Exploring the gardens of Tuscany

I borrowed a book from the local library named “The Gardens of Tuscany” by Ethne Clarke and Raffaello Bencini. It is full of amazing photographs, like the one about English gardens I own by Ethne Clarke and someone else. As I have only seen a few public gardens around Florence during my occasional travels to Italy, I thought I would locate a few of the private ones via Google Earth. Then I could arrange to visit them if I ever go to Italy again. I was amazed how well hidden some of these gardens are,, behind innocuous-looking walls right near the middle of cities!
Here is a snap from Google Earth of the Villa Medici Gardens at Fiesole, just outside Florence:

Gardens of the Villa Medici at Fiesole, Italy

I have lots of lovely photos of flowers and gardens on my RedBubble site; perhaps you might even purchase a postcard or two!

New Year’s Day 12 noon

Last night no alcohol- this morning, no hangover- yayy!! However, we had to get up early as Bridie and AJ were off to drive to Melbourne and subsequently Zeehan, Tasmania. Bridie has gone for a short but indefinite stay, summoned by her old friend Alan who needs company as he goes through the last stages of bone cancer- very sad. AJ has gone to drive the Jeep with caravan and dog in tow so Bridie has some accommodation at various times. AJ will fly back to the mainland in a few days to resume her uranium-mining job at Roxby Downs.
It has been a busy time having them stay 3 months, with one on the family room sofa and the other on a new chair sofa in the front room! We all thought they would only stay a few weeks originally but the job market was not very bright for either of them for a while. Now AJ has the mining job (after training to be both a heavy-rigid vehicle driver and a security guard) and Bridie has as much part-time work as she can handle with a “helping hand” agency looking after the disabled.
During this time I managed to complete a semester of my Masters in Public Health, although I had nowhere to study quietly and do my assignments- didn’t do quite as well as expected, but ended up with a Credit anyway.
My mood is a lot better than it was 3 months ago, although it took a few dives under the stress of coping with extra people in the house 24 hours a day! I know it was a big ask of myself to cope with house guests when I’m not wildly OK myself- but I could hardly leave them homeless- I would expect other people to look after me in a similar situation!
I think the cats will be relieved to have their humans back unaccompanied! Poor Moggsy has been extra shy about coming into the house for food- if she hears Bridie’s voice approaching while she’s feeding she runs and won’t return to finish her meal. Consequently she’s lost some weight- which isn’t all bad! Bendix adapted reasonably quickly but has been a little ratty at times- he was disappointed that Kevin was a dog and not a cat as he wanted to play with him on an equal basis! Moustiers thought Bridie and AJ ALWAYS lived here, and only haunted us in bed at night as she always did- why she couldn’t haunt AJ more often I don’t know!
Our back garden is somehow surviving the 40degC days, although the magnolia tree is burnt again and another cypress pine lost its top in a whippy breeze. The petunias are mostly OK in their pots and starting to flower, we have a pot tomato thriving, some chives and a few pigface ground covers. The cumquats are greener than last year, but not very healthy yet. I wish they’d come good- perhaps they need root pruning and larger pots?
The atrium plants are OK- tuberous begonias are starting to flower and the liliums have finished. the camellias seem to be withstanding the heat as long as we put the sprayers on often to keep the air moist. I bought some colourful resin pots from Ikea but haven’t managed to plant anything in them. They are supposed to be standing in 2 neat rows on the plant stand in the atrium so we have something colourful at eye level! Fingers crossed- I still have to drill holes in the bases for drainage.
So life goes on at Number 13 and we hope 2010 will be happier and healthier. I’ll put in a big wish for WEALTHIER! Greedy me- but I would like to go back to my old way of living with a minimum of money worry! I don’t want to live in luxury- especially the sort of thing that is publicised as “luxurious celebrity-style”- no gold taps for me- just let me pay the bills on time and go to the movies occasionally!

My fave own pix of 2008

Inspired by stephentrepreneur again, I’m showing off my current 12 faves from my own Flickr photos for 2008. If you asked me to pick again in a few days, there would probably be a whole different set, but what the heck! LOL!

