Finally I decide to take a moment to go back to writing in the blog. Spring has come all in one stroke, with high temperatures it seems almost summertime and the days are running fast. As usual, there are many works to do at this time of the year: we start working again with the bees, the vegetable garden, which, as we know, wants the dead man (and also the woman), the pruning of the olive trees still to be completed and the plants that are already blooming, small and large maintenance jobs inside and outside the houses … and then the whole world awakens! So there are many interesting fairs and events around Camaiore, in Versilia and in Lucca that attract my interest and distract me from my commitments.
Below I have selected for you some of the events that I like best and which I recommend to lovers of gardening, vegetable gardens and plants, which take place every year in the Province of Lucca and in Versilia. In case you want to take a few days of vacation in spring, I suggest you take a look at these events and choose the Weekend well to plan your trip.
“è la via dell’orto” in Camaiore
This year I took part in the appointment of “è la via dell’orto” in Camaiore, a 10 years old event, that this year has been renovated and expanded. The market exhibition of vegetable plants, gardens and animals takes via Vittorio Emanuele and via XX Settembre. For the first time the Municipality has organized a competition for the best temporary vegetable garden, with a jury composed by the architect Lera, by the journalist Mimma Pallavicini and by the artist and bonsai master Carlo Cipollini. Ten participants who competed, including me with my colleague agronomist, Arianna, who involved me just before the deadline of the call for groped this crazy enterprise! Our project? the Sottovuo(r)to, a vegetable garden that wanted to recall the idea of vacuum-packed food, packaged in plastic at the supermarket. The realization did not reach the public, or the jury, but we are happy to have participated and we had fun contributing with the invasion of the gardens in Camaiore for a few days!
The next appointment will be for Saturday and Sunday 13-14 April 2019.
At the fair in Camaiore, although it is small, you can find interesting banquets that present plants and particular products. This year we bought some varieties of old tomato that today I will go to plant in the garden.
Lucca, Verdemura
Exhibition of gardening and outdoor living.
The walls of Lucca for three days are populated by numerous banquets full of plants and flowers, accompanied by various meetings and conferences during the fair. There are not only plants, but also crafts, food and much more. An opportunity for those who have never visited Lucca, to see it in its spring splendour. But also a good opportunity to see the city under a garment a bit special, enjoying the classic walk on the walls taking advantage to do some shopping of plants. Coming from Camaiore along the Provincial road there are free parking lots at the cemetery, or in Borgo Giannotti. The event is normally in April and admission costs are € 6.
Festa dèi Camminanti.
It is the Festival of hiking gods.
The 2018 edition was held in 82 events for 3 days of walking fest with hiking, walking, lecturing, books, dance, art and conviviality for adults and children. A party that aims to cross and weave the world on foot: men and women, nature and perhaps many gods. The event takes place on Monte Pisano, between Pisa, Lucca, Altopascio, Pontedera, a large area that finds its fulcrum on the south-east side of Monte Pisano in Vicopisano and that extends over the slopes and plains, washed by the Arno River, from the Serchio River and from the memories of the ancient Lake of Sesto. The party is free. The culmination of the festival is the traditional snack at the Frantoio di Vicopisano.
Enolia, Seravezza.
Wines, olive oils and quality foods.
Event dedicated to wine and oil, but in general to local cuisine, with numerous guests including cooks and producers, who will animate the Wine Village to give life to cooking shows and tastings. Now in its seventeenth edition, Enolia takes place in the beautiful Medici Palace of Seravezza. Inside the Palazzo Mediceo you can taste oils from different areas of Italy and compare them to each other and you can participate in mini-courses to learn about olive oil. As always, there is no lack of competition, for the best oil. This year will take place on 28-29 April 2018.
Ancient Camellias of the Lucca area
Have you ever thought of tasting a tea grown and produced in Italy? In Pieve di Compito, where this beautiful event dedicated to the Camellias takes place, you can enjoy for the first time an Italian tea or buy the seeds to try to coltivate you too. The microclimate of this village is particularly suitable for the cultivation of Camellia sinensis (L.). Do you think that the tea produced in Compito competes in international tastings with great success. An opportunity to take a nice walk through the hills of Lucca surrounded by colors and scents and attend the tea ceremony. It ‘one of the first parties that takes place outdoors of the year, in March, precedes all the other events of Spring.
