One of the things I complain about here in Italy is that I don’t have a garden. In fact, I don’t have much of an outside space at all, and although I’m hoping for a terrace when we finally buy our own place, all I have at the  moment is a couple of balconies. One of the balconies is pretty much permanently dedicated to drying laundry, and the other has been impossible to access for a while due to a broken shutter and it’s been driving me nuts.
The other day I finally managed to cobble together a solution for the shutter (temporary – even the carpenter shrugged his shoulders and told me the landlady needs to shell out for new windows) so I can go out onto the other balcony again. The sunshine was beautiful and it was lovely to be out, so I decided to create a little green space in the city out there. What with, is the question? I toyed with the idea of creating a blast of colour with some flowers but my practical side (and my love of cooking) won out and I decided on a herb garden. I now no longer need to buy herbs! I have fresh rosemary, basil, mint, thyme, sage and celery and a couple of strawberry plants that are already looking rather promising… There’s only one problem.

I am HOPELESS at gardening!

I don’t know how it’s possible since my mother has the proverbial green fingers, and it’s certainly not that I don’t enjoy being out in the garden or working with plants. I find it therapeutic actually, and really enjoy the contact with nature. I somehow manage to mess up every time I try to grow anything though, and it had been a while since I had bothered even making an attempt.

I am trying really hard to do the basics, like remember to water the plants and check for pests etc, and I’m hoping that the fact that the plants have a practical use and that I turn to them relatively regularly to add flavour to my meals will encourage me to do so… so far, so good! Time will only tell whether or not my Italian herb garden will survive, but in the meantime it’s good practice for when one day I finally get my Terrace… keep your fingers crossed for me will you?

With love, from Italy