The Guardian - the Norfolk pine, a true living fossil originating from the Island of Norfolk, North-East of Australia.
The Guardian - the Norfolk pine, a true living fossil originating from the Island of Norfolk, North-East of Australia.
The Main Villa has about 300sqm laid over two stories, surrounded by terraces and boasting all modern and "future proof" energy efficient comfort (battery backed solar power plant, full house climate controll heat pumps and supplemental water extraction and treatment), and is split into guest and private quarters. It is surrounded by beautiful gardens populated, amongst others, with several varieties of lemon, orange, figue, pommegranate and olive trees as well as a more exotic palm trees and Mosteras and a majestic "living fosil" Norfolk Pine. Hedges, carpets and patches of jasmin, ivy, capers and various cactii and other flowering and medicinal plants complement the garden. It's a luxurious island of beauty with an almost tropical feel, particularly in the winter and spring, on the edge of the small and beautiful UNESCHO Heritage town of Scicli.
The rear garden Citrus Grove in spring with its carpet of wild flowers.
Front gardens. Now this is the very definition of a low hanging fruits. Unless you lower your head or harvest and squeeze them you will risk to bang your head constantly.
The lavander row and the Pied d'Elephant, or Ponytail Palm (Beaucarnea) in the rear Mediterranean Garden.
Front Terrace. This is the very rare and exquisite giant flower and fruit of the Monstera tropicla plant. It basically never grows on an appartment plant and only in particular conditions on an outdoor one. On ours, is almost every year! Proud and amazed by it.
Callistemon tree flowers. The tree can flower four-six times a year.
Passion flower (Passiflora caerulea).
Loquat, or nespole.
Loquat, or nespole.
Loquat, or nespole.
Lemon tree in full m\april blossom.
"Lunar citruses" (agrumi lunari). They have ripe fruits, growing ones and flowers at the same time, almost all year round.
Pick up a few and go make your fresh morning juice. Throw some ice cubes in and enjoy. Only in season, of course.
The joy of harvesting your own oranges!
The Sicilian cedras, a giant variety of lemons that can be eaten raw or sundried, thick skin included.
Cycas or Sago Palm with male flower.
Monstera in flower.
Agave. They can grow up to 2-3 meters in diameter in 20-25 years and at the end of their life they grow a very large tree like inflorescence 5-8 high and then they die.
Capers
Curry plant, or curry flavored helicrysum (italicum).
Marjolaine
Stevia.
Rosemary.
Salvia.
Oregano
Common thyme
Lemon scented thyme.
Mirabilis, or Four-a-clock flower.
Prickly pears, or Figues de Barbarie, of Fichi d'India.
Magnolia
Wild grape vines.
Aloe Baynesis
Aloe Baynesis.
Papirus.
Thistles
Morning sun through the olives and grape vines on the terrace of the Summer House.
The rear garden citrus grove in July-August. Whatever ripe fruits are left, they are dropped to focus on the new ones, still green. The lunar citruses are always in flower, or full of new or ripe fruits all year round.
Black/purple figues. We have also the green/yellow ones.
The grand table under the olive trees. Even in the full heat of the summer days, 10-12 people can gather around this table under the cool shade of the olive trees. And also in the evening.
Lemon tree flowers.
Lemon tree flowers
Orange tree flowers
The sweet stearn or aeonia.
Poppies
Crown daysies form, together with other wild flowers, incredibly dense and beautiful flower carpets in January-March.
Norfolk pine (Eastern Australia)
Cycas or Sago palm.
Cycas or Sago palm.
Purple hearts and bunny-years prickly-pears.
Purple hearts and bunny-years prickly-pears.
Bunny-years prickly-pears.
Bunny-years prickly-pears.
Persian amaryllis.
Persian amaryllis.
Persian amaryllis.
Monstera and lemons.
Monstera and lemons.
Norfolk pine.
Sweet aeonia/stearn.
The ruin of the Convent of Sant'Antonino (XIV century)
Goats and sheep herd grazing along Canale Grande in front of our gardens.
Goats and sheep herd grazing along Canale Grande in front of our gardens.
Inspecting the olives
Siesta under the olives
The long way from the Main Gate along Canale Grande to the estate.
The Bamboo Forest along the route from the Main Gate to the Villa.
The Bamboo Forest along the route from the Main Gate to the Villa.
The Bamboo Forest along the route from the Main Gate to the Villa.
The (long) road from the Main Gate through the Bamboo Forest to the Villa.