18 June 2015
Blooms and music in the Great Italian Gardens!
Dear readers,
as from now on I will personally write our newsletter and I will try to share with you not only the gardens and the events but also the people that work year in year out in the Great Italian Gardens.
The first person that comes to my mind is Alessandra Vinciguerra,Trustee of The William Walton Foundation in Ischia.
She met Susanna Walton, who had created the garden initially with the help of Russell Page, in time to understand the master plan and take over slowly. William Walton decided to live on the Island, Susanna was totally devoted to him and as many a Genius her husband was quite a difficult man. She run the house, worked full time in collecting tropical plants and after his death set up a musical foundation for Young musicians. They had no children themselves, but in a way the garden turned out to be their legacy. Susanna was a colourful energetic person, and found in Alessandra a capable gardener as well as being a fine botanist.Alessandra is a good team maker and now lives a great part of the year in Ischia, bringing La Mortella to maturity.
If you have time try and get to the venetian countryside before the weather gets too hot. Francesca Piovene runs a family estate at Orgiano, near Vicenza. The property has been in her family since 1300. Tucked away in open countryside the garden itself, begins formal and then fades off into the scenery. In the Villa, Francesca has organized a permanent exhibition on the every day life in a Venetian Villa. One of the most spectacular old kitchens and a collection of old tractors. You can often see her excorting school children herself. She had to fight relations for the property and then bring it all back to life. At the moment I'd like to sit in her orchard and contemplate the fresh fruit and vegetables, which remind me ofits original use:that of feeding family and servants when there were over 100 people working on the estate.
Thsi is this best time of year to go to see Oasi Zegna as all the Rhododrendrons are in bloom. Ermenegildo Zegna set up his wool factory in this small mountain town. His collection of Rhododendrons is quite spectacular for quantity and colour. Try there lovely small Hotel 'Bucaneve', marvellous view of the mountains and nice refreshing mountain air.
If you are off to the sea go and have lunch at Villa della Pergola in Alassio. Mrs and Mr Ricci bought the run down garden and Villa in an auction so as to avoid it being destroyed.In the 1800 Alassio was one of the most famous winter escapes,and many an English family made spectacular gardens. Thomas Hanbury had built the world famous Hanbury Gardens in Ventimiglia and his son Daniel bought the pr0operty from Virginia Woolfs' cousin. After a century the Italian Riviera went through a decline and the Ricci family therefore did not only save the garden but contrived the same passion for plants. This is the time of year to see their exceptional agapanti collection!If you are lucky the whisteria is still in full glory. The hotel is also a little museum,really top class if you feel like spoiling yourself.
Great Italian Gardens is a network, every property is completely independent, and my business is seeing to it that information gets from one owner to the next. Not a bad job after all!
as from now on I will personally write our newsletter and I will try to share with you not only the gardens and the events but also the people that work year in year out in the Great Italian Gardens.
The first person that comes to my mind is Alessandra Vinciguerra,Trustee of The William Walton Foundation in Ischia.
She met Susanna Walton, who had created the garden initially with the help of Russell Page, in time to understand the master plan and take over slowly. William Walton decided to live on the Island, Susanna was totally devoted to him and as many a Genius her husband was quite a difficult man. She run the house, worked full time in collecting tropical plants and after his death set up a musical foundation for Young musicians. They had no children themselves, but in a way the garden turned out to be their legacy. Susanna was a colourful energetic person, and found in Alessandra a capable gardener as well as being a fine botanist.Alessandra is a good team maker and now lives a great part of the year in Ischia, bringing La Mortella to maturity.
If you have time try and get to the venetian countryside before the weather gets too hot. Francesca Piovene runs a family estate at Orgiano, near Vicenza. The property has been in her family since 1300. Tucked away in open countryside the garden itself, begins formal and then fades off into the scenery. In the Villa, Francesca has organized a permanent exhibition on the every day life in a Venetian Villa. One of the most spectacular old kitchens and a collection of old tractors. You can often see her excorting school children herself. She had to fight relations for the property and then bring it all back to life. At the moment I'd like to sit in her orchard and contemplate the fresh fruit and vegetables, which remind me ofits original use:that of feeding family and servants when there were over 100 people working on the estate.
Thsi is this best time of year to go to see Oasi Zegna as all the Rhododrendrons are in bloom. Ermenegildo Zegna set up his wool factory in this small mountain town. His collection of Rhododendrons is quite spectacular for quantity and colour. Try there lovely small Hotel 'Bucaneve', marvellous view of the mountains and nice refreshing mountain air.
If you are off to the sea go and have lunch at Villa della Pergola in Alassio. Mrs and Mr Ricci bought the run down garden and Villa in an auction so as to avoid it being destroyed.In the 1800 Alassio was one of the most famous winter escapes,and many an English family made spectacular gardens. Thomas Hanbury had built the world famous Hanbury Gardens in Ventimiglia and his son Daniel bought the pr0operty from Virginia Woolfs' cousin. After a century the Italian Riviera went through a decline and the Ricci family therefore did not only save the garden but contrived the same passion for plants. This is the time of year to see their exceptional agapanti collection!If you are lucky the whisteria is still in full glory. The hotel is also a little museum,really top class if you feel like spoiling yourself.
Great Italian Gardens is a network, every property is completely independent, and my business is seeing to it that information gets from one owner to the next. Not a bad job after all!
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Flowers can be cut but nobody will arrest the spring.- Pablo Neruda - |
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