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Back to Italy!

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The final garden we visited isn’t on an island, it’s high on a peninsula so you still get lovely lake views from between the trees.

The gardens at Villa Taranto were created by a Scotsman, Captain Neil McEarcharn, back in the 1930s. He bought the villa and the 15 hectares of headland, and transformed it with rare trees and planting. He gave it to the Italian State so that his work could continue, and he died at the villa back in the 1950s. His garden is a testament to his dedication.

As you go in, each side of the path has formal bedding and perfect grass borders. They provide you with a much-needed map of the gardens, as there are several routes you can take. Having been before, we aimed at the tree fern glade.

They’re very impressive and very healthy!On past a fountain flanked by beautiful Colocasias. I wish I could grow these – espcially the dark-leaved ones.

The fountain is at the far end of a memorial avenue, leading to a mausoleum where Captain McEarcharn is (fittingly) buried.You aren’t allowed to walk along the avenue of perfect sward, but you can reach the mausoleum via a path.

Past some very exotic plants, including Hibiscus and Bouganvillea, to the highlight of the garden in early autumn – a Dahlia Maze.

One of many Hibiscus.

Bouganvillea and bananas.

The Dahlia maze is a long zig-zag path between hundreds of Dahlias in rows – so many different ones from all the classes of Dahlias.

I picked out a couple of perfect flowers out of the thousands!

There are several paths to take, but we went uphill to see the waterlily ponds and the huge pool of Lotus flowers. They had all but finished flowering, but there was just one bloom left – I hadn’t ever seen a Lotus flower before. I ws imagining the pool, covered in beautiful blooms – it must have been quite a sight.

Across the formal lily ponds to another view to the mountains.

One of the beautiful waterlilies in the pond.

My favourite!

In the garden, the micro-climate allows them to grow succulents all year round.

At the top of the hill, there’s an Italian garden. It’s very formal, but also very colourful and perfectly tended – including that smooth sward – so unlike my lawns.

A bronze statue of a fisherboy overlooks the view.

What else is there to see? So many rare trees from all corners of the globe… and all labelled, too.

Photos of this group of palm trees are used to advertise the garden. They do look spectacular against the sky.

This is the other end of the memorial avenue.

Round every corner you see lovely imaginative planting.

I was very taken with this white border. Coleus was used a lot for bordering the paths, too.

And all round the garden, you spot plants and trees that aren’t grown in the UK – well, not outside and all the year round, anyway!

Brugmansia

Solanum

Bananas

All the time, you can catch glimpses of Lake Maggiore and what a wonderful place it was to spend the day. I hope you enjoyed the trip, too!

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Comments

 

Oh Barbara! what a place! I can't say I'm a fan of the formal plantings and bedding, but it does suit the place...but that blue water-lily...wow...wow. That is so beautiful. That Scotsman knew what he was doing going to live there did he not? What a place...the views...incredible. Really is a picture of heaven for me! :)

2 Oct, 2013

 

btw, your photos are wonderful. :)

2 Oct, 2013

 

enjoy!!! thank you...

2 Oct, 2013

 

Lovely blog and I agree about the blue water lily, it's just perfect :o)

2 Oct, 2013

 

My goodness what a lovely blog. I am so jealous. It looks like a wonderful place to visit.

2 Oct, 2013

bik
Bik
 

I liked blue water lilies too. favorate colour.

2 Oct, 2013

 

Simply amazing, what a place, no wonder you love going there, I would not want to come home, you have taken some superb photographs Barbara, thank you, loved them all.

2 Oct, 2013

 

It is indeed - a magical place. I'm so glad you all enjoyed going there with me for a short while.

3 Oct, 2013

 

great blog and pictures,it all looks wonderful:)))

3 Oct, 2013

 

just what I needed after today's fiasco. Thank you so much for cheering me up with such sunny views.

3 Oct, 2013

 

You're welcome. Sorry you had a bad day. xx

4 Oct, 2013

 

Enjoyed these so much - thank you for taking the great photos - you'll enjoy looking at them again later on too.

4 Oct, 2013

 

I'm sure I will, Steragram...especially when it rains here.

5 Oct, 2013

 

spectacular - and what gorgeous nature backdrops. I'm not a particular fan of formal planting either, but these are - wow

6 Oct, 2013

 

They are pretty spectacular, Fran. 'Wow' is a good word. The beds look 'right' in that particular setting.

7 Oct, 2013

 

context is everthing. what's ideal for one space would look abusrd in another - lol, like having a maze in an average back garden!

7 Oct, 2013

 

Very true.

8 Oct, 2013

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