The Italian Gardener

The scents of Freesias in springtime are like the first kisses of ones life. The scent is fresh, exhilarating, and filled with energy. The scent of Freesias really cannot be imitated perfectly by perfumers, although they are very good at …

Spring arrives quite early in Southern California, and I am always excited when I feel the new welcome warmth and the smell of the newly turned earth. So, I have planted some cool to warm weather vegetables that are growing …

All of us want to preserve and continue our culture, and parts of that culture include the plants that our countrymen knew and appreciated. We preserve our Italian-Sicilian culture through our wonderful art, literature, music, and cuisine, so why shouldn’t …

Spring is coming to an end, and Italy celebrates the last days of the season with the traditional flower art festivals called Infiorate. From Sicily to Lazio and Umbria, up to Emilia-Romagna and Liguria, skilled and creative artists use flowers …

The hottest days of summer are almost here, and the tomatoes are setting fruits; it is important now to water, fertilize, and stake the plants so that they will bear over a long period of time. Water is essential, but …

Milan Expo is happening and there are many chances to learn especially about Italy its food. According to Coldiretti, the Italian agriculture is today one of the ‘greenest’, most sustainable, and safest in Europe. Indeed, Italy produces 35% less greenhouse …

Walking up the gentle hills to the Villa Borghese one has an immediate recollection of Respighi’s music that evokes images and feelings of the same place. Respighi had the pines of Pincio and the Villa Borghese in the core of …

Capri, Sorrento, and Amalfi have agreed to disagree on the birthplace of Limoncello. Its unique, inimitable flavor has become one of Italy’s biggest culinary traditions in the world, with the global market for limoncello continuously expanding.    From the sunny …

Good gardeners always prepare for what the future will bring them. Now is the time to prepare for those succulent asparagus spears that will appear in the spring. Of course, you can grow asparagus from seed but that will take …

Fall is here and winter is about to begin, so it is time to go a bit inward, and what better way to do so than to grow some Italian herbs indoors. I have chosen mint, oregano, and thyme because …