La Foce

June 20, 2020June 21, 2020 / get back, laurettadimmick / Leave a comment

La Foce, or “the mouth” of the Orcia river, in the beautiful Val d’Orcia, Toscana. If there is a more beautiful place on earth, I’ve yet to find it.

Created by Iris Origo and her husband, this incredible formal Italian garden is set amidst the rugged Crete senesi. This was my second visit, but I know there will be more visits in the future. Last time I was there, it was late summer and the earth and foliage was rather brown. This time, after the rains we have been getting, it was vibrantly green. It is beautiful in any season.

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https://www.lafoce.com/it/

The Boboli Gardens are open again!

May 30, 2020May 29, 2020 / get back, laurettadimmick / Leave a comment

Florence was beautiful this week, with sunny skies and warm temperatures. On a beautiful day in May a friend and I enjoyed the reopened Boboli.

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That’s a real turtle! At first we thought it was a statue in bronze. But, it moved!

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Harvesting saffron in Italy

May 17, 2020May 12, 2020 / get back, laurettadimmick / Leave a comment

The iris are blooming at the English Cemetery in Florence

May 9, 2020May 9, 2020 / get back, laurettadimmick / Leave a comment

This is the season in which the iris blooms. Alas, we are at the beginning of Phase 2 here in Italy and can’t enter spaces like the English cemetery or the Boboli Gardens yet. Still, I wanted to have a look, even from the outside.

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Bye, sweet place. I’ll be back to see you soon from the inside as well!

Japan in bloom

May 2, 2020November 20, 2019 / get back, laurettadimmick / Leave a comment

Random moments of Florentine beauty

April 18, 2020April 17, 2020 / get back, laurettadimmick / Leave a comment

Some of these are of course from the archives. Nobody would believe that Florence’s Piazza Santa Annunziata would be filled with people in April of 2020. If it were, the police would soon be there!

But, from 20 years ago or so, I found this wonderful picture of the piazza during a plant exhibition of some kind. Sigh. :-))

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Sometimes, you just need a fresh look at an old friend. How about the one below: the pavement of Florence’s Duomo. Wow.

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A recent drone overview of the beautiful Duomo. In shots like this, you realize just how small Florence is. See the Piazza della Repubblica to the left.

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And a recent shot from the arbored passerella near my apartment. I love wisteria so much!

La mia passerella piccola, con glicine fantastico

April 11, 2020April 9, 2020 / get back, laurettadimmick / Leave a comment

Oggi:

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Wisteria in full bloom!

April 10, 2020April 9, 2020 / get back, laurettadimmick / Leave a comment

On my walks to run errands, I was happy to pass by not only my usual wisteria spotting on the passerella, but additional flourishes in my neighborhood. What a season!

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And, a second location: the local high school:

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I wistfully think of the Giardino Bardini, which must be alive with wisteria blossoms right now. After the quarantine ends, I shall high-tail it over there to see my favorite spot in Florence. :-))