Worth a second visit

     I recently visited Italy and the Balkans, so I just had to return to the most fantastic water garden I ever saw--Villa d'Este, about an hour east of Rome in the town of Tivoli.  I was amazed by it during my first visit in 2009, so I had to return.  Just as stunning the second time.
     It was built in the 14th century to accompany a large villa on a hill overlooking a huge plain towards Rome.  Cardinal Ippolitolli, the governor of Tivoli, had it designed by Pirro Ligorio.  The water was piped in from over 900 feet away (280 meters).  As the villa sits on top of a steep hill, all the many water features were originally "gravity-powered." 
    

Prepare

     In 2022, Holland will host Floraide 2022, a phenomenal garden show held every ten years.  I was at the 2012 show, and here are just a few of the incredible displays presented by more than 20 nations.  Do yourselves a favor and try to see it.
     I will be touring in Italy and the Balkans from September 11-27, so I will not be posting until after my return.  With hope, I will have some great garden photos then from what I see.

    

Nope, it's not sod

     A cursory glance of the first photo would lead one to believe that I am laying sod in my Williamsburg Garden.  After all, with the deepening shade there as the trees get bigger, I have been doing just that each May.  But I finally decided to get radical--so I tore out the grass and replaced it with a moss I never used before, Climacium americanum, commonly called tree moss, as it looks like tiny palm trees.  This moss is generally found in very wet conditions, but I sometimes find it, as I did in this case, in drier conditions. 
     It is especially stunning when some sun shines through the tree canopy, but I find that impossible
to capture with a camera, as is evident in photos five and six.  Believe me, you just have to be here!