the summer weather is kind to it….
By: Mulino Dominillo on June 23, 2018
at 7:43 am
So far there has been the odd rainfall. I hope it lasts.
By: Debra Kolkka on June 23, 2018
at 7:49 am
It all looks so beautiful. You did a great job making this place look wonderful. So many amazing plants!!! I love the views on the mountains as well.
By: creativeartphoto on June 23, 2018
at 4:23 pm
The garden is still a work in progress, but we are delighted with the results so far. Our view is spectacular and is stunning in every season.
By: Debra Kolkka on June 23, 2018
at 10:56 pm
Your garden is really establishing itself now, it is stunning.
By: Andrea Waterhouse on June 23, 2018
at 6:30 pm
It gets better every year!
By: Debra Kolkka on June 23, 2018
at 10:57 pm
Gorgeous. It’s on my bucket list.
By: Sherry Felix on June 23, 2018
at 7:50 pm
It is a beautiful place to be.
By: Debra Kolkka on June 23, 2018
at 10:57 pm
Debra, your garden is a paradise, there is much love and nurturing to feel.
By: corneliaweberphotography on June 24, 2018
at 2:44 am
Any garden is a labour of love. This is my first garden and I love it despite the work.
By: Debra Kolkka on June 24, 2018
at 3:52 am
Your Casa Debbio is just gorgeous and the garden magnificent: I am looking to buy a apartment in Bagni de Lucca and have seen Apartmento Russo, used to be a old hotel in the town: just not sure.
Bagni de Lucca looks and reads to be a quiet interesting village. I travel to italia next June and hope to see your flowers 🌷 beside the bridge
By: Maxene Page on June 24, 2018
at 11:57 am
We are very happy with our decision to buy an apartment in Bagni di Lucca. It has opened up a new life for us.
By: Debra Kolkka on June 24, 2018
at 12:29 pm
Beautiful – I have just returned from Tuscany staying near Montaione in an Agriturismo.
I love the look of your place- can you tell me how far it is from Pisa/ the nearest airport?
Thank you
Sylvia
By: Sylvia on June 24, 2018
at 4:31 pm
We are 1 hour and 20 minutes drive from Pisa airport.
By: Debra Kolkka on June 24, 2018
at 10:25 pm
A beautiful setting indeed. Well done … and best of luck renting.
By: aFrankAngle on June 26, 2018
at 12:54 am
Oh my goodness I’m so sorry you had to leave. We have major vacation plans in 2019, but I’ll keep your place in mind for the 2020 if it’s still available. so beautiful.
By: chef mimi on June 30, 2018
at 11:19 pm
So beautiful
By: Sylvain Lechair on July 3, 2018
at 4:13 am
I remember when you started work on your garden. What an amazing transformation, it is just beautiful. It must be hard to leave at such a pretty time of the year but I do know you love winter in Australia.
By: Karen on July 18, 2018
at 7:53 pm