Welcome Everyone.

Welcome to News From Italy, my blog about our Italian Adventure. Although this blog has now ceased publication I will be continuing to blog and I am sincerely hoping that my many followers here will move with me to Travel Tales blog to follow my next adventures wherever they may take me. The links to my other blogs are:-


I look forward to keeping in touch with you via them, thanks once again for all the support you have given 'News From Italy' over the years.

Tuesday, May 31, 2011

Our Garden in May - Il Nostro Giardino in Maggio

 

The end of May is here and we had a dilemma last week because our cherries were already ripe and ready for harvesting. There is a local tradition that cherries should never be harvested before the first of June, this is a as problem everything is so much earlier this year and they are ready!  If we had postponed the harvest until our return from a wedding next weekend the birds might well have had them all! Unlike our neighbours we have not obtained dead magpies to hang in the cherry trees to keep such predators at bay. Last year they were not ready to harvest until mid June so this situation did not arise.

In fact it is interesting that in my garden post for May last year I was bemoaning the lack of sun and the fact that the garden was suffering from an excess of water. This year the spring weather has been hotter and drier after a very cold and dry winter. Our Garden in May 2010  The orto has also suffered with no potatoes germinating, last year they rotted, everything else is very slow to get going this year, even the strawberries, but hopefully growth will catch up soon now the weather is warmer and we have started watering.

A busy time ahead and a wedding to enjoy means I will be away from my computer until at least the middle of next week. When I return I will post about this years Sagra del Latterino and The Cherry Harvest. Here are the links to last years posts if you would like some information in the meantime. XXXV Sagra del Latterino 2010     Cherry Harvest 2010

I also hope you will enjoy the selection of some of my favourite photographs of our garden taken during the last month, that I have chosen to share.  The full album is also available to view on Flickr.com where you can view all the photographs in full size or as a slideshow.

Our Garden in May 2011

The Roses have been beautiful this month, particularly the deep coloured rose that climbs amongst the Kiwis.

Rose climbing over the kiwis

Philadelphus

May has altogether been an excellent month for flowering plants with Philadelphus, Roses, Irises, Gazenia, Sweetpeas, Fuschias, Lilies, Impatiens. Lobelia, Cactus, Lantana, Tradescantia, Geraniums, Yucca, Verbena and both Wild Poppies and Californian ones all producing beautiful blooms.

As this is very much a productive garden it is good to note that besides the cherries and strawberries ripening this month, that our other produce is progressing well, with even buds starting to appear on the olive trees.

Kiwi Flowers.

Apple

Peaches and Pears

The lettuce have done very well!

Finally as promised for a friend a selection of our plantings on the terrace and front porch.  Gazenias, Cactus, Geraniums and Verbena.

Lobelia and Lantana

Copyright All rights reserved by LindyLouMac Photo Collection

I hope you have enjoyed sharing this peep at our garden plants this month and remember if you would like to see more photographs of the garden taken during 2011 please visit the collection of albums at Flickr.com Our Garden 2011

56 comments:

  1. I would love to be let free in your garden for a morning... and just wander through. Lovely!

    What would happen if you harvest the cherries before Jun 1st?

    ReplyDelete
  2. Linda your garden looks marvellous, healthy looking fruit etc... If the wedding is in the UK I hope you will get a chance to have some Kent or Sussex strawberries, the best!!!

    Your roses look wonderful, and I am sure in Italy have a beautiful perfume. I love the pots on the wall. I am glad you named your Philadelphus as we have one in the garden and I couldn't remember what it's name was!!

    Hope everything goes well at the wedding, enjoy, Jackie in Surrey, UK.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Linda your roses are stunning. I am amazed that your cherries are still not ready but I hope they will be fine on your return. My tree is well and truly finished, only a few rotten ones left up very high when I left for the UK! Your lettuce look good, I never bother to grow them as Nigel is not keen and I make my salads with chard, sorrel, spinach and rocket. Have a good trip, Diane

    ReplyDelete
  4. I think the entire world is having strange weather this year. Last night on the news we heard "experts" talking about the unprecedented rash of tornadoes that have swept across the US. I also had to smile about the local tradition of not picking cherries before June 1st. My grandfather always planted by the calendar...peas were always planted on the Feast of St. Joseph. March 19th. enjoy the wedding!!

    ReplyDelete
  5. Another piece of heaven!
    We had to harvest cherries too, because of nasty birds! We made jam last Sunday with 3 kg of cherries, my nails are still spotted! And there are a lot left for my tummy, he he! ;D
    We're already eating courgettes , peas, French beans, lettuce and strawberries from our orto, much tastier than the store bought ones!
    Have fun at the wedding!
    xxx

    ReplyDelete
  6. The flowers and fruits are growing beautifully. Rules are made to broken, if necessary. Sounds necessary this year. I'm particularly in love with your yellow roses...simply delightful. And, I'm laughing thinking that I just planted some lettuce and it looks a poor comparison to your beauties. We are also growing lantana and, because I adore lobelia, I want to get some.

