jmw44

Do you think so, Margie? The flower in the close-up looks really large. Absolutely gorgeous. I'll do some searching to see if I can find a match. The clematis here in the south have blooms of about 3 inches across. Your reply is much appreciated. J.

justretired

J,

If it's the one I think it is, I'm pretty sure that it was a clematis. It was about 6 inches or more across and huge. I've seen flowers this size before, but, for the most part, the ones in our area are smaller- closer to 3 inches. It was quite dramtic, which was why I took the picture. It was not a variety that I knew. As you can see, I often took flower pictures. As an artist and gardener, I love flowers. I also have a freind who is confined these days to a wheel chair from MS and is also an avid gardener. She grows I could for her.

-Margie

jmw44

Six inches! I wonder if all clematis will grow where one type does. You can tell that I'm not a gardener. But I've got to say that flowers are among my most vivid memories from my travels. I've a picture of some frail little lavender blooms peaking out through an iron gate in Lausanne on my wall (and that was from a trip in the 70's!), and I feel the thrill of the moment each time I look at that photograph.

One of my favorite ways to spend an afternoon at the Swiss end of Lago Maggiore is on Brissago's little garden island. There's a palm forest (or maybe more like a palm patch) that is dark and breezy, and the sounds that the fronds make when you stand still and listen gave me goose-bumps.

Thank you so much for your patient reply. If you find a source and try to grow your discovery, please report back at this thread. I'll do the same if I find a lead. J.

kakijalan

bookmarking

ready2travel

Bookmarking

sharone

bookmarking

annhig

hi, justretired,

thanks for the great report - you brought back many memories. we spent a week on lake maggiore when I was expecting our first born [now 20!] and saw many of the things you did - we 're keen on gardens too.

16 years later, we took our kids to lake Garda for a week - and yes we did the dreaded gardaland, but lots of other lovely things too. we stayed in Garda itself, avoiding the north of the island which is VERY popular with germans, and used the boats and buses to get around.

IMO the lakes are a great place for holidays. we particularly enjoyed Malcesine and the calbe car trip up the mountain - there's a botanical garden up there too, but even in August it was too foggy to see it. I seem to remember we ate linguine with wild mushrooms and followed by rabbit stew and polenta. happy days.

regards, ann