Captivating Como

For the last 10 days I have been on holiday in Italy. It is a beautiful country and I spent the first part of my holiday at Varenna recognised as the prettiest village on Lake Como. Lake Como is stunning, dotted with villas along the lakeside and also up the hillside. The weather was very warm so the lake water was a beautiful sky blue.

Views of the Lake.

There are many boats that offer trips to the villages around the Lake

Blue water and wooded hills, natural beauty

Looking down the lake beyond Varenna from Castello di Vezio

Varenna

Morning mist

Looking along the lake from Castello di Vezio

An agave growing in the garden at the Villa Monastero in Varenna. It is strange to see cactus growing outdoors.

Not a touchy feely plant

Fruit ripens on the orange trees in the hot sunshine.

Fresh oranges

The grapefruit need more sun to turn them yellow.

Bring me sunshine

This strange fungus was on the path as we walked around the gardens. 

It almost looks like a door knob

At Lenno we visited Villa del Balbianello previously owned by the entrepreneur and explorer Guido Monzino who bequeathed the house and contents to the FAI Foundation. The villa rises up on a promontory of the lake and it is the only villa where you can view the lake from three sides. The house and gardens are wonderful.

Amazing

A pretty butterfly found on our walk in the gardens.

Only tiny but very attractive

The Villa Carlotta is regarded as the prettiest villa on the Lake.

Look at the proportions of the villa complete with grand entrance steps and a clock on the roof

In the grounds of the Villa Melzi at Bellagio is a beautiful blue pavilion with stunning views looking up and down the lake.

I could have sat here all day watching the world go by

Como is situated at the end of the lake and is very attractive. 

The Duomo in Como

I saw this toy racing car in a shop in Como.

Brum, brum

A beautiful sunset over the lake seen from our hotel balcony.

Stunning

Summer in Scarborough

Last weekend I spent a few days in Scarborough in North Yorkshire. It is a place I went on holiday to as a child and also took my children on holiday to so it has many happy memories.

There are still two cliff lifts in operation. This is the view going down to the beach.

Early in the morning before the day trippers arrive

Scarborough castle always stands out well on the skyline.

Look at the arrangement of the houses

There are chalets for hire at the north and south bays. At one time these were in disrepair but now they have all been restored back to their original splendour.

Beach chalets for hire, complete with cooking facilities and deckchairs and a sea view to die for

Seaweed, soft sand and rock pools make a perfect beach.

Watch your step

This lion is keeping guard on Filey beach.

Just lioning around

You can see the white cliffs of Flamborough Head from Filey beach.

Move over the white cliffs of Dover

Pretty metal flowers for sale in a shop.

Like a bird on a wire

I love these two swimmers.
Bill.

Now then anyone for a dip?

Betty.

Is that a rubber ring or a spare tyre?

Look at this old milestone.

How many miles to...

These two gargoyles were in Hexham Abbey museum. 

Look at the detail

Simplistic and stylised

Back at home the farmers are making hay when the sun shines.

Round bales

You can see the fields that have been cut for haylage as you look across towards the Solway from Hartside.

How many different field colours can you see?

You can just see the Scottish hills in the distance

Britain in Bloom

On Monday the Artful Garden had a visit from the Britain in Bloom judges. They very much enjoyed all the artwork and had their photos taken amongst the scarecrows pretending to be scarecrows themselves. Luckily the weather stayed dry as we have had two very hot days this week and we are now back to rain.

I made some new artwork for the visit. Large paper flowers. I perfected the design from when I made them before for Cumbria in Bloom. It is difficult to keep the flower shape when competing with the rain.

Flower power greets you as approach Kirkoswald

I made a variety of flowers in plant pots to hang from the flower tree.

Crazy Maisie basking in the sun next to the flower tree

Flowers made from garden wire, string, straws, milk bottle tops and pom poms.

Daisy wireisus

Made from silver wire, straws and bottle caps.

Daisy metalisus

A wooden birdhouse which I have designed and made.

Home alone

A flock of hens arrived in the garden. Two French inspired hessian hens, a rare breed that I have recently made.

Now let's get the pecking order established

Oh la la I have just flown in from the Pyrenees

A straw hen arrived and took up residence next to the willow pheasant.

Clucking good

Bluebells are just appearing in the hedgerows.

Dainty blue bells

The purple vetch looks very pretty.

A lovely mix of colours

The verges are pink with rosebay willowherb.

Pink fronds

Purple wild scabious floats in the breeze.

Purple pom poms

I have pink and blue cornflowers growing in the wildflower bed in the orchard.

I love the colour and shape of cornflowers

A sign of summer meadows

The white daisies are thriving.

Golden button centres

It has been a good year for poppies. Their fragility and colour is always so appealing.

Vibrant

My wild flowers are growing well in the allotment wheelbarrow.

A riot of colour

I have picked my first lot of runner beans. There should be plenty more to follow that I can make into Runner Bean Pickle. 

Delicious