It’s time for spring-cleaning, and at Vignamaggio we begin in the gardens. We perform three simple but essential tasks to make sure our gardens are lush and healthy. Weeding Weeding by hand, rather than using a chemical weed killer, is better for a few different reasons. It keeps us fit, it doesn’t pollute the soil, […]
[:it]Orti & Giardini[:en]Garden & Vegetables[:]
FUN FACTS ABOUT ROSEMARY
The etymology of the name Rosemary is rather poetic, meaning SEA MIST, from the Latin ROS MARINUS. The Rosemary plant thrives in coastal areas, where it grows spontaneously and luxuriantly. Rosemary is an aromatic herb that reminds us of home, a corner of the vegetable garden, the aroma of lunch being prepared in the kitchen. […]
BOUQUET GARNI
A bouquet garni is an assortment of aromatic herbs used to season meats, broths and sauces, enhancing the flavour and fragrance of any number of different dishes. It originates in Provence, but different versions are used throughout the Mediterranean basin. The main ingredients of the traditional bouquet garni are thyme and bay leaves, but there […]
THE LANGUAGE OF FLOWERS
On the occasion of this special day dedicated to the enamored, we thought we would learn a little about the language of Winter flowers. Decisions about the flowers we choose for someone are often entirely subjective and based on a memory, fragrance, shape or colour that pleases us. Yet certain flowers and plants often conceal […]
IN THE SHADE OF PETASITES
Today we went out with Francesca, manager of the Vignamaggio gardens, to explore the coolest part of the estate, in search of the petasites or butterbur, a perennial plant of the Asteracaea family. It is easy to come across these enormous herbaceous plants alongside Greve’s tributaries. They can be spotted by their huge hat-like leaves […]
AN ORIGINAL CHRISTMAS TREE
Christmas is around the corner, and as usual, we called upon Cristiano and Gilles to design our Christmas tree. They came up with a unique Christmas tree inspired by nature, made from material easily found while strolling around Vignamaggio. You can make this tree too, from what you find as you explore the fields and […]
COMPOST: WHAT IS IT AND WHAT IS IT USED FOR?
WHAT IS COMPOST USED FOR? Compost is a natural fertilizer and is necessary for enriching the ground, making it more fertile and productive. Differently from chemical fertilizers, compost is environmentally friendly. It is also an ecological and wise method of dealing with organic waste that would otherwise end up burned or in dumps. Adding compost […]
THE GARDEN
Vignamaggio’s garden was created in the late ’20es by Elena and Bino Sanminiatelli. The couple wished to connect the villa to the forest, enclosing the building within a natural frame, according to the principles of a typical renaissance garden, which took the place of the fruit orchards and wheat that were there before. In 2014, […]
WINTER SALADS
During the holidays there is always an onslaught of meat and fish, roasted and stuffed. We thought that the vegetables in our vegetable gardens also deserve a place on the dinner tables of special occasions. The base we started with is a simple radicchio and pomegranate salad: other than being delicious and in season, the […]
CHRISTMAS TABLE CENTREPIECE
Christmas is almost upon us, and just like every year, we find ourselves looking for ideas and inspiration to decorate our homes and ways to celebrate with those dear to us. For our Christmas table centrepiece, it was to Cristiano that we turned again. He created a simple centrepiece that is really easy to make. […]