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.

Friday, September 30, 2011

Our Garden in September - Il Nostro Giardino in Settembre

The end of September it is time once again for me to share some of my favourite garden photos with you. Once again I have had difficulty selecting which ones to share with you, I am trying something different this month, instead of just showing you individual photos I have made some collages.

I looked at last year’s post before I published this one, Our Garden in September 2010 interesting to compare as it was cooler and wetter during September. Those of you that were not reading this blog last year might be interested in reading more there about an unusual fruit we have in our garden, the Jujube, which we knew nothing about until last year.  It has a very interesting flavour a cross between an apple and a date.  I featured the Jujube in another post, Jujube - Italian Bloggers, an idea I never got around to doing any more of last year maybe this winter I will  introduce you to some other Italian Bloggers.

Jujube.

Despite what we thought was heavy watering of our Orto we have for the second year running not done well with our vegetables during the heat of the summer, it seems we really should not expect much to grow really apart from tomatoes and a few salad crops. Spring and Winter seem to be the only times we are going to get much in the way of vegetables, but at least we manage to produce enough for the two of us. As for our fruit crops well they certainly enable us to eat as much fruit as we want all summer long without having to buy any which is a great bonus. We did have to buy melons this year, as ours just did not get going, lack of water again.

The majority of colour in the garden has been provided by the Autumn Daffodil – Sternbergia Lutea and the yellow daisies that reach for the sky plus our various tubs and pots on the terraces.

Autumn Daffodils

Daisies, Plumbago, Lilies, Lantana, Impatiens, Ice-Plant, Cyclamen and Petunias have also given us pleasure with their blooms this month.

Persimmons are starting to ripen and my husband is hoping for a good crop to make some more of the wonderful chutney he made with them last year. The recipe came from another blogger in Italy, some of you may already know him but I shall save it for a post when we harvest the Kaki as the Italians call them. The Pomegranates are probably already ripe enough to enjoy now, I must try one this weekend. The grapes are from just one of our vines and after I took this photo they were turned into fresh grape juice for us to enjoy with breakfast or other times when you do not want wine!  The second fennel crop looks as though it might produce seeds and the kiwis will be picked just before Christmas and last us through until early summer.

Other crops we have enjoyed from the garden this month, all edible except for the giant gourds! Figs, Pears, Quince, Sweet Chestnuts and Walnuts.  We also have apples but very few and all picked, last year we had many more than we could cope with. Apples, Apples, Apples.

Olives and Rosehips rambling up an olive tree. The olives are looking good and the harvest for us should be early November. We are just hoping for a better result than last year’s disappointing harvest. Olive Harvest 2010 - Che disastro! Fingers crossed. We just have to pray no major storms arrive and damage the crop, they just need some gentle rain to swell and time to ripen.

 

The interested gardeners and photographers amongst you will find the full album on Flickr. Our Garden in September 2011 where the photos can be viewed in a larger format. 

Copyright All rights reserved by LindyLouMac Photo Collection

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

We are enjoying the most gorgeous late summer weather here in Italy and the forecast, for at least the next week, is for it to remain this way with temps in the high twenties centigrade. 

This summer seems to have flown by and I cannot believe it is October 1st tomorrow. October is going to be a very quiet month for posts here on News From Italy as we are going to visit one of our daughters who lives in Hong Kong. We are also travelling to Thailand with her while we are away, so I will hopefully have a lot of photos to share with those of you that are interested on Flickr and Beautiful World on our return.

There will be one more post published before we leave for our trip and as many of you have commented on how much you enjoy my Sunday Song posts I have decided to make it a musical one.

Meanwhile I am also linking this post to as many of the great linky parties that I participate in, that seem appropriate, as hopefully it will provide plenty of opportunity for visitors here during October to do some blog hopping and hopefully discover some interesting blogs, amongst this selection.

Best Posts of the Week, Bloomin' Tuesday, Fertilizer Friday, La Dolce Vita, Mosaic Monday at Little Red House, Our World Tuesday, Outdoor Wednesday, Post of the Month Club, and Potpourri Friday.

Welcome to ‘News From Italy’ to the other participants, thankyou for calling by.

