Living in San Giorgio di Pesaro and Kingston

Our orto (vegetable patch) is very small scale compared to most ortos in San Giorgio. But it has now been planted and we can look fowarded to corgettes, cucumbers, tomatoes, peppers and lettuce. The basil still has to be planted.

Our clematis amandii is in full flower and has been commented on by neighbours. We were in London last week for a few days and went to a garden centre where a new variety of clematis was for sale – clematis avalanche. We saw it in two different garden centres but decided not to buy in case it got damaged in the case. This new variety, is, like armandii white, everygreen but its leave is smaller and looks like an oak leaf. There is a spot in the garden which would be perfect for it. So decided to check on the internet and were pleased to find a nursery in Italy that is selling it. Ordered it – 23 euros including postage. This morning went to our local “garden centre” il cortile – sells animal food, vases, compost and lots of vegetable plants as gardening here is vegetable oriented. There are also a few shrubs. In the midst of the few shrubs was Clematis avalanche – 17 euros. 

A week ago there was a stunning, sunny Spring day. It has been followed by a miserable, wet, cold week. But the weather forecasters assured us, and got it right, that Sunday would be sunshine all day. So perhaps spring is here. Certainly, the flowers in our garden seen to think so. Unfortunately, so do the weeds.

After falling from the ladder in October while collecting the olives I have been relegated to the role of “official photographer” for the start of the olive pruning season. Last year we did a superficial prune but this year Bill is going to prune hard. He has bought a long handled saw and a flat cap to ensure he does a good job.

This year we should have a bumper olive harvest. Unfortunately the olives are not very big so the quantity of oil may be bumper. The good news is that they are free from the holes left by the olive fly. This should mean good quality oil.

Today, Sunday, we have had a real downpour. Marks end of Summer or that we have decided to start painting the house. Good news for our garden. Most of our cuttings have survived and so next year can plant out more lavender, teucrium, caryopteris etc.

The tree Ailanthus Altissima is called the tree of paradise here in the Marche. It is a pest as it seeds and suckers everywhere. I have now obtained “Roundup 450” which should kill it. This herbide is 4 times stronger than Tumbleweed. Problem is that it is sold in litre bottles and is aimed at a farmer’s market i.e. suitable for spraying on hectares (10,000 sq metres). From my calculations 10ml is sufficient for my garden.