Greetings from Italy

As a new "member" - Greetings fellow gardeners - I live in the North of Italy in the foothills of the Alps around 430mts above sea level. A charming unspoilt historical town of abt 7000 folk overlooked by a fantastic "Sacro Monte" being a "copy of everthing that happened in Jerusalem constructed around the 15th century - well worth visiting- We have a very good Mayor who has brought the town back to life - He also keeps it clean, brightly lit at night and well organized
I have just re-started gardening having moved from a house with garden to an appartment - BUT my luck was in when, at in May 2009 a friend lent me a large allotment for an indefinite period and I am in the process of constructing a greenhouse with poly tubes etc etc. having grown a fair amount of spuds plus a few other bits and pieces last year albeit a late start.
It is always quite cold in this neck of the woods but also DRY which - as an ex-pat from Melrose & Selkirk in Scotland I find very nice. I have been here 35+ years so reckon I will stay here now.
Any queries on Italy I could try to answer if somebody asks.

 

Hello Varallo

I'm new here too - just finding my feet around here - you sound as if you live somewhere very picturesque.

 

Hi there and Welcome from snowy and cold Canada.

 

Hi and welcome from me in Norfolk!

 

Hi and welcome to GC

 

Thanks to Wiseoldowl,Leavesnbloom,PennyinOntario,Jazmine and Lollipop all being in Bolton,Norfolk,Ontario,Perthshire and Kent --- Good mixture !!
I do Live in varallo and yes it is a very picturesque spot ... motoring up to us one gets a great view of the snow covered Alps. The view from our wee "mountain" (Sacromonte - which is connected to the town by a steep cablecar) - overlooking the town, is of the river Sesia meandering through the tree covered valley - which is in fact also known as the Green valley (Valleverde) the tap-water is super and is in fact is bottled under the name valverde just 5 kms from here.
Textiles is the main industry (suffering at the moment) and much cashmere is woven here - Mainly by a company called Loro Piana although the well known mill Ermenegildo Zegna is just 20kms west of our valley - There is always something going on here ... Now that Christmas is past everybody is getting ready for Carnival - We have a very comfy and nicely appointed theatre in the middle of town that seats 300 folk. However,anybody wishing to know more .... there is a very comprehensive site in English (by a lady in USA who lived in Milan) and it is
http://www.varallo-sesia.com

Ciao a tutti

Nick

 

Hi!! Sounds lovely where you are- have been to Italy once only to my Uncles village Roio del sangro (I think) I loved it over there. What sort of plants thrive where you are?

 

Hi Bunslip,
Your Uncle's village in Abruzzo is typical of many small villages all over Italy where the original population worked on the land with the help of horses, cows, goats, rabbits and so on ... now no longer desired by the younger generation hence the continual population decrease and in some instances the whole way down to zero.

The village is higher (850mts asl) than ours (430mts asl) but positioned much further south so much warmer !!

I cannot give you much idea of what grows in my patch as have only had a short season last year ...So far Spuds ok as well as Rhubarb and poms & other bits and pieces. I have planted a lot of daff bulbs this autumn so that should make a nice show in the spring and the only other things in the ground are a lot of garlic bulbs... .. this coming year will be interesting although they tell me the ground will not unthawitself until March !!! I look forward to the obvious friendliness and enthusiasm of Gardeners corner folks to help me through my first real season !!!

I also have got erected and sitting waiting for a cover a tubular PVC greenhouse... 8.50 mts long and 3.20 mts wide so that will present a good challenge ... firstly to get the right poly covering up and correct then to find out what I can grow inside etc etc
Cheers,
Nick