Those of you who have followed my blog for a while might be wondering why I have not posted about Casa Debbio and our beautiful garden. That is because we have sold it. A delightful couple, who love the house as much as we did, have taken the reins and are making the garden their own.
This is what we started with. We originally called it “Our Pile of Rocks”. The only thing we could save was the volcanic rock arched doorway.
This is what it became. The house was finished in 2012 and for the next 12 years we built the garden. The whole property was covered in brambles and had a few old trees.
Apart from the magnificent views from the house, and Sisto’s music playing from below in the afternoon, what I will miss the most is the garden. It was a lot of work. We had help from lots of people.
Our lovely friend Agostino gave us lots of plants for our garden, Alfredo had the terrible job of clearing the brambles, Bardi started the first garden beside the house, Vittorio built the pergola, Rocco helped on several occasions with his digger, Filippo was with us in the garden from almost the beginning and did a great job with help from Ugo. They both built the dry stone walls in front of the house as well as the driveway and lots of other projects.
My favourite tree is this weeping cherry. There are 3, but this one is so beautiful in early spring.
It is also lovely when the leaves come.
I loved the wisteria.
I loved the aquilegias, artichokes, tomatoes, roses, fruit trees, lavender, rosemary, daffodils and all of the other fabulous things that grow so well at Casa Debbio.
I loved the experiment with the old bed on one of the terraces. Now it is growing a bedspread of vinca.
I loved it when we had snow occasionally.
I loved our family of bright green lizards.
But most of all I loved my peonies. I was delighted to find that they would grow well in the garden. This was my first one. After a few years it grew about 60 blooms every spring.
Many others followed. There were around 100 peony plants growing at last count.
My most popular photo from Casa Debbio was afternoon tea on the terrace in front of the house..
Farewell Casa Debbio. It was a lovely time in my life.
Why have you sold?
Regards Linden from Barga
By: Linden Brink on September 15, 2025
at 6:37 pm
We always intended to sell it one day. We still have our apartment in Bagni di Lucca. Look after 2 properties was becoming tiring.
By: Debra Kolkka on September 15, 2025
at 6:48 pm
You created such an incredible place. I know you must have wonderful memories of your time there and thankfully you will still be in Bagni di Lucca.
By: Janie on September 15, 2025
at 7:07 pm
What a paradise! Oh, how very lovely. Where does one look for a house like that? Local listings?
By: Erika on September 15, 2025
at 6:48 pm
There are lots of beautiful house for sale in the area. Local real estate agents can help find one,
By: Debra Kolkka on September 15, 2025
at 6:50 pm
Wow an end of an era Debra! I too will miss your beautiful updates. I have loved following your stories from Italy. Will you still spend time there but just not in the house? Thank you for sharing your piece of Italy with us!
By: thirdeyemom on September 15, 2025
at 7:12 pm
It was time to hand the house to someone younger. We still have our apartment in Bagni di Lucca so will still spend lots of time in Italy. It will allow us to travel more.
By: Debra Kolkka on September 15, 2025
at 7:18 pm
Oh Deb, we are devastated we didn’t get back there for another visit, but totally understand your reasons (listed in other comments). It was such a beautiful place, and the work you guys did there was amazing. Congratulations on the sale.
By: Karen on September 15, 2025
at 7:57 pm
It was not an easy decision to make, but the fact that we were handing it over to people who also love it made it easier. I always found it incredible to watch the garden come to life every spring.
By: Debra Kolkka on September 15, 2025
at 9:51 pm
What a beautiful place you created so lovingly over the years. So much work for sure!
By: Lorella Masci on September 15, 2025
at 8:10 pm
It was fun to watch the garden develop. There were lots of frustrations, especially when animals wouod come in at night and eat or destroy things, but the successes made up for it.
By: Debra Kolkka on September 15, 2025
at 9:53 pm
Lovely pictures and how privileged I feel I am to have visited casa debbio…..you had amazing visions that I’m sure exceeded all when it was fini…..I will cherish all the memories and look forward to our friendship continuing for years to come
By: Stephanie on September 15, 2025
at 8:49 pm
We enjoyed your visits. A garden is never finished, but I felt I had taken it as far as I could. It was time for younger owners.
By: Debra Kolkka on September 15, 2025
at 9:54 pm
It must be sad to say goodbye to such a fabulous garden & home but you did have many years of pleasure ( & hard work) but all the photos throughout the seasons have brought us pleasure also. At least you still have your apartment so look forward to seeing your travels.
By: Camillus Davall on September 15, 2025
at 8:51 pm
I feel very lucky to have had those years at Casa Debbio. I loved waking up in the morning and wandering through the garden to see things waking up.
