Category Archives: seasons

Autumn

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The heat of summer is behind us and the days are cooler, especially in the mornings and evenings. We have had rain and storms and I often wake up to mists rolling over the hills around Ponte a Serraglio.

The river is full of water after the low levels of summer. After heavy rain it turned brown with mud.

One morning I watched a fisherman hoping for a catch below my balcony.

Trees are beginning to change colour.

The magnolias on the bridge that didn’t do well over summer began to thrive once the weather cooled.

Bees and other insects love the flowers.

I hope the flowers last a bit longer.

All seasons are beautiful in Bagni di Lucca.

The Lima River

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I returned from an overnight trip to find the Lima River turned into a raging torrent. Heavy rainfall and melting snow have sent huge amounts of water down the river. The level of the water went from about 1.5metres to 4.7 last night. It has dropped a bit today but it is still rushing past my window carrying logs and other debris with it.

…further down river.


I hope the high water doesn’t cause damage.

Snow at Ponte a Serraglio

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I awoke to snow falling at Ponte a Serraglio. It started slowly and it looked as though it would melt before it hit the ground, but it gradually became heavier and began to turn everything white.

Ponte
By the late afternoon the snow was mostly gone, but it was lovely while it lasted.

Winter

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Lately we have had snow in the higher villages in Bagni di Lucca. Along the Lima River it has mostly been raining. In a brief sunny time I drove up towards Montefegatesi to see some snow. It had melted in the village but the mountains around it looked gorgeous. The blue sky made a beautiful backdrop. In fact I think it was the star of the show today.


I drove through heavy fog on the way up. From above you can see it settled in the valleys.

Bare trees look wonderful.

Montefatesi always looks spectacular from any angle.


We have had some sun by the river. It doesn’t last long, but it is most welcome when it appears. Time to go for a walk or just to enjoy being outside.

It has been an interesting year, one which most of us will be happy to say goodbye to.
I wish you all a Happy New Year with health and happiness.

Stormy weather

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I’m back at Ponte a Serraglio for a while. The stormy weather continues. Today was a mixture of rain, hail, thunder,  bits of blue sky…and repeat.


The house of a friend.

I like the leaves on the footpath.

I have walked past this many times, but not really noticed how lovely it is.

I don’t mind a bit of wet weather and the occasional storm, but this weather has been frightening. I am surprised there is not more damage after these ferocious storms.

 

 

The road to Montefegatesi

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Autumn is a beautiful time to drive to Montefegatesi,the highest of the Bagni di Lucca villages.  The mountain road is lined with trees in full autumn colour right now.

Montefegatesi.

I went up further to Albereta.


The glorious colour will not last much longer. I am pleased I went for a drive before the recent lockdown.

A walk on the Lucca wall

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Autumn is a great time to walk on the stunning wall that surrounds Lucca. The trees are losing their leaves quickly now. Soon the trees will be bare. Come for a walk…

This lovely old tree just outside the wall looks as though it is set for removal. It has been fenced off perhaps because there is a danger of falling branches.

I love walking through the tunnels and up the stairs onto the wall.

I was lucky to be there on a glorious autumn day.

 

 

Walking on the Lucca wall is wonderful in any season. Best of all Lucca is just 30 minutes from Bagni di Lucca.

 

 

 

Bridge flowers

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This is the first year since we bought our apartment in Ponte a Serraglio in 2003 that I have been here for an entire summer. I usually go home to Australia to enjoy our wonderful sub tropical Brisbane winter. I am not a fan of hot weather, but Covid has changed many plans.

It is also the first year I have been here to look after the flowers I plant on the bridge in front of our apartment all summer. The plants are exposed to everything the weather can hit them with and they require quite a lot of watering, fertilising and general care. Because of the harsh conditions they don’t always do well. Even geraniums struggle to survive.

I planted geraniums and a bit later, marigolds, in late spring. The geraniums have not done well, but the marigolds have thrived. A few have recently dropped dead, but new seedlings are growing to replace them. They put on a very good show and there will be marigolds on the bridge next year.


The flowers on my balcony have finally come good after a slow start. These need watering almost daily to survive. I doubt I will plant them again even though they are very pretty.

The plant outside my bathroom window is the easiest to water. I can can reach them from my shower.

Since I will probably be here all winter I will be looking for something that will survive the cold.