Time Out To Enjoy the Garden

The sun is setting which is a good indication that our workday is over. Our studios have become too dark to push a brush around the canvas and the shadows in the garden have become long.

I recall reading the wisdom of the garden writer, researcher & professor Allan Armitage reminding us all to put down our garden tools and enjoy our gardens. We take his advice on this perfect summer evening and ignore the weeds and the hose not put away, take off the garden gloves, and spend time in the garden.......with a cocktail, but of course!

This lovely red drink is an Americano.......more about this as our walk continues, but first the garden.

Borgo Pinti Garden

Our garden is made up of a number of individual garden areas which we have assigned names to. We did this for our own convenience to distinguish between the areas when we are discussing them. To the western side of the house is the 'Borgo Pinti Garden', named for a street in Florence where there is a hidden garden that we borrowed ideas for this design. The pea stone paths announce each footstep as we move slowly through this shady garden.

Squirt's Garden

Sipping our drinks we continue our evening stroll south along the path to the front terrace to view a distant mountain that remains fully in the light of the day's sun. Again, we take time to watch as the shadows begin to slowly rise up the mountain. The citrus aroma of the apertivo pairs well with the warm setting sun!

We enter a garden in re-creation. Formerly a rose garden.... that is until I could no longer deal with blackspot and the disgusting hordes of Japanese Beetles every season. We knew that the roses had to go. The next part of this re- creating experience was the question of what to do next. I will say that it was a difficult decision to part with the roses from this garden. Roses remain in other areas, but for the past decade this was a garden dedicated to roses.

We are home cooks so an herb garden seemed like a logical and delicious direction to go in. It would be an apothecary garden of sorts with medicinal, ornamental and culinary herbs. Hmmmm......a sudden inspiration!

This plan changed, thank goodness it was only on paper, after a return visit to Tuscany and the

garden at La Foce in May. Simplify and take a lesson from this Tuscan garden. Create space and edges with boxwood, cypress and lavender. Well, unfortunately we cannot have the cypress, but the box yes, and lavender we already have established.

Once home from Italy we planted sixty young boxwood that will in the future create a low hedge to delineate the edges of 'Squirts Garden'. The area around the pool is planted with herbs, so we did not entirely do away with that earlier plan.

The two Adirondack chairs that are on the freshly cut lawn. We sit back and notice what seems to be hundreds of dragonflies circling over the meadow just to our left. It is quite an amazing site like a dance, whirling and swirling as they fly in and out of this cosmic rotation. A few pass overhead as they exit the arena. Nature is staging this magnificent show here in our garden and we are the audience so fortunate to see it.

(Allan Armitage, you are so right... take time to enjoy the garden)

As the dragon flies migrate towards the lower field we return to the lavender walk which in June is a haze of fragrant blue violet, but now that color has quieted and two unique daylilies call attention to themselves by their form and colors.

Shadows are growing longer.....we walk on to another Italy inspired garden that is called by us 'The Aurelian Garden'.

We walk down the granite steps into the Aurelian Garden. A weed is spotted, we both ignore it,resist, resist! Quickly we move across the pea stone to the iron benches. We watch the shadows draw out long as in a Surrealist painting. It is perfectly silent once we stop walking.

On a stay at the American Academy in Rome, we had the opportunity to linger and draw in their illustrious and grand garden at the Villa Aurelia at the top of the Janiculum Hill.

We repurposed our terraced area from a garden we saw in that Rome garden. The Rome garden was based on a chequered parterre pattern with alternating lemon trees. No lemon trees here.... but our scaled down interpretation uses boxwood with lilacs on standards.

Returning up the stairs, we notice the mountain is now in shadow save for a streak of sunlight at its's peak, soon to fall into darkness as well.

With little but orange slices remaining in our glasses it is time to cook dinner...

..But before we forget first a little about this cocktail or apertivo as it is called in Italy.

The Americano is a favorite apertivo whether in our garden or in Italy served ice cold. An apertivo is meant to slow the day and prepare the palate for dinner. The classic and a few variations on the recipe.