By: Debra Kolkka on September 15, 2025
at 9:56 pm
Oh, I am so sad to say goodbye. The photos of your garden were always such a treat for me.. and I had always been planning on making a proper visit some day. What is next for you? Where will you live now in Italy? Wishing you all the best with the next chapter of your life,
Derin G.
By: Derin Gemignani on September 15, 2025
at 9:57 pm
We still have our apartment in Bagni di Lucca. We bought it in 2003. That will not be sold, so I will still spend around 6 months a year in Italy. I will miss the garden, but it was becoming a bit much.
By: Debra Kolkka on September 16, 2025
at 1:12 am
Thank you I enjoyed the photos of your beautiful house and garden. I know how hard it is to leave a home but the memories will always be with you.
Happy traveling.
By: Annie McMahon on September 15, 2025
at 10:03 pm
It was a fun thing to do. I spent 3 months at the house in the first lockdown in covid. It was the most beautiful spring and I felt very lucky to be in such a lovely, safe place. It wasn’t quite so much fun the following spring in lockdown when I broke my ankle. The house has been a big part of my life.
By: Debra Kolkka on September 16, 2025
at 1:15 am
Having seen the pile of rocks at the start of its renovation, it is wonderful to see how beautifully it ended up.
By: Alison on September 15, 2025
at 10:09 pm
It is truly amazing when I think of how it started. The garden was not intended to become quite so big, it just slowly happened.
By: Debra Kolkka on September 16, 2025
at 1:16 am
Beautiful photos Deb. You are handing over such a legacy to the new owners. I am so glad I was able to be there in 2012 at the start of it all but would have loved to have seen the garden in real life as it developed.
By: Wendy Bradford on September 15, 2025
at 10:37 pm
I remember choosing the tiles for the kitchen with you. I loved building the garden even though it wasn’t always easy. There was lots of rock carrying and hole digging, but it turned out well.
By: Debra Kolkka on September 16, 2025
at 1:18 am
As I was slowly going through the photos I kept thinking of the ‘tea table’. Then there it was. What a joy. Did you keep the cake plate?
By: Sandra Robbins on September 15, 2025
at 11:05 pm
The original Angela the cake stand stayed with the house, but another one was taken to Australia. I love her!
By: Debra Kolkka on September 16, 2025
at 1:19 am
We have such fond memories of the times we visited at Casa Debbio. Your hospitality was always so generous and the garden such a beautiful and relaxing place to be in.
By: Kerry & Jim on September 15, 2025
at 11:25 pm
It is a lovely place to be, but I don’t miss the 8 kilometres of switchbacks and the fear of a truck coming the other way!
By: Debra Kolkka on September 16, 2025
at 1:20 am
Congratulations Debra and thank you so much for sharing your beautiful Italian home & garden.
What you achieved there was inspirational and there was so much pleasure in seeing its many seasons & reading your lovely stories of life in that special location.
By: Pia on September 15, 2025
at 11:27 pm
I love the seasons here in the mountains. In Australia I live in subtropical Brisbane where they not so obvious. I especially love spring and autumn.
It was a delight to see the garden come to life every year after the winter as if by magic.
By: Debra Kolkka on September 16, 2025
at 1:23 am
That beautiful garden meant so much to me. I loved the pictures and dreaming that perhaps one day…..I wish you the best in your new adventures.
By: Debbie C DiNoto on September 15, 2025
at 11:28 pm
Thank you for your kind thoughts. We still have our apartment in Bagni di Lucca. It has a tiny balcony where I can have a few pot plants. I wish peonies would grow, but I will have to be happy with smaller things.
By: Debra Kolkka on September 16, 2025
at 1:25 am
This beautiful space is certainly testament to a very creative soul. We feel privileged to have enjoyed afternoon tea at Casa Debbio; we loved the afternoon tea photo. It’s just as we remember it. So pleased it’s in good hands Debbie. ❤️
By: Christine on September 15, 2025
at 11:34 pm
Building the garden was wonderful and I will keep the amazing views with me forever. I am happy those years at Casa Debbio happened and that lots of people shared it with me.
By: Debra Kolkka on September 16, 2025
at 1:27 am
Sad but I can appreciate the need to eventually move on. Sorry I never made it over to appreciate it first hand. Happy Travels Deb.
By: Paul Curtis on September 16, 2025
at 12:01 am
We still have the apartment so there is still a place to visit. There are lots of beautiful things for you to photograph.
