I love gardens.  I love touring renowned gardens, both grand and petite.  I love puttering in my own garden (although I'm not a great gardener by any stretch of the imagination.)  And I love books on fabulous gardens throughout the world.

And because I love all things Italian, I have a special affinity for Italian gardens: from the perfectly symmetrical and very grand, formal  palazzo gardens of Isola Bella where peacocks and parrots freely roam - to the wilder, southern beauty of the garden at Villa Tritone overlooking the Gulf of Sorrento.  These gardens are "heart stoppingly" gorgeous.  Enchanted places where you feel enveloped by not only the history of the site, but by the utter romance of the setting. 

Two of my favorite books, highlighting exquisite Italian gardens: Italian Gardens: From Petrarch to Russell Page by Helena Attlee, and Italian Gardens by Judith Wade.

While I know my gardens will never look like the beauties in these books; it gives me tremendous pleasure to pore over the beautiful photographs, and get inspiration for one flower, of perhaps a tree, that will also work in my space!  Whether you're a gardener or not, these books are captivating.