It is great to be back in Italy for a while. I first went to our apartment in Bagni di Lucca as we had guests staying at Casa Debbio.
Our little bit of Bagni di Lucca, Ponte a Serraglio, is looking gorgeous in early autumn. The weather has mostly been warm and sunny, with occasional bursts of heavy rain, along with some lovely misty days.
We have had some spectacular sunsets at Ponte a Serraglio.
As soon as I could I went up to Casa Debbio to see how our garden had grown, and how it survived the hot summer.
I love the drive up to Vergemoli, where our house is. This is my favourite view along the way.
Our lavender has grown this year. I would have loved to have seen it at its best in July, but I can image what it looked like.
The straw bed has not yet been eaten by the wild goats, but they have eaten all the roses, the oak leaf hydrangeas and nibbled at our new cherry trees.
I picked the last of our tomatoes, and ate the last figs on the trees. I can report that both were delicious.
Autumn mists change the view from Casa Debbio constantly.
Tonight I sat outside on the terrace and watched the gentle evening sky.
It is good to be back. Thank you Filippo for taking wonderful care of our garden over the summer. This autumn we will plant some more fruit trees and put some more peonies in the ground for spring.
If you look on my Instagram page (Debra Kolkka) you can see sme short videos of Ponte a Serraglio and Casa Debbio.
What a wonderful time of year to come back to Tuscany!
By: Sue on October 6, 2019
at 6:42 pm
It is indeed! I do love it here.
By: Debra Kolkka on October 6, 2019
at 8:11 pm
Marvellous!
By: Sue on October 6, 2019
at 8:34 pm
I can vouch for the tomatoes and figs – both delicious – a beautiful time in our part of Italy – sad to be going home
By: Elizabeth Litzow on October 6, 2019
at 8:20 pm
It is always difficult to leave, but we know we will be back soon.
By: Debra Kolkka on October 6, 2019
at 8:30 pm
How lovely! I must say, Ponte a Serraglio really tugs at my heart strings.
By: kathy on October 6, 2019
at 9:34 pm
It is a pretty place.
By: Debra Kolkka on October 7, 2019
at 5:24 am
Beautiful.
By: chef mimi on October 6, 2019
at 10:14 pm
We live in a gorgeous part of Italy.
By: Debra Kolkka on October 7, 2019
at 5:25 am
Beautiful, the garden is so established now. I would love to see it.
By: Wendy on October 6, 2019
at 10:22 pm
You would not recognise Casa Debbio…time for another visit.
By: Debra Kolkka on October 7, 2019
at 5:26 am
Working on it. Cherry has been in touch, so lovely to hear from her.
By: Wendy on October 10, 2019
at 11:10 pm
Aaah, memories
By: Christine collins on October 6, 2019
at 11:56 pm
Perhaps you need to return.
By: Debra Kolkka on October 7, 2019
at 5:26 am
So lovely! Enjoy your time there.
By: sheilasunshine on October 7, 2019
at 12:00 am
Thank you. It is raining this morning, that is beautiful too.
By: Debra Kolkka on October 7, 2019
at 5:27 am
So beautiful! Are the wild goats a big problem?
By: Lorraine @ Not Quite Nigella on October 7, 2019
at 12:06 am
Not a huge problem. We have tried to plant things they don’t eat, such as lavender, rosemary, wisteria and peonies. They love to eat the roses, but is usually at the end of summer. This is the first time I have know them to eat hydrangeas. The property is too big to fence, so we just have to live with it.
By: Debra Kolkka on October 7, 2019
at 5:29 am
Beautiful images…
Everything look so fresh and serene…
Thank you for sharing 🙂
By: Sreejith Nair on October 7, 2019
at 2:09 am
Thank you. It is certainly serene and peaceful here at Casa Debbio. There is a gentle rain falling right now. We need rain after a dry winter.
By: Debra Kolkka on October 7, 2019
at 5:30 am
It is really interesting to see that you have such a beautiful house in this stunning place…
Just visited your website ‘Casa Debbio and great to see that, you offer it to your guests also.
As I am part of a community based tourism organization, it’s really nice to see your property. We are connected to some really interesting Italian responsible tour operators and we used to have many guests from Italy.
I really wish I could visit this beautiful place when I visit Italy 🙂
By: Sreejith Nair on October 12, 2019
at 10:05 am
If you come to Italy please email me. I will take you up to Casa Debbio to show you our beautiful garden.
By: Debra Kolkka on October 12, 2019
at 12:34 pm
I will definitely inform you when I plan a visit to Italy 🙂
Thank you so much for your invitation to your beautiful place.
By: Sreejith Nair on October 20, 2019
at 3:27 pm
It looks so beautiful! I am going to Italy on a yoga retreat in Umbria and then spending time in Rome, I am super excited! I have never been to Italy and I know this will not be my last trip there! Thanks for sharing your beautiful pictures and story!
By: LucyLu on October 7, 2019
at 3:50 am
Have a wonderful time! Umbria is gorgeous and Rome is always exciting.
By: Debra Kolkka on October 7, 2019
at 5:31 am
September-October has always been a favorite time in Bagni di Lucca. I think it is because it is cooler and that golden autumn light is unique. Enjoy your stay!
By: Mulino Dominillo on October 7, 2019
at 3:50 am
I love it too! The days are warm and the mornings and evenings deliciously cool.
By: Debra Kolkka on October 7, 2019
at 5:32 am
Just lovely – and those wonderful tomatoes!
By: Jan on October 7, 2019
at 5:35 am
They were delicious and I am very happy to had found a few figs.
By: Debra Kolkka on October 7, 2019
at 6:48 am
It must be such a lovely feeling every time you return to your ‘homes away from home’. Enjoy your stay and we look forward to seeing your blogs.
By: Kerry & Jim on October 7, 2019
at 12:13 pm
It’s great to be back. I started pruning some of the lavender yesterday, but it rained last night and I woke to a fierce wind, so I came back to Ponte.
By: Debra Kolkka on October 7, 2019
at 7:28 pm
Your gardens have grown in beautifully. Those pesky goats 😔they need to develop a taste for hay. We always had deer nibbling on our apple trees when we had our orchard in New England.
By: Karen on November 15, 2019
at 5:55 pm
The goats are a nuisance, but we can’t do much about it. Recently a family of wild boar came through and carved up a few of our terraces…the joys of living in a national park!
On the other hand, our garden had a huge growth spurt this summer. Most things are thriving.
By: Debra Kolkka on November 15, 2019
at 9:05 pm