2013 Gardens on the go

Here in Tuscany the seasons have had a strange uneven flow of late and many plants have gone into a state of confusion, to blossom or not to blossom this is the dilemma.  

The last few weeks have been taken up by planting thousands of spring bulbs, Narcissus, aliums, crocus, iris, tulips you name them we've dug the holes for them.  The nursery garden is full of trays and pots and we are awaiting the arrival of our new poly tunnel.

In December our latest garden design project in Tuscany kicked off with a flurry of activity.  We are now in mid flow of creating a relaxed family garden designed to deter wasps, bees and other stingers as the family are extremely allergic.  We are introducing meandering gravel paths, hidden corners in which to sit and relax, flower borders beneath the trees and a covered eating area.  A large semi circle of neutral toned gravel has given the old Tuscan Farmhouse a welcoming entrance and we are introducing raised beds for veggis and herbs which have been handcrafted from chestnut timber poles.

The garden is taking on a whole new identity one that draws you in to different spaces and entices you to explore.

Our wonderful tree surgeon Oscar and his assistant Stefano have just completed a chestnut pergola for a woodland cottage in Pescia and also created a bespoke handcrafted wrought iron balustrade.  We love including artisan or one-off designs in our garden projects as they give the outside space a unique quality.  Next up on the list is a 'Alice in Wonderland' style tree-house constructed from natural timber, no straight lines here!  We are building this tree house with the idea that it will last for generations and still appeal to teenagers and adults alike.

When not working in a client's garden I'm pouring over seed catalogues for a little indulgence as I have just started an orto in our own garden here near Siena.  I also hope to create a small formal kitchen/herb garden or 'witches' garden as they are known here.

A few images from Bella Terra's gardens this winter...

 

 

Rules and Regs Tuscan Style

Working in Tuscany is a joy but there are elements of this work that can prove tricky.  Take permissions for example, what might seem like a simple gardening job can turn into a legal nightmare if you don't seek the legal permissions and conduct a survey.

Whilst we have worked on projects in several different regions of Tuscany there are no set rules, each Commune will have its own structure for obtaining permissions therefore we always advise seeking the help of an experienced local Geometra.

Things to consider when planning a garden and checking for permissions include:

• Boundaries
• Rights of Way
• Access
• Heights of Garden Structures
• Ground Moving activities
• Pergola Designs - with or without a covers
• Materials - local suppliers
• Water Courses - above and below ground
• Protected environments
• Communal Use
• Visibility from other Communes and Churches

Phew, yes it is a bit of a minefield and well worth checking out all queries with an expert before undertaking larger landscaping work.  I always work with nature rather than against her and this is vital in Tuscany with such wildly variable climates and I try create harmonious gardens that sit well within the environment.  Taking this approach and using locally sourced natural materials will always prove beneficial when seeking legal permissions for gardening work.

For more info on planning a Tuscan Garden call Sharon on: 334 599 5702

All go in the Tuscan Garden

Here the temperature has picked up as has the humidity, we are watering our gardens regularly and mulching furiously, the climbing roses are at their most beautiful and our vines are taking off at speed.  Here are a few pics from our garden near Siena, Italy.

Little forest strawberries -a gardener's treat

New Dawn - so delicate

Cherries in the making

English Rose

Basil in pots

Scruffy but very healthy strip of veg

Mosiac Reflections

Pots of colour

Passion Flower zooming up

Sunbathing

Magical Mulch

As per my previous post, I am totally overwhelmed by the effects mulching can have.  The gardens we work on have been transformed by careful and ongoing mulching.  Baron patches of dry earth are now fertile and accommodating beds, weed strewn gardens have evolved into rich healthy and pleasant environments.  So please, please take note, if you want your garden to thrive then consider a permaculture inspired route, simple, practical with outsanding results.

And lastly, our weeping cherry has given birth overnight to huddled masses of white blossom, beautiful, we have been watching the tree daily and she has literally burst into flower overnight, maybe the rather impressive full moon has had some effect?

Get down and dirty in Tuscany

Wow - yes I truly believe spring is here. The Cherry Tree is positively a burst with rosy glowing buds, spring bulbs are pushing their way into the fresh air with gladiator like vigour and every hour of the day our passionflower is twirling its way onwards and upwards over its new arbour.

As spring arrives here in Tuscany life gets busy in the garden both in the veg patch and in amongst the flower beds. This season our garden has a wholly more healthy appearance every single plant has a sheen, a strength and an urgency to thrive. Romantic as I may be even I know that the reason the fruit, vegetable and flowers are so bursting with life is not simply because they are alive in Tuscany, the reason goes deeper, much deeper, literally.

