Gardens of the Amalfi Coast

Discussion in 'Tropical Gardening' started by PeterS, Nov 24, 2017.

  1. PeterS

    PeterS Total Gardener

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    A little while ago I went on a wonderful holiday in Italy, entitled Gardens of the Amalfi Coast and took a few photos.

    Villa Rufolo, a 13th century merchant's villa in Ravello.

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    It quickly became apparent that Italian gardens are quite different to British ones, they rely more on views and structure, rather than the lush planting that our climate allows. This is one such stunning view. At the very bottom on the right is Sally Nex, a lovely person who was our horticultural guide for this trip. She is a freelance who writes regularly for the RHS magazine.

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    Essentially structure.

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    A courtyard within the villa.

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    And another stunning view.

    Villa Cimbrone a short distance away also in Ravello.

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    You can see what I mean about structure and views.

    Orto Botanico - Botanic Gardens of Naples

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    I have obviously left out a lot of pictures. I just wanted to give a flavour of Italian gardens, and show some exotic plants.
     
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    • CanadianLori

      CanadianLori Total Gardener

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      Very lovely @PeterS . Thanks for sharing!
       
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      • BeeHappy

        BeeHappy Total Gardener

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        @PeterS how lovely those pics are as you say such a different way of gardening, but quite stunning, especially love pics 4 and seven and no 3 would make a lovely one for the GC November photo comp:wub2: thanks for sharing:blue thumb:
         
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        • Irmemac

          Irmemac Total Gardener

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          Lovely photos, thank you.
           
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          • PeterS

            PeterS Total Gardener

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            Palazzo Reale di Caserta - outside Naples

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            The Palace (not shown) was the former Royal Palace of the bourbons and designed to outdo and be larger than Versailles. It was reputedly the largest building in 18th century Europe. This water feature is 3 kilometres long.

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            Fountains part way up.

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            And in the English garden, they had to have a ruined grotto.

            Villa Ravina - island of Ischia

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            Whilst I am not exactly a fan of cacti, this was the most impressive of all the gardens for me. The shear size of them was overwhelming.

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            Alluaudia ascendens from Madegascar can grow up to 40 feet. We were told its a very early development of cactus. The extreme heat caused cactus leaves to evolve into spines. But this plant had both leaves and spines.

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            That will keep the neighbour's kids out. :smile:

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            I loved this. Odontonema strictum from Mexico. A bush up to 6 feet from the Acanthus family.

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            A stunning view.

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            By the resturant area, we saw this. A coffee plant with beans growing.

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            Chorisia insignis from Peru and Argentina

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            Clerodendrum wallichii. I have seen this for sale in a garden centre in the UK.
             
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              Last edited: Nov 24, 2017
            • PeterS

              PeterS Total Gardener

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              La Mortella - still on Ischia - former home of William Walton

              This was a huge garden on a steep slope, with many flowering plants.

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              Caladium bicolor 'Candidum'. There are some truly spectacular Caladium about, especially the red ones. There are over 1000 cultivars. But they are tubers that go dormant and have a tendency to rot off when you try, or at least when I try, to revive them back into growth.

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              Vanda, a stunning epiphytic orchid. You can buy them in the Uk, but they are expensive and I have never had the courage for fear of killing it.

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              Aechma. The last two were growing in a greenhouse.

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              Spathoda campanulata - African Tulip Tree

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              Thunbergia grandiflora, a relative of our Black Eyed Susan (Thunbergia Alata). I showed this in the Wisley thread because of its unusual hanging racemes of flowers. I am growing it myself, but I have never seen the flowers hanging in this fashion.
               
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                Last edited: Nov 24, 2017
              • PeterS

                PeterS Total Gardener

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                Villa San Michele - island of Capri

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                Wonderful statuary

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                And views

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                Again the garden emphasis was on structure, but a couple of exotics caught my eye. Iochroma cyanea. What a fabulous colour.

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                And a Callistemon - Bottle Brush Bush.

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                And so to bed. This was our view after arriving back on the mainland from the hydrofoil.
                 
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                • pete

                  pete Growing a bit of this and a bit of that....

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                  Looks like you had a good time Peter.:blue thumb:
                   
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                  • BeeHappy

                    BeeHappy Total Gardener

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                    Agree :yes: I think both of these plants are fabulous colors :wub2:
                     
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                    • JWK

                      JWK Gardener Staff Member

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                      Super !
                       
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                      • miraflores

                        miraflores Total Gardener

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                        Beautiful pictures there. The climate is changing in Italy like everywhere else. It is becoming more rainy and snowy in the south and milder in the north. So it could be that in 10 years from now there will be a totally different
                        landscape from now!
                         
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                        • Victoria

                          Victoria Lover of Exotic Flora

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                          What an amazing, beautiful place you went to Peter ... and you appear to have had good weather to boot! Thank you for sharing your holiday with us.
                           
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                          • shiney

                            shiney President, Grumpy Old Men's Club Staff Member

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                            Lovely photos :blue thumb:

                            We were there two weeks ago looking at the archaeological sites.

                            The views from Ravello are stunning. Some years ago we were staying in Amalfi and walked up to Ravello :doh: - never again :phew:! I had to spend about an hour lying down to recover. :rolleyespink:
                             
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                            • Victoria

                              Victoria Lover of Exotic Flora

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                              Hey, Peter and The Shineys may have been crossing paths ... :hapfeet:
                               
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                              • shiney

                                shiney President, Grumpy Old Men's Club Staff Member

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                                That would have been nice but, this time, we were there to see the history and ancient sites. We went to see Herculaneum (seen Pompeii before) and it was very interesting.

                                The gardens of the Amalfi coast are good to visit but if you decide to do your own driving don't go in the height of summer! :rolleyespink:
                                 
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