Gardening related Tuscany photos

[HeyWayne]

Just thought I'd post the gardening related photos that I took whilst on holiday - there are quite a few...

Tiny little blue butterflies of which there were loads around our villa. This one managed to stay still long enough for me to capture it on "film".
http://i93.photobucket.com/albums/l7...Picture011.jpg

There were tonnes of these red flowers dotted around the villa in pots. No idea what they are, but they brightened the place up a bit on a rainy day.
http://i93.photobucket.com/albums/l7...Picture009.jpg

An allotment (of sorts) in San Gimignano.
http://i93.photobucket.com/albums/l7...Picture052.jpg
They know how to grow tomatoes over there, but try as I might I couldn't find seeds anywhere. Even the "gardening" shops only seemed to sell pot plants.

Some of the freshest and tastiest looking produce I have ever seen, and it wasn't just for show - the stuff they had on sale inside looked exactly the same!
http://i93.photobucket.com/albums/l7...8/IMG_1890.jpg

Even those without gardens had plenty of plants.
http://i93.photobucket.com/albums/l7...8/IMG_1899.jpg

...and the whole street got involved.
http://i93.photobucket.com/albums/l7...8/IMG_1900.jpg

Wherever I went, it seemed the vine wasn't far away.
http://i93.photobucket.com/albums/l7...8/IMG_1852.jpg

What I thought was a humming bird, turned out to be some kind of moth. Look very closely - it didn't stay still very long, so it looks slightly blurred.
http://i93.photobucket.com/albums/l7...8/IMG_1751.jpg

This was a well tended garden in Colle Val D'Elsa (it's the same garden that the fancy red fan-type flower previously posted). Not a bad view to wake up to either.
http://i93.photobucket.com/albums/l7...8/IMG_1915.jpg

Finally, not strictly gardening related, but it reminded me of someone on the vine's avatar. See if you can guess who...
http://i93.photobucket.com/albums/l7...8/IMG_1893.jpg

Clue - the cat bit.

[MaureenHall]

I think the red flower in picture 2 is a geranium. I've got some at home Just about to take some cuttings from them ready for next year

[scarey55]

Great pics there Wayne. Did I see a lesser spotted Lady Wayne bird in one of those pics. She is looking delightfully pregnant now don'tyafink?

The moth is a hummingbird hawk moth, we had one in the garden the other day - they're a bit special aren't they.

Glad to see you had a good time.

[HeyWayne]

Great pics there Wayne. Did I see a lesser spotted Lady Wayne bird in one of those pics. She is looking delightfully pregnant now don'tyafink?

The moth is a hummingbird hawk moth, we had one in the garden the other day - they're a bit special aren't they.

Glad to see you had a good time.

You did indeed spot a lesser spotted LadyWayne bird. She looks delightful all the time. She commented this morning that she can no longer see her feet.

The moth flew past my face and caught my attention - makes quite a noise up close!

[wellie]

Heywayne, you're an absolute star. Thank you SO much for sharing those brilliant photos. And Lady Heywayne does indeed look stunningly pregnant - top banana blokey! True congrats to you both for your first adorable of many (?!)
and you've clearly had a gorgeous holiday. Dead envious! XX

[zazen999]

Very nice there HW. And the pikkies of Tuscany aren't half bad either.

[jackie j]

Red flower looks like a geranium I have them too.

[SarzWix]

Is the avatar Lynda66's? Can't think of anyone else with 2 cats...

Beautiful place, very envious!

[piskieinboots]

I'm guessing at Hazel on the Hill's avatar? I'm off to view rest of pictures now

[piskieinboots]

Wherever I went, it seemed the vine wasn't far away..

is that cos we drive you up the wall or cos it's raining

[HeyWayne]

I'm guessing at Hazel on the Hill's avatar? I'm off to view rest of pictures now

We have a winner!

[piskieinboots]

oh oooh do I get a box of chocs do I huh do I

[HeyWayne]

oh oooh do I get a box of chocs do I huh do I

How well do you think biscotti* would post?

*due to it's lightweight nature, we bought mostly that back, with the odd bottle of balsamic and a couple of other "bits". Damned that 20kg weight limit!!