Italian gardening

Our Italian garden was looking gorgeous when we arrived in Lazio as was the surrounding countryside with lots of trees in full blossom and wild flowers everywhere.  For the first time I discovered that our two wisteria plants are different colours, a pink and a blue. I must have only seen one in blossom before and I'd never realised that they have such a wonderful perfume.  Italian friends will tell you they give you a headache, I'll take the risk.

Out came the cement mixer as Mr F pressed on with the external landscaping, before we left he moved these two large and heavy troughs into position and I sowed a selection of annuals that I hope to enjoy when we return. 

It's a pleasure to garden in Italy especially after such a miserable winter in Scotland, you can practically see things growing in the wonderful climate,  it all happens so quickly.  I moved the 12 tomato plants that we bought for 2 euro into larger pots and left them already flowering outside.  Mr FF rigged up some support and an irrigation system for them and the other pot plants that we left on the lower shelf, we've crossed our fingers they'll be OK and the pipe won't blow off or some other disaster occur.

He also finished crazy paving the area outside out back door, a big improvement.  He hated doing it but our friendly village tiler/plasterer wasn't available and we wanted to leave the place reasonably tidy. 
It was a shock to come back to Scotland and find our trees still without leaves and a generally brown and bare garden after so much colour, but at least I didn't miss the daffodils and if it stays as cold as it is now they are going to last well.  You have to look at the positives.