Spring Archives - Page 6 of 13

May 202015 Tagged with Villa Melzi — 0 Responses

Villa Melzi, Lake Como

We took the passenger ferry over from Varenna (10 mins) to see Villa Melzi despite the threatening rain and were so pleased we did. The garden is stunning, even on a rainy day. Wonderful huge, magnificent trees set in broad sweeping lawns with banks of Rhododendron and Azaleas. Very lush woodland plantings and incredible views over to the other side of the Lake. There’s quite a wide range of plants here with a lovely gully full of tree ferns, huge plantings of Hosta etc.

Villa Melzi is just a few hundred yards by foot out of the village of Bellagio, so very easy access from the ferry.

The Villa itself is not open.

May 202015 0 Responses

Varenna a great base for travelling

We reached the top half of Lake Como and stayed four nights in Varenna which is perfectly sited for catching the ferries to Bellagio and Menaggio which everyone has to visit at least once. Varenna is noted as vying for the prettiest town in this area with Bellagio. I chose Varenna as we had a car and could travel north or south without having to ferry.

Strange alpine bedfellows – the Primula and the Pulmonaria

I know I’ve said it before, but seeing “garden plants” in the wild really gives you insight into where they prefer to grow and at times how hardy they are. Which in turn helps you determine where to place them in your own garden .

Spotted a few days ago at 1500m asl and growing and flowering together (at last for the camera) were Primula veris and Pulmonaria. So often I’ve seen them apart, or one in flower but not the other and always at a high altitude. Read More…

May 182015 Tagged with Gentian cluisii — 0 Responses

Gentians large and small

Pictured here is Gentiana cluisii which we have seen many times – not masses of them yet as I think we are too early in spring this high up in the Italian Alps. Clusters of them here and there. Mouth wateringly beautiful