Spring cherry blossom in our orchard

Our friend the hoopoe

It’s nice to hear our friends the cuckoo and hoopoe calling cheerfully again, and to see the forests turning green and the orchards of Val di Pozzo in blossom. Spring and early summer is a wonderful time of year for walking and birdwatching here… and it’s quite common to see families of boar with tiny striped piglets crossing the track ahead of you.

Spring produce in the local open-air markets includes fresh artichokes sold by the bunch, bundles of wild asparagus, and the first crunchy green baccelli of the season.

Baccelli beans and pecorino cheese