Americano

1 oz. Campari

1 oz. Rosso Antico ( sweet vermouth)

1oz. soda water ( club soda)

slice of orange

James' Americano

1oz. Campari

1 oz. sweet vermouth

3 oz. club soda

a squeeze of orange

slice of orange

For a bigger blast...... try a Negroni

1 oz Campari

1 oz. sweet vermouth

1oz. gin

orange slice

(sometimes a squeeze of lemon on rim of glass)

a little lighter without gin and bubbly.... Negroni Sbagliato (negroni wrong)

1oz. Campari

1 oz. sweet vermouth

1oz. prosecco

orange slice

When we are in Panicale ( Umbria) we start our day with a cappuccino or caffe latte

at Bar Gallo. Every day begins this way. Aldo engages James in conversation. Daniella always remembers a little sprinkle of cacao to my cappuccino. Friends and familiar faces are around, Katia and Massimo are always there with their young children, as are their parents, uncles, aunts etc. They all stand at the bar with their espressos. Artist friends and new acquaintances are seated outside. This is a warm and friendly gathering place and the coffee and 'tall drinks' are splendid.

Later in the day... 6:30 or 7:00 we often stop here for an apertivo before dinner.

It could be prosecco, a Negroni or an Americano.

I have learned to order an Americano cocktail...... twice in Rome I ordered an Americano and was served coffee, American style!

Here at Bar Gallo Aldo makes a perfect Americano cocktail . Here we sit an enjoy the piazza and the people before dinner.

Back in our garden......

The morning will bring a new day with plenty of time to pull weeds, water and plant another row of arugula.......but for now I am happy we have taken the time to spend time with the garden.

James suggests we do this again tomorrow. I agree.

BUON FERRAGOSTO!!!!!!

Note: Allan Armitage is a Professor at the University of Georgia, Athens. He is a garden expert, lecturer, and is the author of several books on the subject of gardening.

BRINGING A BIT OF ROME BACK HOME TO THE GARDEN

A Garden at the Villa Aurelia, Rome

What a surprise when we turned a corner into the courtyard of the Villa Aurelia and saw these amazing 5' squares of grass and white marble chips. Each pot contained a perfectly sculpted tree on a standard (in the next weeks replaced by lemon trees).

Our first thought was, "can this be done back home?' Hmmmmmmmm!

To the Drawing Board

That night, at the Academy, we drew plans suited for our existing terrace garden which was in transition and needed a change. Boy, what a change!

Well, they say Rome was not built in a day...hey, no problem!

We consider the size and climate of our garden and how to adapt a garden in Rome to a garden in New Hampshire.

With the Garden Conservancy "Open Days" Tour looming, Michael G., brother of James, volunteered his services and his technical skills and precision (a former pilot) as well as being handy with a shovel.

Green Gem Boxwood

We called a reliable source, Doug at the Mixed Border, Hollis NH, to find us the best boxwood for this project. Here they are lined up waiting their turn to get hair cuts and then be planted.

We had 3 existing lilacs ( meyeri palibin) we kept from the former garden, now the 4th was being added by James.

The grid work is complete. The outer area of pea stone is complete and the boxwood are all planted and given a good watering. Next decision, what will be the color of stone that will be in the alternating squares?

We decide to use the same granite pea stone, slightly lightened with a measure of white marble.

The garden is just about complete. A view looking across the new terrace garden to the petite allee.

The GC tour is two days away!

The boxwood........ready for the tour.

Here is the new garden on the day of the garden Conservancy Tour. Thanks to James and Michael the garden is complete.

For all of us preparing the gardens have meant an enormous amount of work.

This garden is a sweet reminder of Rome.

ARRIVEDERCI ROMA (for now), HELLO NEW YORK!

Alas, it is time leave Rome. We walk down the steps at the American Academy for a taxi to Fiumicino airport for a flight back to the United States. However we are already planning a return trip to Italy, and as usual we save some euros to assure a future trip (tradition or superstition?)