    Have fun at the wedding...see you next week!

    ReplyDelete
  7. Your garden is so beautiful. Have a great time at the wedding.

    ReplyDelete
  8. What a happy garden..everything is so beautiful..
    Wanted to tell you, I enjoyed reading about your book review..didn't comment..computer giving me grief..Oh Gosh, it can drive you a little nuts..
    Also, on my blog..Memorial Day..I always mean to include, all of the wonderful troops that fought with us together.May we always be as ONE...
    Have a happy week..xoxoRosebud/Carolyn

    ReplyDelete
  9. wow such beautiful photos,, I only wish there was a smelling button on this lap top so I could smell the roses,, thankyou for visiting and you're right blogging Karma is amazing,, have a beautiful day in your beautiful spot,

    ReplyDelete
  10. Thanks for the comment on my blog post, Linda. Much appreciated. Your garden is beautiful! Enjoy the wedding.

    ReplyDelete
  11. That's quite a garden you've got there! Everything is so beautiful! It's a good thing I'm not there- I'm afraid I'd eat all of the cherries!

    ReplyDelete
  12. Lovely - everything looks so lush and green. We are having heat wave here and things are ripening early too.

    ReplyDelete
  13. Linda, oh how beautiful your garden is! Those roses are amazing!!! I am a tad bit jealous...it is so lovely!

    xo,
    melody

    ReplyDelete
  14. Lettuce and green onions...oh my! How beautiful! Your fruit looks yummy, too! I don't suppose they ship well! heehee! Enjoy your week! ♥

    ReplyDelete
  15. Gorgeous Linda, particularly love the roses. You must be virtually self-sufficient? Sorry if I,m boring you with Pinterest, thanks for visiting, love Linda x

    ReplyDelete
  16. The photos of the garden are amazing, as always. The roses look wonderful. I know from my own garden just how much work it takes to look after a garden like that! Hope you have a lovely trip back to England for the wedding on Saturday. The forecast is good! Please pray for a fine day on the following Saturday!

    ReplyDelete
  17. Yes, Mother Nature is doing what she wants, every time it's different, love to see your roses and you have a big garden to look after!
    Enjoy the wedding and the time away from the computer, Maureen

    ReplyDelete
  18. Beautiful, as always. I particularly love the yellow rose.

    ReplyDelete
  19. Wow Linda! I've mostly appreciated the variety of fruits from your garden and the Kiwi flowers which I'd never seen before! Waiting for this year's cherries harvest soon! :)

    ReplyDelete
  20. Beautiful. First day of June today, first day of our winter. I miss the warm sun already.

    ReplyDelete
  21. What a wonderful adventure to take, Italy is a place I love. Your photos are lovely, your garden is wonderful.

    Thank you for stopping by my blog and for your lovely comments.

    ReplyDelete
  22. Your garden looks beautiful, Linda! I hope you were able to do your cherry harvest a few days early to save then from the birds!

    ReplyDelete
  23. The roses, flowers, fruits and vegetables of your garden are beautiful! You have captured them with wonderful photos. I especially like the collection of pots nestled at the base of that beautiful tree. We had 13 mature cherry trees when we lived in the Okanagan Valley in British Columbia, but we picked them in early July. I'm sure you were wise to pick them early. Hope that you have a wonderful time at the wedding!

    ReplyDelete
  24. You are surrounded by beautiful abundance.

    ReplyDelete
  25. Everything looks glorious!! So wishing we had fruit trees ourselves, but the markets have wonderful produce here. ALMOST as good, lol!

    ReplyDelete
  26. Your garden is very beautiful in spite of the dry weather! It's amazing how harvest times can vary so much from year to year.

    ReplyDelete
  27. You have such beautiful garden, with flowers, fruits, and vegetables..Such an amazing harvest you'll have!

    ReplyDelete
  28. The pears and everything looks delicious! Beautiful pictures! Harvesting comes in natures time and not always when we plan on or have traditions. Your garden is fabulous! Have a great day my friend!

    Mama Hen

    ReplyDelete
  29. I always love your photos. The roses are simply gorgeous.

    ReplyDelete
  30. Everything looks so beautiful...this year has been a strange year weatherwise for us too...it is still pretty cool for this time of year.Enjoy your time away!!

    ReplyDelete
  31. I'm glad you harvested them before the birds got them! Such a strange year for so many – either hotter or colder than normal. We've been damp and cool – in fact it's just the peak of spring right now. The first buds of roses are appearing but nowhere near where yours are.

    Thank you for sharing the bounty of your garden! Heavenly!

    ReplyDelete
  32. Dead magpies??? Really!?!? OMGoodness....will you post pictures of this year's cherry harvest?

