日本では大きな

Big in Japan. Yes indeed. Casa Margherita has entered the Japanese market. All I can say is その上をもたらす

Wild orchid

There is something about this spring that is making everything that much for prolific, verdent and healthy. 

We ripped a number of roses out of the garden earlier in the year as they hadn't been doing well for a number of years. Guess what? Fantastic year for roses. Luckily we had saved them in pots.

Libera Terra

Today I went to the local Coop which is a large Italian supermarket chain which has a policy of working with predominantly local Italian businesses wherever they have a store.

To this end it had a very good selection of local and national olive oils including one which I had read about but not previously seen. It was called Libera Terra and is produced on land confiscated from the mafia and put back into useful production. Great idea but risky work for those involved I would imagine.

Market day

Today was market day as usual in Trevi.

We met another grove owner who told us of a local saying. If May is fresh then you will fill your house up to the roof tiles with the bounty of your crops.

I very much hope this turns out to be true.

What did you do today?

Funny you should ask. I was painting a poached pear with a red wine and chocolate glaze and then taking photographs of it in the garden. First time I've done it. Never a day the same at Casa Margherita.

At this point I am unable to reveal why I was doing this but later in the year I will reveal all.

... and the shepherds watched their flocks....

The national Italian agricultural body has revealed that in the first 3 months of the year there has been 3,000 new shepherds registered.

That I find astounding as it must mean there are roughly  3,000 new flocks off sheep as well. Where has this penchant for hard animal husbandry come from. Bring a tad cynical I reckon there must be something woolly going on.

Taglia L'erba - cutting the grass

Cutting the grass in and around the garden here at Casa Margherita. Still to early in my humble opinion to do the rest of the groves the weather is still quite spring like and so run the risk of having to do all of it again.

Being over 6ft tall, fond of a laugh is this the legendary jolly green giant?

Poppies

This year is the best I think I have seen here for the poppies.