By: Debra Kolkka on September 16, 2025
at 1:28 am
I have no business feeling this sadness/loss ….but I’ll snap out of it looking at your wonderful current post; capturing all the beauty and chapters you’ve shared with us all. Truly a beautiful site, with your fabulous photos and, above all, your willingness to share your charmed Life; SO many events that still flash by in their ranges of colour, topic and importance. I thank you for giving me those moments of awe and beauty, your garden development/creation has been an amazing journey. Such
wonderful taste! All the VERY best!!
By: Catherine Rowley on September 16, 2025
at 12:39 am
Thank you for following! I don’t feel sad about leaving the house and garden to someone else. I will not forget the years I spent there. I will certainly miss it, but it was time to move on.
By: Debra Kolkka on September 16, 2025
at 1:30 am
Beautiful wrap up of a wonderful project!
– and so interesting to see these early photos, how the garden developed and read the list of all your various skilled helpers! I understand the emotions attached – it has been a big focus in your lives.
Cheers to moving on!!
By: Barbara on September 16, 2025
at 1:51 am
The decision to sell took a very long time. The buyers were very patient with me. It was time to pass the house and garden to younger people who will love it. I will miss it but I won’t miss the 8 kilometres of switchbacks to get there!
By: Debra Kolkka on September 16, 2025
at 3:21 am
Italia4ever Robyn McLeod, Brisbane.
Hi Debra, I can’t seem to log on to your blog & that Word Press thing is very complicated and not helpful. Anyway I love your photos of Casa Debbio and the stunning colourful garden. It’s great that the new owners are happy to carry on what you created all those years ago. All the very best for the future.
By: italia4ever on September 16, 2025
at 2:54 am
WordPress is a mystery to me. They keep changing things for the sake of change! It is great that Casa Debbio has new, younger owners. They will love it as much as I did.
By: Debra Kolkka on September 16, 2025
at 3:23 am
Your garden is truly magnificent Deb, and the peonies are gorgeous. Will there be a new project in your future?
By: Louise on September 16, 2025
at 4:58 am
No new projects. We still have our apartment in Bagni di Lucca so I can have more flowers on tiny balcony.
By: Debra Kolkka on September 16, 2025
at 4:01 pm
Thanks Debra
We’ve been quiet admirers of your blog and garden for some years. We are also Australians with a house in Garfagnana – we started with something habitable, not your “pile of rocks”, we admire your bravery. But we did start with 7 years of rampant blackberries, and the house full of bats. If you could give away a couple of your secrets, we would really appreciate contact details for some of your local assistants – for the dry stone walling, and for a gardener – someone who can assist in choosing plants, planting, some maintenance when we’re not there, more than just water & whipper-snipper. I hope you can see my email, would be happy to continue off-line.
By: Ben @ Bargecchia on September 16, 2025
at 5:40 am
If you are close to Vergemoli I could give you some names. Blackberries are difficult to keep down, it requires constant cutting and digging out. I will send a private message.
By: Debra Kolkka on September 16, 2025
at 5:52 am
Wonderful photos; wonderful memories, for you and for all of us! Thank you for all the years of photos and stories.
By: Doug Petroni on September 16, 2025
at 3:42 pm
Casa Debbio has been fun. The house was particularly good for me when I was caught in Italy for 2 years with covid. Being in a remote spot with a beautiful garden made me feel very lucky indeed.
By: Debra Kolkka on September 16, 2025
at 4:03 pm
Oh it was so lovely Deb! You added so many lovely features – like the stencilling and embroidered curtains – plus the garden. It was a work of love and art. And I loved the kitchen!
By: Jan Trounce on September 17, 2025
at 9:57 am
I hand embroidered most of the linen curtains, hand painted the walls, it was all good fun. I left just about everything behind in the house.
By: Debra Kolkka on September 17, 2025
at 2:39 pm
I’ve been wondering about Casa Debbio actually. Now I get the answer. It was always nice to see your photos of the blooms in springtime. It sounds like the property is now in the hands of people who are equally passionate about its beautiful gardens and vistas.
By: Bama on September 18, 2025
at 12:09 pm
It was not an easy decision to make, but the couple who bought it have wanted it for a while. They were very patient with me and they love the house.
By: Debra Kolkka on September 19, 2025
at 2:59 pm
I can imagine how hard it would have been to sell such a beautiful property but congratulations! I’ll miss seeing the pictures of the garden in spring but thank you for sharing it with us 😀
By: Lorraine @ Not Quite Nigella on September 22, 2025
at 5:06 am
I loved my garden, but it was becoming too much for me, time to pass it into younger hands,
By: Debra Kolkka on September 22, 2025
at 5:35 am