I love my holidays but returning back to a garden that has been left to its own devices for a couple of weeks always brings me back down to earth with a bump! So rather than post something about my garden, which at the moment would be all about tidying, rescuing and falling leaves, I thought I would share some of the lovely plants and sights I came across during my trip to Sicily.
Staying near Trapani in the north west of the island we rented a room in an old farm house, set in walled grounds complete with its own vegetable garden, chickens and fruit trees. Lovely and peaceful, a quiet read under the one of the many olive trees in the garden was only interrupted by the approaching jangle of bells from the local herd of goats making their way home from a day in nearby fields. An evening meal of fresh fish bought from the market in the local town, Marsala, was supplemented by courgettes, peppers and fresh tomatoes picked from the vegetable garden. Plus there were always fresh figs for breakfast. The garden had fruit trees including lemon, orange, lime and pomegranate. Lemon verbena plants that we struggle to grow in pots here were the size of large shrubs, releasing a fresh citrus scent in the evening warmth.
Out on our travels we saw roadsides dense with wild fennel and angelica. Tall reeds bordered fields of grape vines and olive trees to protect them from any weather coming in from the Atlantic. The roads of villages and larger towns were lined with oleander and hibiscus trees in beautiful colours of pink, orange, lemon and red.
Bougainvillea in the garden of the farm house.
A beautiful frangipani tree in the garden with its lovely sweet scented flowers. The house’s handy man, Shan who is from Sri Lanka, called it a Lady tree because he said it was as beautiful as a lady! The only reference I can find to this is that in Polynesian culture, the frangipani can be worn by women to indicate their relationship status – over the right ear if seeking a relationship, and over the left if taken.
A fig tree in the garden.
Fresh courgettes and peppers for the evening BBQ!
Up in the hills gardens are scarce but local residents make beautiful courtyard gardens, growing palms, citrus tress and other ornamental plants in large terracotta pots.
A pathway lined with an aloe hedge.
Lantana is used widely in municipal planting along major roadways, often in beds at the base of hibiscus trees such as the one below.
A gorgeous Ipomoea or Morning Glory adorning a wall in the mountain town of Monreale.
Although many plants like this angelica had gone over, there was still plenty of interest – I’d never seen so many snails all in one place!
A stunning fountain the the seaside town of Marsala is shaded by weird and wonderful Banyan trees (below).
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