Amalfi Lemons

Italian Lemons from the Amalfi Coast Region are spectacular!

Their sheer size will amaze you! Thick skinned & oversized, the lemon trees dominate the landscape. 

On the coast, these trees grow best in the black fertile soil gardens hanging over the rocky coast line. The South facing coast line give the lemons shelter from the Northern skies.  Here the lemons grow abundantly!

The Amalfi Coast is were the Italian Lemoncello is grown. Here the lemon trees had graced the landscape for over a 100 of years.

Fig Trees in Spring

As I walked the steep hills of the Amalfi Coast I found these fig trees on the side of the trail.

Bright, fresh, luscious wet Figs growing on the hillside. A sight for sore eyes, coming from the dry climate of Colorado.  They must be good and tasty when the fruits finally ripen in the summer. 

Italian Kitchen Garden

As you stroll throughout the old Italian villages your find a Kitchen Garden on most properties.

Here at the Villa Casale I found cabbages growing together with lettuce. Creating not only textures in the Garden but also effective use of space to grow vegetables.  

Of course, who wouldn't be motivated to have such a garden when the earth is black and the garden beds have been tilled for years. There is a connecting to the land.

Wisteria in Full Bloom

Strolling throughout the town of Ravello I came upon this courtyard enclosed in dripping Wisteria.

Fresh after a rain shower.  Bleeding purple color ~ in a glorious way.  Only in Italy!

April 2012, Ravello, Italy

Ravello, Amalfi Coast~Italy

The Native Garden grows anywhere. And especially in Italy were I vacationed this spring.

The view from Villa Casale in Ravello, Italy. 

Stone Pine Trees in true Italian fashion. Grown to perfection for many years.  

Standing against the Mediterranean Sea. What a sight!

Native Cacti in the Wild

I love the native textures. Here the red rock & lichen add to the textures with the cacti growing right out of the rock.  Such color should be repeated in the home garden. 

Red Rocks Trail, Morrison CO

Cacti Potted Garden

For the last 4 years I have planted flowers perennials in my pots out front. And each year the pots have dried out, failed to bring beauty to my front door.
The door faces southeast & gets grilling mid-day sun.  It is a wind sheltered & dry spot in the garden.   A HOT zone!  After learning more from my Colorado garden class I decided to plant a Cacti Garden in my pots. I turned to Kelly Grummond, the Cacti Guru at Timberline Gardens in Arvada.
He showed me his huge cacti garden out back, helped me select the colors I wanted & taught me how to make real cacti soil.  He suggested a cacti juice for feeding every 3 weeks during the first year.
My color selections were orange and yellow. I added Hens & Chicks plants to add textures to the pots as well.  It will take a few years to see the result.  But I already feel better watching the plants grow with a small amount of love.  Here's to my continued progress.

Spring Time on the Front Range

On the Mount Falcon Trail ( East Entrance) in Morrison you will encounter this fence in the bend of the trail. Throughout the Seasons the image changes.  My last shot was taken with a fresh snow & ice in January. Today the rabbitbrush was sharing it's light green color against the brown fence. 

Very pretty.

Spring has arrived.