italytutto’s week of Italy blogs for Easter weekend
The Wisteria has been absolutely glorious this year, another of my many favourites when it comes to blossoms, as you can see by my chosen header for April. Although there are hundreds if not thousands of brilliant and beautiful photos presently in the blog sphere, I have still decided it is worthwhile sharing a few of my own and a little bit of the history of Wisteria with you.
Wisteria or Glicine, as it is known in Italian originally came from Asia where it is known as ‘the blue vine’ ‘Zi Teng’ and was not found in Italy until it is thought 1840, although it was seen in Europe from 1816. The story goes that the first ever Wisteria was introduced into Europe by an Englishman, one Captain Welbank after he was invited for dinner by a rich Chinese dealer from Guangzhou, Canton. The dinner party was held underneath a pergola covered by flowering wisteria, never having seen such a beauty Captain Welbank convinced the dealer to give him some seedlings which he took back to England. Three years later, in 1819, the wisteria bloomed for the first time and from there on rapidly spread to many gardens throughout Europe.
There are many varieties and colours now available but the one most commonly seen here is the pale purple, lavender, lilac colour mix. A vigorous and very adaptable climbing shrub that not only withstands the toughest of winters but is also resistant to most pests and diseases. Wisteria flowers abundantly in early Spring, normally during April here in Italy, before its leaves unfurl and then again but less so around early June.
To learn more about these beautiful plants, click on the links to take you to the full text, some of which is fascinating.
Why the wisteria wind and wrap in the direction they do.
A selection of my Wisteria photos showing it in all its glory during the month of April.
The photos used here are all my own
All rights reserved by LindyLouMac Photo Collection
If you would like to see any of the above photos enlarged or view the rest of the album you may do so by visiting
My Flickr Album entitled Wisteria 2011.
Also if you are a Facebook User please visit the News From Italy Facebook Page if you are interested in viewing a video I have uploaded there of the Wisteria.
All other information was researched on the following websites.
Wikipedia – Wisteria Britannica – Wisteria Wisteria.it (available in English).
I am linking to Bloomin’ Tuesday and Outdoor Wednesday to share these images with other lovers of the great “Outdoors”
Welcome to ‘News From Italy’ to the other participants, thankyou for calling by.
Linda,
ReplyDeleteAbsolutely stunning photographs. I was never able to grow them. I had no blooms. The color is scrumptious. I put your button on my blog. I am trying to do some "blog keeping" today!
Carol
Wow! Beautiful!
ReplyDeleteI love wisteria: the color, the scent, the drooping blossoms. It's mostly considered an undesirable plant to grow here in Liguria, where the land is scarce, because it's root system is huge and very invasive.
ReplyDeleteThanks so much for sharing your wisteria pictures with us. It has been lovely this spring here in Alabama, too, but I don't have any in my garden.
ReplyDeleteA profusion of Wisteria is all I can say, Linda!! Wonderful photos and the colour is simply out of this world, and I love the header photo for April. You have a really spectacular show there, and I am very envious!
ReplyDeleteBeautiful photographs of a beautiful plant / flowers. Your close ups are particularly excellent. When we moved into the bungalow wisteria was growing all over the conservatory we got rid of it. I think it is safer and looks great on a pergola, sadly we don't have one of those.I haven't been out much this week and certainly not into the countryside but I will look out over Easter when we hope to get out and about. I love it growing up thatched cottages.
ReplyDeleteThank you for sharing the photographs, love Jackie in Surrey, UK.
So, so beautiful!
ReplyDeleteGreat pics-enjoy:@)
ReplyDeleteBuona sera, Lindy, thank you for splendid photos of beautiful flowers!
ReplyDeleteI love wisteria. It is so pretty. We have it in abundance here growing wild along the roadways. It pretties up the sides of the road for sure. I find it to be invasive in my yard. They can be hard to control. I didn't know all that history about it. Interesting. Hope you are having a great day LindyLou.
ReplyDeleteHi Linda,
ReplyDeleteThat wisteria really took my breath away--gorgeous!
Linda what an interesting post. I did not know wisteria came in diferent colours. You pictures are fantastic. I am still frantically busy but I hope to get back to normal ASAP !!! What ever normal may be:-) Diane
ReplyDeleteThanks for the history of this plant I have known since my childhood. It is growing wild here in the Deep South. I recently did see some white wisteria growing in the woods where a house once stood. ♥O
ReplyDeleteWOW! The wisteria is amazing ! I think I would just stand there and stare at it! I but it smells wonderful too. Thanks for sharing! Paula from IDaho
ReplyDeletehttp://bucketideasforgardening.blogspot.com/
Welcome to Bloomin' Tuesday! The wisteria is absolutely amazing! I have had one for several years but it has never bloomed. It will be worth the wait if it looks like yours. Looking forward to seeing more of Italy's bloomers! Jean
ReplyDeleteI haven't seen a wisteria for a long time, So beautiful. Charmaine
ReplyDeleteWelcome to your first Bloomin' Tuesday. Hope you join in every week and show us what's flowering in Italy! Your Wisteria is beautiful, it's in bloom here in Virginia right now too. :)
ReplyDeleteThey are just gorgeous. We have them here in North Carolina too. Your photos are lovely.
ReplyDeleteFantastic photos!
ReplyDeleteI so love wisteria. I don't think it grows here, but after seeing such beautiful pictures I'm going to check on that. I'd love to have some growing my yard.
ReplyDeleteThat wisteria is so beautiful. Saw you visited my blog but encountered colts. Here is the blooming site.
ReplyDeletehttp://mysouthwestramblings.blogspot.com/2011/04/desert-is-blooming.html
Have a super great day.
