Welcome to Villa Emilia (My Woodland Garden), a photography blog with a slant towards gardening and nature. An amateur gardener and photographer, I hope to share beautiful moments with you through pictures. Let me know if you like them! 💚

Thank you for your visit.

18.3.2017

I left my heart at...






...Parco Burcina, a landscape garden in Piedmont region (Italy), founded in the mid-19th century by Giovanni Piacenza, a wool industrialist, and situated in the Municipalities of Biella and Pollone.

I must go back sometimes... to visit my heart and to take more and better photos. Oh, I wish I had had a digital camera when I was living in Italy!






We visited the park in May many years ago; that day it had been raining before we arrived and the air was fresh and fragrant with scents from the grand conifers of the park. The valley of rhododendrons is stunning. On the internet, you can find many photos (much, much better than these!) depicting the valley from above, but imagine yourself rambling among the shrubs, surrounded by all those colours...






By myself, I followed a path leading to the top of the hill. Noisy schoolchildren and other visitors were left far behind, and I found serene small meadows and young birches with leaves of the most delicate green.  

The colours and light  are particularly bad in the photo below, but it shows the position of the park on a hill.






We saw pleasant views also on our way back home. Oasi Zegna is a freely accessible nature park in the Biella Alps. It was created by the entrepreneur Ermenegildo Zegna, founder of the homonymous factory that makes men's clothing and accessories.









Some old photos taken in our garden (in Italy):












Awful colours, but dear memories:






One of my favourites, Azalea japonica 'Palestrina':








59 kommenttia:

  1. NÀyttÀÀ melkein epÀtodellisen ihanalta nuo italialaisen puutarhan kuvat!
    Atsaleoista haaveilen, niitÀ haluan metsÀÀn, ja kukkamaahan ja vÀhÀn kaikkialle. Tuo valkoinen ihanuus lumoaa. Miten voi olla jotain noin kaunista!

    VastaaPoista
    Vastaukset
    1. Kiitos, Laura! <3
      Parco Burcina on ihana paikka ja varmasti kÀymisen arvoinen jokaiselle rhodojen ja atsaleoiden ystÀvÀlle. Vanhat kuvani eivÀt valitettavasti tee puistolla oikeutta.
      'Palestrina' on tosiaan komea. Nyt huomaan, ettÀ kuvassa sen kukat nÀyttÀvÀt hieman liikaa kermanvalkoisilta. NiitÀ olisi pitÀnyt editoida valkoisemmiksi. :)

      Poista
  2. Jag förstÄr att du lÀngtar tillbaka! Det Àr helt andra förutsÀttningar för odling av vÄra favoriter, Rhododendron. HÀr fÄr vi kÀmpa mot ett kyligt klimat som inte alltid Àr vÀnligt mot vÀxterna. Men vi fÄr göra sÄ gott vi kan med det som stÄr tillbuds.

    Sara, det hÀr med sprÄket Àr inget problem. Du kan skriva pÄ engelska eller finska, jag förstÄr bÄda sprÄken men föredrar att skriva pÄ svenska.

    VastaaPoista
    Vastaukset
    1. Kiitos, Gunilla! <3
      Minulla on periaatteessa melko hyvÀ paikka alppiruusuille, havupuuvaltaisen sekametsÀn ympÀröimÀ piha. Talvisuojaus on stressaavinta, ensin pakkasta, painavaa lunta ja sitten kevÀtaurinkoa vastaan.

      Poista
  3. No, kukapa tuonne ei sydÀntÀÀn jÀttÀisi!

    VastaaPoista
    Vastaukset
    1. Ainakin jokainen kauniiden kasvien ystÀvÀ jÀttÀÀ! <3

      Poista
  4. Sadunomaisen kauniit kuvat.

    VastaaPoista
    Vastaukset
    1. Kiitos, Kruunu Vuokko! <3
      Paikka on satumaisen kaunis. Vanhat, skannatut valokuvat eivÀt pysty mitenkÀÀn vÀlittÀmÀÀ sen ihanaa kevÀistÀ tunnelmaa. SyksyllÀ siellÀ voisi ihailla uskomattoman kaunista ruskaa.

      Poista
  5. Upeat kesÀiset ja vÀrintÀyteiset kuvat. :)

    VastaaPoista
    Vastaukset
    1. Kiitos, PuutarhamyyrÀ! <3
      Oikeasti siellÀ on paljon kauniimpaa kuin nÀissÀ kuvissa...