For January,

Pink lotus

it was very difficult to pick as I had zillions of lovely shots of things from the Botanic Gardens, plus all the other stuff. However, this one looked so simple and pure that it won me:

For February,

Cobalt

there was a real conflict as well, because I had a lovely trip to the zoo, using Spotrick’s new Sony Alpha SLR camera, with my Flickr friend Esther (Off beat Mum). However, this brilliant blue got the better of me, with this darling otter coming a close second:

Want fish! Want fish!

For March, the startling heatwave inspired this (also part of my ‘A Glass for 365days’ series):

As for April , this won

Late magnolia

The flower, just on the turn, caught my eye when I was out walking for a bit of exercise with no camera. So I scuttled home and came back- it’s only a few hundred metres up the main road (Duthy St, Malvern) from our place and the people sell outdoor furniture and decor. The magnolia was a really late flower (I don’t usually see many after January here) and the rustic corrugated iron roof looked really unusual behind it.

For May,

Oh such a lonely man

I was getting into a pretty melancholy phase myself, so when this showed up on the camera from a night when I snapped randomly from the car while Spotrick drove home from a dinner in town, I immediately thought of the title- derived from the song, of course:Shadow of a lonely man; and the lyrics: http://lyrics.doheth.co.uk/songs/alan-parsons-project/pyramid/shadow-of-a-lonely-man.php

Getting into June, I was going on regular walks around the neighbourhood to try to keep myself alive! therefore, a few photos emerged, although not as inspired as maybe other months. Here’s one:

Sunset through birches

I didn’t have to go far- about three steps past the front door where the birches were bare and showing weeping catkins while the sun was doing a colourful show through a bank of clouds out on the gulf.

As I got to July, I was struggling quite a bit; photography was my only therapy I think, so I chose this one:

Mandarin glass

I was trying to revive my Glass-a-day series but didn’t really get re-inspired for long- must continue that one day- perhaps today!! This is probably an indoor shot because I stayed indoors all July! Anyway, I like it!

For August, I had to scrape the bottom of the barrel for photographic inspiration as the gardens were bare nearly everywhere, our backyard was bleak and I was getting back to uni. for my Ethics course, so head buried in books compulsorily for some period each day. However, a plague of furry caterpillars forced me into the yard and provided the subject of this photo:

Hey- snack off, OK

He was furiously munching on the only ‘flower’ in the yard- the poor, beleaguered calla next to the pond/fountain. When I finished taking a few shots I squashed him thoroughly! What a heartless sadist!!

For September, there was suddenly a plethora of photographic subjects, what with all those danged flowers (sorry guys, but I figured the flower-haters will have logged off ages ago!). This photo won me today, but it could have been any of dozens:

Pure beauty

I love this photo too, because I grew the tulips and anemones from bulbs I had refrigerated in February. They were awesome, even though I say so myself!

For October, the flowery feast continued

Amazon waterlily rising

with the Amazon Waterlilies at the Botanical Gardens starting to flower properly again. Whole hoards of Adelaide people and tourists flock to this attraction- the new waterlily enclosure/glasshouse is an architectural marvel and the care that has been taken in reflecting the lily’s characteristics in the decorative details is impressive. There is one little extra pic from the home garden I’d like to include here:

Last anemone

The last of the spring bulbs was being batted at by certain felines, who were threatening to destroy it before the weather did. Luckily I got inspired enough to dash out and rescue it!

For November, I was so caught up in my Ethics classes that I didn’t get out much, so this gorgeous lady

African gorgeosity

was snapped surreptitiously at Cibo cafe while we sipped our espresso. I had to fire the camera without flash through someone’s arms and capture her mid-gesture. I think she looks terrific, despite the faulty lighting and such!

Lastly, for December, nothing much got photographed besides silly people at parties! On the 28th we had a lovely trip to the Wine Centre and Botanic Gardens, making up for the artsy deficit!

Paws paws paws

These kangaroo paw flowers (Anigozanthos), a cultivar of an unusual native plant, were blindingly brilliant in the Mediterranean Garden section of the Gardens. While I already have the December quota, the year culdn’t end without a Christmassy shot, so here you are- I love mooses!!

Chrismooses

Spotrick was horrified by the dirty windows, but it looks like snow to me!! So there we are- a year in Murf Photos. I can hardly wait for 2009!!