Pots brimming with homemade compost / mulch

Mulch, the magic word. One often reserved for allotment holders in the UK but in all seriousness mulch is without a doubt the answer to many Tuscan gardeners dreams. Tuscany is so varied, from rolling hills to glass sided mountains, from the arid beaches to alpine pastures, Tuscany has no 'standard' climate. To grow things we love and enjoy in every sense here in Italy requires patience and hard work. In high summer we need to give water and provide shade, in winter we have to protect from the freezing mountain winds and sudden dramatic ice storms. However, there are some very simple steps that can be taken to give our gardens here in Tuscany a helping hand and which will bring joy to those who simply love to grow things.




Homemade compost or for use as mulch

 Muching is easy, it is simple and it is utterly miraculous. Most areas of land in this part of Italy require attention in terms of creating an environment where plants can thrive. Although a firm believer in planting plants that are native or suitable to there natural surroundings, the effect that feeding the soil can have is literally and physically ground breaking. Although the dictionary term mulching means “to provide a protective covering of organic material laid over the soil around plants to prevent erosion, retain moisture, and sometimes enrich the soil” it is a whole lot simpler than that. Mulching is a slow but utterly efficient way of enriching and enlivening the ground.


Let’s not complicate the issue, most organic waste will feed your garden, it can aerate, feed and add nutrients to your chosen patch. Mulching can strengthen flowering plants helping them fight disease, it will give your vegetables, herbs and fruit the kind of growing power only seen in the likes of books and ultimately give you the encouragement needed to continue growing in what can be challenging terrain.


Whether you have a small terrace and are growing a few herbs in pots or are fortunate enough to have space to grow a variety of plants the benefits of mulching are the same. 
Once you have decided to embark on this wonderful and addictive path you must first get used to collecting large cardboard boxes. Yes that is right, you want to collect as many large sheets of cardboard as possible, Bakers and Supermarkets will all discard these and just before bin day you will find lots of lovely cardboard near recycling bins. Scoop these up as quick as you can and take them home.

Secondly you need to clear the soon to be mulched area of weeds and plants the very best you can, you do not need to break your back doing this but the clearer the area the better.

Now lay the cardboard across the soil covering every area you can, do not leave any space for light to get through. Weight down the cardboard with stones or logs, OK it will look rather untidy, but not for long. Once the garden, pots, allotment or veg patch are covered with cardboard the weeds underneath will be starved of light and start to die. In the meantime you will be getting to grips with collecting all organic waste, better known as composting.

Having a large comport bin close to your kitchen will mean you are able to really give your garden the best support you can. Everything from eggshells to potato peelings, teabags and coffee granules can all be disposed of in the compost bin, combine this will ample grass cuttings and brown stuff such as chopped up twigs and leaves (not pine however) and you will start to have a rather stunning compost. Really get into a routine of saving your organic waste and using your composting bin and, if you are really feeling brave feed it when you can with a bit of pee which helps the breakdown the waste. After a while you will notice how the compost is starting to turn into just that ‘compost’ a rich fertile and life giving mulch. As soon as your beds, or patch are covered in your cannily collected cardboard you can start layering grassing cuttings and dried leaves on top, the layers of mulch start to feed the ground beneath and act as protective layer, storing moisture. Once your compost bin is starting to contain broken down organic matter this too can be placed on top of the cardboard, and so the rhythm continues, the more mulch you apply to the garden the more rich the soil beneath becomes, you also now have beds that you no longer need to dig, a miracle in itself. You then simply plant through the mulch, dig small holes for you plants and then watch them thrive, yes you will find the odd renegade weed appearing but mostly you will not need to dig or weed heavily and your young plants will be given the very best environment in which to thrive.



In brief, mulching will become a way of life one that saves you hours of watering, digging and weeding. Mulching your Tuscan garden will mean that you are able to grow wider varieties of plants, ones you love to eat, enjoy the summer scents of and ones that simply enhance your environment. Working with nature and supporting it is what Tuscans have done for centuries, with a little lateral thinking we can all enjoy the romanticism of Italian gardens with allot less of the toil and struggle.

Summer Blooms

Some results of our hard work this year...

The Magic of Tuscany

Welcome to Bella Terra Garden Design, the Italian Gardener's blog and country diary. A space to gather ideas, gain inspiration and enjoy a shared passion for creating and enjoying Tuscan gardens. Here I hope to give you a real flavour for life in Tuscany, growing plants that nourish the body, feed the senses and restore the soul. Gardens that bear fruit, offer rejuvenation, heal the mind or simply enrich your life. The tranquil and uplifting scent of lavender, the heady aroma of sweet jasmine, the vibrant colours of the oleanders and the distant shadows of the cypress trees all go to make up the palette of this magical land.