From a Tuscan Hillside: The Fence at Last!

Friday, August 7, 2015

The Fence at Last!

Le Ripe has its Fence at Last

It has been almost two years since the Le Ripe Saga of the Fence began (see side column for the whole gory story).

The principal reason for the Fence was protection against marauding and destructive wildlife.

On this very day we can cut the ribbon, pour the champagne, crow with joy and felicitation, for the Fence has been completed, thanks to our trusty gardening team.

While the last gate was constructed in situ and the last wire stretched, we began, tentatively at first and then with increasing courage, to release our poor trees and bushes from their wire cages. Some trees have been imprisoned since 2006.

As one of the gardeners remarked, recingere per sentirsi liberi or 'liberated by fencing', an irony of sorts but welcome and hard won.

The Fence marches over 600 metres with three tractor-width gates and two pedestrian gates. And it closes our plants in.

Now we can only imagine and exult in the frustration of the myriad deer, boar and porcupine which must be stalking about the perimeter - on the OTHER SIDE, unable to get in.

Callooh! Callay! Hip-hip hooray.

1 comment:

Helen MartinAugust 8, 2015 at 7:41 AM
Oh frabjous day! I can hear you chortling from the other side of the world.
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Situated on a hillside, Le Ripe in Chianti has an orchard with heritage fruit trees, an organic vegetable garden, a row of 18 olives, wild figs, wild grapes, dozens of lavender bushes, a medieval hortus conclusus,a shrubbery, English roses and drifts of bulbs, all requiring labour and love but giving much pleasure in return.

The farm buildings, once home, stable, sty and byre, now renovated, host our friends and family. The cottage, a former barn, and two apartments in the main building, once stable and stall, are rented to guests who come by the week or longer. For more information on staying at Le Ripe, see our rental website.

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