Italian Moths that seem like Hummingbirds I have been asked, time and time again, “What’s that? Is it a hummingbird?” by the guests that come and stay at our holiday houses here in Tuscany. They were all referring to a curious creature that flits, with great speed, from flower to […]
Natural solutions to whiteflies and aphids Until recently the solution to this problem was to spray the plant with toxic pesticides, which curiously, also kill nature’s own remedy to the problem… the parasitic wasp. There are hundreds of species of parasitic wasp, some feed on caterpillars and spiders and some […]
Italian gardens are generally characterised by elegant formal lines and strong structure, however, the use of fruit trees in Italian gardens cannot be overlooked. Since the early Arabic influence fruit trees have featured strongly in Italian gardens and later. Then, with the onset of the Roman Empire, new varieties of […]
Tips on Pruning Roses in Italian Gardens Late Autumn is the time when we generally consider pruning the roses in our gardens, both in the UK and in many parts of the US, however when should we prune the roses in our Italian holiday homes…? The rose is a plant […]
A Jewel of Italian birds If you noticed an orange/pink, unusual looking bird with a striking crest on its head while visiting Italy then you had probably been lucky to have seen the Hoopoe, a stunning migratory visitor to Italy. The Hoopoe is quite an unmistakable bird, it has bright […]
Italian gardens are famed for the wonderful choice of plants that can be found within them, from the vibrant hot colors of Mediterranean plants to the softer pastels of classical roses and lavender. Reams of books have covered the various plants that can be used, however, very little attention is […]
The Corn Poppy in Italy There can be few people who are unable to recall having seen a field of bright, blood-red poppies exploding en-masse in May or the blazing impressionist paintings of Claude Monet. Across the globe, from Egypt to North America, cultivated fields suddenly become dazzling swathes of an […]
Advice on Designing Italian Gardens EcoLogica: The dream farmhouse or villa has been purchased, the nearest restaurant has been found and approved, the house has finally been restored and the flooring and paint finishes decided, so now all that’s left to do is make a garden! The planning of the […]
Essentials to a Roman Style Garden There is a considerable body of evidence surrounding the gardens of ancient Rome that details the various elements that comprised their pleasure and villa style gardens. Many classical features are found in today’s gardens and landscapes paying homage to those ancient stylized Roman gardens. […]
We all know that lavender is a beautiful plant and that it has a pleasant scent, however there is far more to discover about it. This comprehensive guide, along with these tips for planting lavender, will teach you all you need to know about growing this fragrant and diverse plant. […]