Wisteria looks so gentle as it graces stairwells, balconies, fences and hangs overhead from trees. As much as I like it I hear many people have trouble containing it - they have to constantly pull up shoots of it over their yards. My grandmother had some at the far end of her front porch. It grew onto the porch, around a column and seemed happy to rest from the rafters overhead. When I first read "lilacs on the doorpost bloom..." I could not help but envision wisteria.
ReplyDeleteIt is unbelievable! Very beautiful pictures, love them all. The way that light has been captured is stunning!!!
ReplyDeleteThese photos are glorious! I bought a wisteria here in England last June picturing it in our garden as it's one of my favourite climbers.
ReplyDeleteSadly, it's the only plant that still, looks dormant - but, I live in hope. Thank you for sharing yours with us.
I can feel your excitement!! The flowers are gorgeous indeed, specially when there are so many of them! Beautiful pictures!
ReplyDeleteGreat photos!! Your wisteria is so gorgeous!...ours isn't half that luscious.
ReplyDeleteGod bless!
I love wisteria Linda, and yours is just gorgeous.
ReplyDeleteSo jealous of your purple Wisteria, mine has been raided by birds, so I've only got a white one in bloom now!
ReplyDeleteThe scent is heavenly, especially at night.
xxx
Your pergola is fabulous and Glicine is one of my favourite plants as well! I don't have one though I would to. This because Wisteria needs, as you know, a very large garden in order to avoid damage caused by its roots...
ReplyDeleteWhat beautiful photos, such a delicate color.
ReplyDeleteI am not a fan of purple except when it's on wisteria! I think it's gorgeous and so are your photos! Interesting info as well!
ReplyDeleteWonderful photos...the closeups are beautiful!!
ReplyDeleteIt is gorgeous!! Doesn't it take a couple of years before it starts blossoming? I know one of my neighbours pulled it out because it seemed to do nothing, but another said that she should have been patient a bit longer. By the look of all these beauties, your wisteria is a grand old lady!
ReplyDeleteThey are so beautiful!
ReplyDeleteSo glad I found your blog today via Katherine's Corner! My husband and I visited Italy in 2006 and fell in love! We went to Rome, Florence, Pisa, Venice and Verona. We have been dying to go back ever since.
ReplyDeleteLove your wisteria photos. They are gorgeous!
How absolutely gorgeous! What beautiful photos. Thankyou for your kind remarks and advice. I am being very careful of what I eat and drink. You left a comment on Welshgirl in Aus about a painting of a washing line, that you could take a photo of a similar scene from your window, I would love to see it. I just love that meditteranean thing with the rooftops and the clotheslines. Have a Happy Easter Linda, love Linda x
ReplyDeleteLinda, these are magnificent! Some of my best friends have an arbor covered with wisteria and it's pure bliss to visit out there on hot summer days. :-) I just found out I'll be going to Italy in September for my brother's wedding. I'm so excited!!! :-)
ReplyDeleteSuch beautiful wisteria! It must smell heavenly.
ReplyDeleteYour photos are so lovely! I've only seen wisteria in Hawaii but would love to have some in my garden. I will be checking your word of the day often now- today my trip to Italy is officially booked and the countdown begins!
ReplyDeleteIt's so wonderful...I love flowers.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful pics! I love wisteria even in winter the branches are beautiful.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful pictures Lindy! It must be so fragrant in your part of the world right now. Hope the tile work is going well. Have a wonderful Easter! :)
ReplyDeleteWow..stunning photos of wisteria! Beautiful flowers, and pretty color..
ReplyDeleteGorgeous photos and how wonderful for you to be able to enjoy the Wisteria in all its glory. It looks like your weather is lovely. We're having such a slow start to spring. Everyone is getting cabin fever. Thanks for sharing your pretty pictures and have a blessed Easter.
ReplyDelete~Lynn
Your wisteria is amazingly beautiful! How lucky you are to have such a beauty!
ReplyDeleteHugs, Beth
I would be thrilled to have such beautiful blooms, too! It's incredible – and so much of it, too. I visited your Flickr gallery – oh my!!! Wishing you a Happy Easter weekend. – g
ReplyDeleteThese are so lovely, Lindy! The first time I've seen wisteria was at my friend's garden. Prior to that, the only wisteria I knew was Wisteria Lane from Desperate Housewives! :)
ReplyDeleteThanks for the lovely photos of the wisteria blooms. Where I grew up in the south we had a huge vine of it growing up a pine tree. It scented the entire yard. Looking at your close up pictures, I could almost smell it!
ReplyDeleteNancy
They are so lovely. You have cheered up my day.
ReplyDeleteLovely photos. I can almost smell the wisteria through my computer screen.
ReplyDeleteGorgeous photos. I do love the new header, too.
ReplyDeleteLilac is my favourite colour. It soothes me.
have a good week
carol
OOOOh...sooo pretty! Yes, we've been seeing some amazing wisteria down here in southern, Italy, too, and it's just gorgeous!
ReplyDeleteMy daughter and I are gonna use your link to find out the meaning of its name right now!!!!
Hugs,
Lana
You know glicine is one of my favorite plants, both for the color and the perfume. And you've taken stunning pictures.
ReplyDeleteThis is just pretty!
ReplyDeleteOh my God! I'm in awe! These are wonderful!
ReplyDeletexx
Oh my goodness! How beautiful! I want one of those in my yard!
ReplyDeleteAlana @
www.bullrockbokeh.blogspot.com
Stunning photographs! I love the wisteria blooming all over England right now. I've never seen so many :)
ReplyDeleteThank you for sharing and linking up to Post Of The Month Club! XOL