      Poista
  6. Beautiful photos! Wonderful rhododendron and azalea. I understand that you want to go back there.

    Happy Weekend!

    VastaaPoista
    Vastaukset
    1. Thank you, Marit! <3
      Rhododendrons are fabulous plants.
      Happy weekend to you too!

      Poista
  7. Varmasti on upea paikka ja niin kaunista kukintaa. En yhtÀÀn ihmettele, ettÀ on ikÀvÀ tuollaista paikkaa. - Mukavaa viikonlopun jatkoa!

    VastaaPoista
    Vastaukset
    1. Kiitos samoin, Anneli! <3
      Kun pÀÀsisi rhodojen kukinnan aikaan. Digikameralla voisi ottaa ziljoona kuvaa...

      Poista
  8. Ihania kuvia! NiissĂ€ on nostalgiaa, filmikamerallako nuo on otettu? EhkĂ€pĂ€ parempi nĂ€in. HenkeĂ€ salpaavan kaunis tuo paikka..♡♡♡

    VastaaPoista
    Vastaukset
    1. Kiitos, Teresa! <3
      NÀmÀ ovat tosiaan vanhoja paperikuvia skannattuina. MinÀ kuvasin pitkÀÀn filmille, mutta nyt olen aivan rakastunut digikameroihin. Varsinkin siihen ettÀ kuvia voi ottaa vaikka kuinka paljon.
      Suosittelen kaikille Parco Burcinan etsimistÀ kuvahaulla. SekÀ kevÀÀltÀ ettÀ syksyltÀ löytyy aivan ihania kuvia. :)

      Poista
  9. It looks a beautiful place xx I am a fan of Rhododendrons and mine is just starting to bud.

    VastaaPoista
    Vastaukset
    1. Thank you, Leah! <3
      Your are so lucky! We still have much snow...
      xx

      Poista
  10. Such a beautiful spot! I can certainly understand why you miss it so. Memories are a wonderful thing to have, when you cannot be there in person. Enjoy your photos and the memories they bring.

    VastaaPoista
    Vastaukset
    1. Thank you, Linda! <3
      Memories are indeed a wonderful thing to have and sometimes sharing them with others makes them even more wonderful.

      Poista
  11. Brilliant and beautiful photos, Sara! I feel as though I am taking this walk! Thank you so much for sharing, and I hope you have a great weekend!

    VastaaPoista
    Vastaukset
    1. Thank you, Linda! <3
      I'm sure you would enjoy a walk there very much.
      Have a great week ahead!

      Poista
  12. HenkeÀsalpaavan kaunista! Upeat maisemat ja hieno runsas kukinta.

    VastaaPoista
    Vastaukset
    1. Kiitos, Piparminttu! <3
      Kun nyt muistelen noita maisemia, ne tuntuvat ihan paratiisilta. :)

      Poista
  13. Todella ihania kukkivia pensaita;-)

    VastaaPoista
    Vastaukset
    1. Alppiruusuissa ja atsaleoissa on sitÀ jotakin! <3

      Poista
  14. Dear Sara,It is so obvious why you missed there ...
    The photos are fabulous ♥♥♥

    Have a wonderful weekend

    VastaaPoista
    Vastaukset
    1. Thank you, Nurdan! <3
      Correct me if I'm wrong: There are absolutely gorgeous rhododendron sites in Turkey too!
      Have a happy week ahead!

      Poista
  15. I would have left my heart there, too.

    Greetings from London.

    VastaaPoista
    Vastaukset
    1. I'm sure you would have, Mario! <3 Greetings to London! :)

      Poista
  16. Rhododendrons and azaleas always give sensational beauty. These gardens would be magnificent to visit. Thank so much for sharing and for caring about our heat. I really shouldn't complain when I don't have to go out and work in it.

    VastaaPoista
    Vastaukset
    1. You would love the gardens, Helen. <3
      I hope the temperatures will normalize soon!

      Poista
  17. Upean vehreÀt ja vÀrikkÀÀt kuvat! KyllÀ tuonne helposti sydÀmensÀ jÀttÀisi. Aurinkoista sunnuntaita!

    VastaaPoista
    Vastaukset
    1. Kiitos, Tiiu! <3
      Se alkukesÀn vehreys oli osa unohtumatonta elÀmystÀ.
      KevÀistÀ uutta viikkoa!