Best PostsCopy_of_001 Our World Tuesday Graphic Outdoor Wednesday: Click on the picture below to learn more...Photobucket

I hope you have found some pleasure in sharing photos from my garden in Italy. I have made so many virtual friends from around the world via this blog, such a friendly network of people. While I am away during October I hope that you will maybe do some blog hopping and discover some new bloggers for yourselves.  Have fun exploring, the wonderful karma of blogging!

Before we leave on our travels, (see back up the page if you missed that bit), I hope to have time to catch up with as many of you as possible because while we are travelling my online presence will be kept to an absolute minimum. I will I expect be signing in to Facebook - News From Italy from time to time; so if you are interested in finding out what News From Italy is up to over the next few weeks please consider becoming a fan of our Facebook Page.

Have a lovely October everyone, where ever you may be in the world and what ever you are doing.   Take Care.

57 comments:

  1. I enjoyed looking at you photos, Lindy... every single image is very familiar to me. Lovely! Your love for Italy, your home and your fantastic garden is such an inspiration. As an Italian, I feel very proud and happy to know that a little corner of my beautiful country is in such good, loving hands!

    Grazie, Lindy!

    ANNA
    XX

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  2. Your garden is quite different to ours, we have zinnias, cosmos, daisies and sunflower still. While the vegetable garden is still supplying massive amount of beans, tomatoes, chilies, peppers and pumpkins. Coming on is celery, beetroot, chard and cabbage. Hope my neighbour will remember to water!! I will also have one more post before I depart and I will only be back on line sometime in November.
    Love those giant gourds, will you dry them and do something with them? Have a great trip see you sometime later in the year. Have a great weekend. Diane

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  3. All of your photos are lovely Linda, your garden is just beautiful (something to aspire to for me). I hope you have a lovely trip, and enjoy yourself, and hope to see you soon.

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  4. Have a great trip!
    I love the idea of a fruit called Jujube! Over here that is a jelly candy. Your autumn colours are glorious - how can you bear to leave?
    I'll miss your posts - I don't do facebook - perhaps I should re-think that.

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  5. Gorgeous pictures! You have such a lovely garden. I love those big gourds! So cool and decorative looking for Fall.

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  6. Hi Linda. How exciting for you to be going off to visit your daughter in Hong Kong, and then on to Thailand. I am very envious my friend. Do have a super time and safe travels. I always enjoy your monthly garden posts and this was no exception. Look at all those grapes. I distinctly remember your poor olive harvest last year, so I do hope that things will be much better this year! You've got a fine crop of pears there as well. Looking at the flowers, the Autumn Daffodils look very much like crocuses, which appear in the spring over here. Have a lovely weekend.

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  7. What an amazing trip you have planned! I'll look forward to the photos when you return! Love your garden photos! I haven't had a persimmon in years but I always loved them! They'll make you pucker if they're not perfectly ripe! Happy Fall to you, my friend! I just read a book set in Italy and thought of you! It wasn't the best book but a good read...Season of Storms by Susanna Kearsley. Hugs, Diane

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  8. First, have a great trip, and I'll miss you. Now, back to your garden. Oh, my goodness. I want to come visit you just so I can gaze on all of that - well, and eat some of it, too. It's a little strange to see autumn daffodils as they are a harbinger of spring for me. All the other flowers and fruits just look wonderful.

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  9. It's interesting to learn the differences between gardening there and here...the not being able to grow veggies during summer months, but they may be grown in the spring and winter. The fruit that is a cross between an apple and a date is most interesting. I can not even imagine. Here's to a great olive harvest. Now I'm off to learn where you're going. I wish you a happy journey.

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  10. I love beautiful gardens, flowers, fresh fruits and vegetables, but only from sitting on a comfortable chair and watching the others work ! I have no green thumb at all !

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  11. Oh, Linda, your giardino is really impressive! Wishing you a good journey, I can't wait for enjoying your travel photos!
    Un bacio e arrivederci.

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  12. Linda...you must have a huge garden. I can't believe all the different fruit trees you have. I would love to hear more about your persimmon recipe. Have a great trip. About 5 years ago we were able to spend 3 weeks in Chaing Mai Thailand and we loved it and the people. The Thai's really are the "People of the Smile!" Look forward to hearing all about it.

