Before And After 2016

  

  Now that I have my tickets in the bag for 2017, I can once again get excited about returning to Umbria. 

  (that is unless the entire world continues on it's way to self-implode, in which case I hope it waits until we are actually there, in Umbria, so we can at least experience the end with a glass of wine and a bowl of chips, sitting outside at Aldo's) 

  My idea of getting excited is to look at the photos I took from the past trip, and figure out what I want to share here on my bloggy. This is hard work.....I take way too many photos, and believe me, there are a slew of 'duds' in the mix.

  I have learned over the years to make little desktop folders for various ideas, which I put the photos in, and this is one idea I especially enjoy...

 "Before and After" refers to the amazing changes the local landscape goes through in the weeks we are visiting. We normally stay from late winter through mid spring, and every year I love watching the shift happen. 

  This area, above Lago Trasimeno and on the border between Umbria and Tuscany, is beautiful anytime of the year. There's the lake, the nearby hills and fields, and distant mountains beyond. It all changes, like everything.....

  

Close to home, a favorite spot to sit and stare.
Here at the start of our visit...

...and here at the very end.

  I can't get over how much the light changes...let alone the incredible lushness of the greenery...

Early days....

...and later.

  These shots, together like this, blow my little pea brain!

A slightly different angle,
but you get the point.

  After the seventh visit, you would think I'd quit taking the same shots over and over. I know, I know....but I just can't help myself. Plus, Every time we head out on our morning walk, I'll tell Johnny that I don't feel like taking my camera. He'll get all fussy and explain how peeved I'd be if I missed something (read: the elusive hedgehog sighting), and I'll hem and haw, and take the damn thing.

  Here's the rub....I never regret it. 

The classic 'Morning Walk' shot, early....

...and after all has filled in.
Ma, che bellissima!

  We were out for a drive in the nearby countryside when I spied this lonely, but beautiful tree, all in it's spring glory. I knew I would want to return to see how it looked after the fact.

Ooohhh...

A bit less impressive, but a big change over the whole area.

  I have done many posts and shared lots of pictures of the various astounding wisteria we see in the 'hood.

  These are so fun to watch, because when we arrive they are basically bare branches, then we watch as they come into amazing full bloom, which lasts about ten seconds, then they just leaf out into a lusciousness of soft green.

  There are several I obsess over, this being one, below...

   

Before full bloom....

...and during!

Same area, different angle, which shows the bottom half.

I can almost smell the sweet perfume, baby!

  Just outside, and to the right of our apartment windows, we watch this tangle of wisteria and a massive yellow banksia rose go off. 

  I love opening the kitchen window on a warm day to let the fragrance wander in....

Our windows are out of the shot, just to the left.
(Ciao, Diletta!)

Same spot, well after the blooms have gone.

  Just a couple more shots of wisteria porn…. in bloom.. and after the bloom is done..

Notice the caper plant hanging onto the wall, too.

  And just around the corner.....

  Our view outside the kitchen window is wonderful. The small public park...which goes through such a dramatic transformation, I have to post three stages of change!

Uno....

...Due...

...Tre!
Seriously green! Green on green!!

  Well, I guess one of my favorite changes is the one I create myself. 

  It would be the little garden I make every year. It gives me so much pleasure, and it seems to put smiles on the faces of folks who walk by. I look forward to doing this every year!

Plants just planted....

...looking all filled in as we are heading home.
I know the next guest will enjoy them.

  Next trip, I'll have to keep my eyes peeled for some good Before and After shots from some places I haven't seen yet.
  This will be a challenge I look forward to very much.

  See ya soon, Panicale...(not soon enough, though!).