Leaving my garden at Casa Debbio, my wonderful villa at Vergemoli in the heart of the Tuscan Garfagnana to come home to Australia is difficult. After watching it grow in spring, planting, weeding and watering I have to leave it behind for the summer.

This year, after a late spring dotted with snow, hail and lots of rain, the garden grew like Topsy.

This is what the entrance to the house looked like at the end of winter.

This is what it looked like a few months later.

The lavender is stunning. I love to walk along the paths early in the morning with the sun shining through the plants. Before I left the flowers were almost open. One day I will be there to see them in full bloom.