We saw 2 gardens at Lake Como and another one not on the itinerary.
The roads around Lake Como are so narrow that 2 cars can barely pass. When 2 buses meet it is a big problem. Our bus had to back up.
VILLA DEL BALBIANELLA
Here are some views on the way to see Villa Del Balbianello.


Some views from the water makes this look like an island but it is actually on a peninsula. 




Views toward the water
This is a Holly Oak (Quercus ilex). I don’t know how they prune it but they must have special equipment for the job. There are only 2 full time gardeners but they must have tree specialists to do this work.
There are some very steep slopes in this garden and here are the plants that hold it:

Germander (Teucrium lucidrys ‘Prostratum’)

Cinquefoil (Potentilla verna)
Mondo Grass (Ophiopogon japonicus) For shady areas
Grecian Laurel (Laurus nobilis) clipped
Creeping Fig (Ficus repens)
Strawberry Geranium (Saxifraga stolonifera)
Some flowers:
Groundcover Roses

Iceland Poppies (Papaver nudicaule)
Salvia nemorosa cv.
Serbian Bellflower (Campanula poscharskyana)

Mattress Vine (Muehlenbeckia complexa)
Music Room
Library
VILLA CARLOTTA



This garden is also on the shores of Lake Como with beautiful views.



Bamboo Collection looks like a picture from Japan.
The sound of water flows throughout this garden from these waterfalls in this canyon.
Wall of plants.
Here is a nice yellow grass that I don’t recognize. Let me know if you know what it is.
Interesting Plants:
Golden Sawara False Cypress (Chamaecyparis pisifera ‘Filifera Aurea’)

The many hundreds of Azaleas in this garden are huge and this photo shows how they are about to take over the path.
This is the oldest Alberta Spruce (Picea glauca Conica’) that I have ever seen.





Climbing Roses
VILLA MELZI D’ERIL
(Not on original itinerary)