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  13. You can grow so many wonderful trees and plants! I would love to live where you live! Here in winter the temperatures are very low and we can't grow jujubes and olives and pomegranates! Alas!
    Thanks for sharing your wonderful shots and collage;o)

    ***
    Have a nice and happy weekend****

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  14. Lindy Lou
    What a harvest of vegetables. No doubt lots of work but what a reward. How exciting you have a trip to Hong Kong and Thailand planned, wishing you the joys of travelling, full of great experiences and new freidnship
    Helenxx

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  15. You have many wonderful things to eat in your garden! Many seem exotic to me. I enjoyed hearing about and seeing the photos. The giant gourds are awesome! I really enjoyed your post today.
    Beth

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  16. Wow, your collages are great! I particularly like the yellow one. It says "Autumn Daffodils" but aren't those crocuses? Either way, all of your photos are so beautiful!
    -Karen

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  17. Wow you do have a wondderful garden love the yellow flowers and what a wonderful bunch of vegetables I think home grown vegetables are the best tasting ones.

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  18. What a glorious garden and harvest! You have so many varieties of fruits. Do you preserve some of them? The quince perhaps?

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  19. This is a gorgeous post. Can't believe the daffodils in September. Have a great time with your daughter...

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  20. What an interesting garden you have. Enjoy your holiday.

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  21. Ciao Linda, you know well that gardening posts are always amongst my favourite! ;-)
    I blogged about Jujubes and Persimmons too a couple of years ago on my previous blog, but nobody outside Italy knew them!
    Have a good weekend and enjoy this crazy sunshine!

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  22. Dear Linda, Such color and abundance in your garden at this time of year – it's truly beautiful! And I well remember your olive harvest last year. All positive wishes that this year more than makes up for it.

    Hong Kong and Thailand sound so exotic – I hope you have a really marvelous time with your family. See you when you get back when have a chance to catch up!

    xo –g

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  23. Firstly, your garden collages are a wonderful medley of colour and bounty! Secondly, how very exciting to be taking a trip to the East! Have a wonderful time and we look forward to hearing all about it and seeing LOTS of pictures when you return! Big hug xoxo

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  24. Boy LInda are you blessed in abundance. Everything looks absolutely lovely.
    Thank you for sharing these lovely pictures.
    Julie

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  25. Everything just looks beautiful!!! What a slice of heaven you have created for yourselves!! I'd never heard of autumn daffodils - how lovely. All that fruit....YUMMY!!! Enjoy it all for us, OK??

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  26. Hi Linda, a lovely post with so much news about your garden flowers, fruit and veg!! Have a great and safe time on your travels. I will look out for you on Facebook while you are away. Take care my Surrey / Italian friend, Jackie in Surrey, UK.

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  27. What a great fruits.I'm sure that you can supply your needs.
    I want to plant many vegetables and fruit like you.

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  28. Lindy, your Fall season seems to be so pleasant! Our trees are already turning yellow/orange, the wind is cold and we have had rain almost everyday for the last week or so. Just too cold and wet to be outside, but it brings me a desire to cook, bake and get cozy inside the house.
    Wish you a wonderful trip! Have fun with your family! Can't wait to see your pictures.

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  29. My wife and I really enjoyed viewing these photos. The great variety of vegetables and fruits is amazing. We hope to see you in November (maybe in time to help with your olive harvest!) :)

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  30. You have such a happy garden..all the beautiful things to eat..Just wonderful..Your pictures are great and I appreciate seeing everything..Have a happy, safe trip and enjoy your daughter. Will be waiting to see all your wonderful pictures..
    xoRosebud/Carolyn

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  31. Lovely photos of your garden. I hop you enjoy your trip to Hong Kong and your visit with your daughter. I know you must be looking so forward to it! I can't wait to read all about your trip.

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  32. Don't you love how the garden year comes in and out with bulbs?! You always teach me something new! I thought that jujube was an English plum (which is also new to me). And I have never heard of a fall daffodil, so you know me, I googled it. Turns out, it is also called a yellow autumn crocus and lily-of-the field. They are charming by any name. Thank you for joining Post Of The Month Club again this month :) I love following your garden. XOLaura

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  33. Beautiful, vibrant colours! I'm so jealous. I wish we could have a garden. Not that I can grow anything - plans seem to wilt when I enter the room! :)

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  34. I really enjoyed this post Linda. I loved seeing all of the beauty in your garden and learning about the different flowers.

    I hope you have a fabulous time in Hong Kong. You must be so excited about seeing your daughter! Have a safe trip and I look forward to seeing some more pictures when you return.