The Roman Forum

Pliny (23 CE), the naturalist, philosopher and author was sent to Rome to be educated. Rome is a city that captures the heart and imagination. It is ancient and that can be felt throughout the city, especially here at the Forum or at places such as the church of San Clemente.

Rome is magical, just walking through the streets of the neighborhoods such as Trastevere or entering Santa Maria Sopra Minerva to find masterpieces like the Lippi fresco in the Carafa Chapel. Then there is romance, a visit to Piazza Navona to admire the great Four River's Fountain by Bernini, followed by a glass of Prosecco in a tiny bar off the square.

Food in Rome is about pasta, fish, artichokes and whatever is fresh. Thursday in Rome is always gnocchi!

Passing the Colosseum in Rome's morning traffic. It is about 7am, traffic is light.

Arrivederci Roma! (for now)

Hello New York!

Still Life with Bearded Irises, James Aponovich

We arrive in New York for a show that James is having at David Findlay Fine Art.

A installation photo of three Aponovich paintings at the gallery.

The show features still life paintings with flowers from our garden and landscapes inspired by Italy.

We meet our daughter and her husband, along with a few friends at the gallery to see the show. We are very pleased with the show and gallery.

Time to head downtown , James has an idea for a New York lunch!

Katz's Deli

Katz's is the oldest deli in Manhattan. It is classic, a place where the meats are still hand sliced.

A New York Experience....eating at Katz's Deli on Houston St.

A Rubin on rye, a corned beef on rye, pickles and a platter or potato pancakes, an American treat!

YUM!

Ana and Chris manage to hold the sandwiches together for that first bite!

A return to Italy? No, a salumeria in Little Italy where we are on a mission to buy guanciale. We find it here. We look forward to making Spaghetti Amatriciana when we return home.

The Salumeria in Little Italy

After lunch we walk through Little Italy and Greenwich Village. We stop for a refreshing and delicious frozen yogurt with fresh fruit at a place Ana suggested, Pink Berries. After a stop in the park we head back uptown.

We are meeting friends for martini's at the King Cole Bar (St. Regis Hotel) to give a toast to James and his exhibit. The large mural of Old King Cole that spans the length of the bar was painted by Maxfield Parrish from our home state of New Hampshire. It is a marvelous mural, and the martini's here aren't bad either!

On to dinner at Shun Lee Palace, and then a good night's sleep at Hotel San Carlos.

Sunday Morning Manhattan

Looking up......always looking up. Here we are looking up to the Chrysler Building. We agree this is our favorite building in NYC. We walk to Grand Central Station in hopes to have pan roasted oysters at the Oyster Bar but find it closed. After touring the building we head towards Central Park, with a stop at St. Patrick's Cathedral.

The Chrysler Building

Finally a visit to Rockefeller Center to see the Paul Manship sculptures. The use of space here is quite dynamic. The incorporation of art into this public space is very interesting, art was part of the original design, not an after thought. We agree this space is captivating.

A fun time in NYC with family and friends!

So it is time to return to our studios, garden and kitchen.

*******************

David Findlay Fine Art

41 East 57th St., NY, NY

Katz' s Deli

205 E. Houston St.

San Carlos Hotel

150 E. 50th St

www.sancarloshotel.com

King Cole Bar/Lounge (at St. Regis Hotel)

2 East 55th St.

Shun Lee Palace

shunleepalace.com

HADRIAN'S VILLA

There were very few rainy days while we were in Rome. The day we went to Tivoli and Hadrian's Villa it was overcast and misty. A perfect day to keep most tourists away!

The grounds of Hadrian's Villa covers an area about one third the size of Central Park, in other words it is vast.

The villa was the Emperor Hadrian's summer get away from the heat of Rome. Hadrian ruled the Roman Empire for 21 years from 117 Ad. until 138 AD.

Water was everywhere, from reflecting pools to fountains and bath. The villa was thought to have been sited here because of the access to water from the Roman aqueducts , it also happened to be land owned by his wife Sabina. To this day Rome has very pure drinking water.

The ruins are beautiful in their monumentality. They were once all faced with marble, mosaics or frescos.

James is to the right looking at the interior of the small baths.