      Poista
  18. How beautiful! Your photos are gorgeous. It looks like a lovely park - and it's always good to get away from the noisy school kids ;-)

    VastaaPoista
    Vastaukset
    1. Thank you, Lisa! <3
      Yes, nature is best enjoyed without masses of noisy kids. :)

      Poista
  19. Tekisi niin mieli mennĂ€ samoilemaan noihin kauniisiin paikkoihin 💚

    VastaaPoista
  20. Kukoistavaa rehevyyttÀ! Kun noita katselee, on pakko ihmetellÀ, miksi kukaan on koskaan halunnut jÀttÀÀ nuo maisemat ja lÀhteÀ pois...

    VastaaPoista
    Vastaukset
    1. HyvÀ kysymys, Pirkko! <3
      TÀtÀ on minulta kysytty usein. :) Jos voitaisiin ajatella vain kauneutta, kaikki asuisivat Italiassa. No, meillÀ oli perhe-, työ-, opiskelusyitÀ tulla ainakin toistaiseksi Suomeen. ElÀkepÀivistÀ jossain vuoristossa meren rannalla jutellaan, mutta toistaiseksi haluan rakennella suomalaista metsÀpuutarhaani. :)

      Poista
    2. KÀytÀnnön elÀmÀ vaatii valintoja, mutta on lohdullista, jos tie on auki paluuseen. Nyt on hyvÀ hetki keskittyÀ suomalaiseen puutarhaan - saamme kohta kevÀÀn ja pikkulinnut!

      Poista
  21. Mind refreshing flowers. Lovely capture. I feel fresh after seeing the flowers picture...

    VastaaPoista
  22. Such a wonderful place! I understand why you left your heart there. :) Beautiful flowers and magical landscape. How good it would be if we could preserve the scents too... somehow... in an album, like the photographs. :) Have a delightful week! Hugs!

    VastaaPoista
    Vastaukset
    1. Thank you, Edit! <3
      I often wish we could share scents also through our blog posts! :)
      Have a happy week ahead!!

      Poista
  23. What a beautiful park to wander in; the rhodos and azaleas are such pretty flowers. The views you've shown make me want to book a trip to Italy!
    Like you, I wish I'd had a digital camera while living elsewhere (for me it was South America). Scanning those old photos just doesn't do the scenes justice.

    VastaaPoista
    Vastaukset
    1. Thank you, Lorrie! <3
      I must say I too wish you'd had a digital camera while living in South America!

      Poista
  24. Don't blame you for falling in love. That rhododendron in the first picture is one of the loveliest I've ever seen -- we used to grow them (and a lot of better gardeners than we were did too) back when we lived in Oregon. It's too hot here. Same with the azaleas... they are just beautiful. I wish I'd had a digital camera years ago too ... but at least we have our memories.

    VastaaPoista
    Vastaukset
    1. It is wonderful indeed, Sallie, and to think the Valley of Rhododendrons is an area of two hectares, full of rhododendrons and azaleas of all kinds! :)
      Florida is fascinating too, especially in your photos. <3

      Poista
  25. Beautiful photos enjoyed this post very much. Have a blessed day. Madeline

    VastaaPoista
  26. I will be in Italy later this year, but only briefly unfortunately, and not in the Piedmont district, so I won't be able to look for your heart.

    VastaaPoista
    Vastaukset
    1. Well, thanks anyway! :)
      Seriously, I'm really looking forward to reading about your time in Italy! <3

      Poista
  27. What a beautiful park! How wonderful, that this rich man, gave others, this lovely place to wander.

    Luna Crone
    Upper NE of US

    VastaaPoista
    Vastaukset
    1. You are so right! It was a wonderful gift to the community.
      Thank you for your comment! <3

      Poista
  28. What a truly beautiful place to visit Sara. If only we could press a button and be transported back in time for another amazing visit :)

    VastaaPoista
    Vastaukset
    1. If only, Prunella! <3
      You would love the place too.
      Stay safe! xx

      Poista
  29. I can see why this place captured your heart... Having photos of places we treasure is lovely, and so easily transports back there and to the memories.

    VastaaPoista
    Vastaukset
    1. So true. The photos help memories not to fade.
      Stay safe, Jade! <3

      Poista

Thank you for your comment! It is very much appreciated.
It may take awhile but I will always visit you back.

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