    Best wishes,
    Natasha.

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  35. Wow! Those gourds look great. Almost as if they are from outer space. Love the colour schemes in the photos.

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  36. They take my breath away!!! So very beautiful!!! I especially like the Autumn daffodils! Cathy

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  37. Your garden is still so lush and beautiful! And that jujube looks interesting!

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  38. Oh - and enjoy your travels!

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  39. Wow, your garden is so incredibly beautiful!

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  40. Your September garden is just glorious, Linda. The trees, flowers and produce are all so pretty!

    Thank you for linking to Potpourri Friday. I appreciate your participation!

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  41. So much colorful flowers in September! It is beautiful with autumn. We have had a very nice warm week, but now it`s going to be colder.
    Wish you a happy week!

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  42. Hi Linda, what a wonderful post. I tell you what, you and your husband must be two jolly healthy specimens, eating all that lot. You live in the garden of Eden, it's wonderful. I'm surprised you have any time for blogging! As for Persimmon Chutney mmm mmm, gimmee some!
    Thankyou for replying to my comments. I finished 'Room' and it was clever, the authour had thought of so many details, but I didn't really gel with any of the characters, and found the subject too disturbing. I'm enjoying my new book from the library though, it's funny.
    I did know about your book review blog and I will check it out. Thanks for the reminder. Have a wonderul trip, can't wait to see what marvellous photos you take. Have a lovely time with your daughter.Much love Linda x

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  43. Beautiful mosaics, Linda.
    Each one more stunning than the one that went before.
    Have a wonderful time travelling and think of your blogging friends now and again, send picture postcards when you can

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  44. Great post, loved how you linked to the garden last year so us fairly new peeps to your blog could compare you garden. I'm quite dazzled by your abundant garden, wonderful. x

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  45. This is my first time here...oh so interesting! Found your link on Bloomin' Tuesday. My husband's grandparents came over from Italy, and I would love to visit some day! I loved your post.

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  46. Of course I love pictures of your garden. So did my husband.

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  47. What an amazing array of fruits and veg etc., what is that strange looking 'thing' 2nd from left in the top set of pics? I love Persimmons, and remember eating my first one in a little restaurant somewhere near the Vatican, not a tourist place either. I love Persimmon cookies, but have never had chutney made with them.

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  48. Love the collages - they certainly give the impression of abundance and colour, whatever your actual crop is like!!

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  49. It's hard to believe all these wonderful photos of your garden is just that, your garden! How wonderful for you!
    You packed up and moved to Italy,,, wow! Such an adventure in the second part of your life.. Mine is almost the same. I grew up in your part of the world and I moved to Florida to make a big change once my kids grew and flew away!
    Nice to meet you
    Sandy

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  50. Oh, how splendid and huge your garden is! Figs, pears, chestnuts are my favorite autumn fruits. Your garden is really heaven for me. I enjoyed the tour in your garden very much! Thanks a lot for sharing!
    Best wishes,
    keiko

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  51. What a fabulous garden! Thanks for the tour. Enjoy your trip!

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  52. Absolutely gorgeous photos! You are truly living the life over there! I just know your trip will be fabulous and I look forward to seeing everything!

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  53. Okay, so I didn't put two and two together before, but you must have acres of land for all this produce. Do you spend all your spare time preserving the extra? Did you ever find out the names of the cherries you have?
    Also want to wish you a pleasant trip and "see" you when you get back.

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  54. Hi there this is a test comment by LLM as a friend using Typepad says she is unable to comment with embedded comment boxes.

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  55. Hiya Lindy Lou you will be away on your travels as I write this, but I wanted you to know your post has been a wonderful tonic this morning, as I look out my windows at a dark and dreary Sunday morning, with the trees across the street already yellow. We had no summer to speak of in Ireland (again) and sigh to be in my beloved Italia, by reading your post has put a big smile on my face! I hope your travels are safe and all your family are well.

    Back to the drawing board (literally)! X Dolly

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  56. Thank You for sharing your garden, flowers and produce with me. There were some interesting things in there, I have never heard of a jujube before. And those gourds look great, can you eat them? We call the autumn daffodils you pictured, autumn crocus over here, very pretty.Our climate must be a bit cooler than yours there, looking at your great gardening results. Cheers, enjoy your holiday.

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