The exterior of the large baths.

Service to the villa was supplied by 5000 servents. The servents used a series of underground passages to move themselves and supplies around the complex.

The Large Baths

The interior of the large baths. It must have been a remarkable sight when the mosaics and frescos adorned the walls, ceilings and floors.

The Canopus and Serapeum

The dining hall! Imagine waterfalls and hundreds of dinner guests .

This is possibly Hadrian's symbolic interpretation of the Mediterranean , the Canopus and the Serapeum.

Hadrian was very interested in Egypt and the design elements of the villa are a reflection of that.

A view down the pool looking toward where it is thought the Emperor sat and dined in a secure spot.

This is the group we are with from the American Academy. It seems like we were always looking up! The scale here is grand, and our guides John Pinto with Corey Brennan (center) made the villa come alive . They were able to convey the original grandeur and power of Hadrian and his villa.

The view the Emperor Hadrian saw while he was dining. Behind him was a massive waterfall that he could control.

The Pescheria, or fishing hole! Guests could fish for food or entertainment from the half circle cut outs along the sides .

Professor John Pinto, the leading expert on Hadrian's Villa. A man of great knowledge and energy!

A view of what is thought to be the main garden area. Again there are waterfalls and a small "river" running through the center of the formal garden. It appears that the garden was laid out in a geometric plan.

Another view of the garden shows rows of bases where columns may have sat.

The Naval Theatre

Finally, the hidden treasure. A small circular island surrounded by a moat. Theory holds that it was a lap pool for Hadrian. Again we hear about maintaining security of the the Emperor, the moat provided that element. This must have been truly beautiful.

Key words from this tour are; Hadrian, Sabina, Antinous, grandeur, power, order, security, columns, dining, detail, artistry, baths, and water, water and more water.

A PRIVATE GARDEN IN ROME

A view upon entering the garden at the Villa Aurelia. This portion of the garden is full of color and draws us in to see what awaits us as we continue down this stone walk. Here the garden is designed to be blue and white with plants such as lavender, rosemary and convolvulus.

Splendid!

The garden at the Villa Aurelia was started in 1881 and continues today as part of the American Academy in Rome. The Villa Aurelia was given to the Academy in 1909. The Villa & garden are in the Janiculum (Gianicolo) , the highest place inside the walls of Rome. The formal garden is designed in a geometric plan, with paths leading to pools, arbors and hedge walled spaces. This is the water-lily fountain, at the central axis of the formal garden ,where benches invite us to sit and take time to really look at the structure of the garden and reflections in the pool.

We loved the way the terra cotta pot set into this square shape, flowers in the foreground and the view through to the building behind.

Here the sturdy palm is set against the lace like foliage of the trees overlooking the city of Rome.

There is a wall of roses in full bloom growing on the side of building painted yellow ochre. A lovely color combination.

This building reflects the renaissance and can be seen from the Secret Garden. The wall is draped in rosemary. This garden can be entered by a gate that opens through a tall hedge of bay laurel. The other side is bordered with a trellis covered with climbing roses. These roses were not in bloom today, perhaps on our next visit we will see those. This is a quiet spot where we spent time sketching.

The views over Rome from here are magnificent.

A view over Rome from the Villa Aurelia.

This is the highest place in Rome, and after a long day of walking around Rome, ending the day with a climb back up this hill....well, it is quite a trek! We have learned that there is a bus, perhaps we will try that tomorrow.

The long allee is delightful with only dappled light passing through arched laurel.

The scale of his plant is incredible. Here is James in the rock garden on the terraced front of the villa. Growing on these terraces are many types of succulents and herbs, as well as plants that we have not seen before. There is also a greenhouse filled with lemon trees that will soon be placed outdoors into the garden.

Design and sculptural beauty hold all the pieces of this garden together. The structure of this design lies in the trees, the pines,oaks and magnolias are breathtaking. The carefully shaped and pruned foliage in contrast to the unpruned is a visual treat and works beautifully.

This tree is in shadow, buttressed by the angular hedge and against the more distant trees and sky, a perfect composition.