Situated in the mountains of Northern Italy, we enjoyed some time in Riva on the northern tip of Lake Garda. It's a stunning place with the dramatic turquoise of the huge lake and abundant with lush green foliage and plants set amidst the rugged mountain ranges. Lake Garda is situated halfway between Verona and Grescia and halfway between Venice and Milan.
The climate is ideal for typical Mediterranean plants with the hot summer months and mild winters, but there can be rainfall especially in spring and late autumn, hence the lucious greenery and abundance of colourful plants. There is a lovely cooling wind called the Ora, which blows down from the south each day, giving a unique, but predictable and pleasant climate, especially in the hot summer months.
Riva is a colourful place, there are plenty of typical Mediterranean plants and the front promenades and gardens are full of bougenvillia - trees, plants and small shrub varieties - in arrays of mixed pastel and vibrant colours. The area has plenty of exotic palms mixed with cypress and willow trees fringe parts of the lake. They provide welcome shade in the heat of the day.
High summer plants edge the lakes and pools of the gardens and parks - agapanthus with its blue hues, the bright oranges of crocosia and purples of buddleia bushes. There are plenty of summer rose beds giving off heady scents in the heat and I think the cream scented flowers on the yucca plants must be the best I've ever seen.
