The first garden we saw today was in Lombardy, Italy then we crossed the border to Switzerland to visit another garden.
VILLA CICOGNA MOZZONI
Entry courtyard
Note how fresh the colors are on the ceiling frescos because the sunlight can’t reach them. The frescos on the south wall are faded out by the sun.
The owner tells interesting stories but I can’t video all of it because the internet in my hotel is not good to upload more than a minute at a time.
Continuation of the story of the brown bear hunt before 1440.
In case you didn’t catch it the Duke gave his family an exemption from taxes for saving him from the bear.
Mr. Mozzoni is explaining the concept of formal gardens and that they were extensions of the house. His villa and garden was built at the same time – late 15th century.
The garden is on 3 levels.
Water pranks
The grotto is covered with Adiantum ferns.
Mr. Mozzoni explains how the frescos relate to the building.
Library
Bedrooms
Social room
Views of the garden from the house.
Garden views
Water cascade
Garden and church bells.
SWITZERLAND
Passing through the Swiss border. Nobody asked for passports or Covid paperwork.
ISOLA DE BRISSADGO:
Views of Switzerland and Lake Lugano. We are taking a boat to our next garden which is on an island.
The villa on the island is called Villa Emden and was built around the early 1930’s. The garden was started in 1885 and was worked on until the owners had financial problems and had to sell the island to Max Emden, a German.
There are many ornamental plants in this garden such as this Rhododendron ponticum but most of the garden is laid out according to the Mediterranean climates in different parts of the world.
There are many beautiful views from the garden to Lake Lugano.
This is how the garden is watered – hoses and sprinklers on tripods.
California/Mexico Natives:
Mexican Lily (Beschorneria yuccoides)
California Poppy (Eschscholzia californica)
South Africa Natives:
Transvaal Daisy (Gerbera jamesonii)
Protea sp.
Watsonia sp.
Thatching Reed (Thamnochortus insigns)
Bell Reed (Cannomois virgala)
Australian Natives:
Sweetshade (Hymenosporum flavum)
Rosemary Grevillea (Grevillea rosmarinifolia)
Red-Hot Poker (Kniphofia sp. )
Italian Jasmine (Jasminum humile)
Pride of Madeira (Echium candicans)
Jupiter’s Beard (Centranthus ruber)
Santolina rosmarinifolia
Orange Butterfly Bush (Buddleja globosa)