As I have mentioned before, this spring has been a bit ordinary in the garden at Casa Debbio. Deep snow in late winter took out quite a few plants. We didn’t pull them out, hoping they might recover in spring, but that now seems unlikely. The weather has been colder than usual this spring and many plants have suffered.
My beautiful lavender along the driveway wall looks bleak. It is growing, but I doubt it will do well this season.
The wisteria is also a bit sad. There are blossoms, but they aren’t a patch on last year.
There is one on the pergola on the side of the house which is doing better than the rest. It is very pretty and more prolific than the others.
Wild violets are popping up everywhere and are always a delight.
Tiny wild daisies grow in the grass all over the garden. It is very sad when they are mowed down, but they come back quickly.
Aquilegias turn up by themselves every year.
In the area behind the house they have self seeded and some have flowers along with another plant with tiny flowers that comes alive in spring after looking completely dead all winter.
My beautiful peonies have not let me down this year. I transplanted several that were growing in pots last autumn and planted quiet a few new ones. They have all grown and the tree peonies are covered in flowers.
Many are on the terrace below the house and I can’t get there in my wheelchair so I rely on Sarah to pick them for me.
This white one is the size of a small dinner plate and is as delicate a silk. The centre is pale pink. It is absolutely gorgeous and the plant is covered in them for the first time.
This peony is called Shirley Temple. Is it covered in buds which should bloom in the next couple of weeks.
The one beside it is the first one I planted. It always gets about 60 blooms.
The baby peonies I have grown from seed are thriving. I would have planted them in the garden this spring, but a broken ankle has got in the way and it is a bit late now to move them so they can wait until autumn.
I have just 4 days to go until my cast comes off. I am so looking forward to my freedom, particularly as Tuscany is now a yellow zone and I can travel in the region. I have a long list of places I want to visit or revisit. With a bit of luck the crummy weather we are having now will get better next week and I can get to work on my garden and some serious travel.