    Your garden is looking lovely. Thanks for posting such pretty photos of your flowers, veggies, and fruit.

    ReplyDelete
  33. oh my goodness, that lettuce is gorgeous and looks SO yummy! WE didn't plant that in our garden, is it easy to maintain/grow?

    Beautiful pictures as always :)

    ReplyDelete
  34. What a marvellous and perfumed garden you have!

    ReplyDelete
  35. Well, you guys certainly have green thumbs. This year was also a good year for our cherries. Since I haven't yet gotten into canning, I've been happy to follow A's suit and just climb the tree and eat until I can't reach anymore. That way we eat up what is already ripe and only share "some" with the greedy birds. Never heard of dead magpies hung to deter them... I am jealous of your vegetable garden. Up here, the weather doesn't get hot until much later in the year and since I've been away so much already this year, I haven't planted ANYTHING!!! So I've enjoyed seeing yours. I imagine you have alot of your roses cut to have in your home. Very lovely!

    ReplyDelete
  36. Hello Lindylou! These pictures are simply gorgeous. This is my second drool today over cherries. I didn't know they were grown in France and Italy. Lovely! Those roses! My favourite! So beautiful!

    Denise<3

    ReplyDelete
  37. As always I'm admiring your beautiful flower shots.

    ReplyDelete
  38. Oh, I'm so jealous. It all looks so luscious - and just as I imagine it to be over there in Italy - plumptious swelling fruit! Yum!!

    Sarahx

    ReplyDelete
  39. How many things there are in your garden! Your trees are already full of fruits, and, meanwhile, we're only enjoying our first few sunny days.

    ReplyDelete
  40. Everything looks so beautiful..I looked at your lettuce..ours is just a little bit up. Weather here has been very odd..Tornadoes hit two towns in Maine..but Mass. was really hit with a bad one.
    Our garden isn't planted yet. One year the tomatoes/cucumbers froze on the 7th of June. This spring isn't starting too nice either. Oh well, it could be snow, so I guess I better be happy.
    Have a good weekend..xoxoCarolyn/Rosebud

    ReplyDelete
  41. How do they all look so healthy? You must have a really green thumb!!
    Have fun.

    ReplyDelete
  42. Wow, your garden is looking so healthy and beautiful. No wonder you love this time of year so much!

    Hope you had a wonderful time at the wedding. See you when you get back.

    Best wishes,
    Natasha.

    ReplyDelete
  43. Che bellissimo giardino! You made me homesick! Love your blog!

    A presto

    ANNA

    ReplyDelete
  44. Lovely photos as always. Thanks for sharing.

    All the best, Boonie

    ReplyDelete
  45. Your garden is looking wonderful, and very tidy. Despite hit and miss weather everything here seems to be doing exceptionally well though of course much later than you. I must get out there between the showers.

    ReplyDelete
  46. Hi there,
    Beautiful posting today! Love all your photos! I hope to visit Italy some day. My son and his fiance just returned from a trip for a wedding. I love all the photos they took. Such a beautiful area! Love your fruit photos! Have a wonderful day! xoxo Kim

    ReplyDelete
  47. Hi Linda, it's amazing, isn't it? Even here things are ready so early - we have harvested (is that the right word?) some strawberries from our "pot garden" and I'm so proud that I haven't killed them ;-) I love the pics of your roses, they look so beautiful and the apple blossoms are really pretty too. Wishing you a good week, Love from London xo

    ReplyDelete
  48. Hi Linda, did you enjoy your trip? I do love a wedding. Thanks for the visit and kind words, I am doing well. Have a wonderful day, with much love, Linda x

    ReplyDelete
  49. That fruit looks delicious!

    I hadn't seen one of my sister for four years, hence the trip to the UK as she flew over from Australia.

    ReplyDelete
  50. Ooooooohhhhh.....truly gorgeous flowers/fruits/veg!

    Wonderful photos!

    I'm in love with the spring time/early summer here with everything flowering so beautifully!!!!

    Hugs,
    Lana

    ReplyDelete
  51. What a lovely garden you have, truely beautiful. I have enjoyed looking at your Blog.

    ReplyDelete
  52. What a perfectly charming garden you have!

    ReplyDelete
  53. Beautiful photos - just beautiful. I absolutely love this peek into your life and surroundings. Just lovely!!!

    ReplyDelete
  54. Linda, your garden looks so healthy! The roses are gorgeous, the lettuce looks so delicious and lastly, that lantana has me drooling in envy because not only did ours not return this year, but we also cut back on buying so many new plants this year and that's one item we deleted! Just lovely!

    ReplyDelete

Thank you so much for visiting my blog and taking the time to leave a comment. I really appreciate it and enjoy reading them all. I now only respond to comments via email, so please make sure your comment is linked to your account, if you would like a response. Otherwise I will not be able to respond!