Thirty years ago journalist Joan Marble and her sculptor husband, Robert Cook, bought an unpromising piece of land near the little hamlet of Canale, north of Rome where the ancient Etruscans once lived. Here they built a house and, more important, set out to start a wonderful garden.
All was not easy, however. They faced blank incomprehension from the local inhabitants. "Why do you want to have a garden here?" they were asked. "There's no water, the ground is like cement, it's too cold in winter and too hot in summer, it never rains. . . ." But Joan and Robert's enthusiasm for the land, their ignorance of the obstacles that faced them, their downright obstinacy and the unexpected friends who helped them -- all served to conquer the intransigent terrain.
"I fell in love with Etruria one chilly evening in the middle of winter," says Joan. "They were having a New Year's Eve festival in a little town near Campagnano, and a group of local boys dressed in Renaissance costumes were marching in a torchlight parade down the main street. As I stood there in the cold watching the flames lurching to the sky, I realized that I felt very much at home in this ancient place. If ever we should decide to move to the country, this was the kind of place I would choose....."
Inspirational, aspirational, enchanting -- this is an account of a passion for a place and an obsession with a garden that will charm all who love Italy, gardening, and life.

Notes from an Italian Garden

Crafts, Hobbies & Home

Marble, Joan

Gardening & Landscape Design

WilliamMr

Thirty years ago journalist Joan Marble and her sculptor husband, Robert Cook, bought an unpromising piece of land near the little hamlet of Canale, north of Rome where the ancient Etruscans once lived. Here they built a house and, more important, set out to start a wonderful garden.All was not easy, however. They faced blank incomprehension from the local inhabitants. "Why do you want to have a garden here?" they were asked. "There's no water, the ground is like cement, it's too cold in winter and too hot in summer, it never rains. . . ." But Joan and Robert's enthusiasm for the land, their ignorance of the obstacles that faced them, their downright obstinacy and the unexpected friends who helped them -- all served to conquer the intransigent terrain."I fell in love with Etruria one chilly evening in the middle of winter," says Joan. "They were having a New Year's Eve festival in a little town near Campagnano, and a group of local boys dressed in Renaissance costumes were marching in a torchlight parade down the main street. As I stood there in the cold watching the flames lurching to the sky, I realized that I felt very much at home in this ancient place. If ever we should decide to move to the country, this was the kind of place I would choose....."Inspirational, aspirational, enchanting -- this is an account of a passion for a place and an obsession with a garden that will charm all who love Italy, gardening, and life.

Notes From An Italian Garden

DOUBLEDAY

Joan Marble has lived in a 16th-century Roman Palazzo apartment for 30 years. A lifetime of integrating with the Romans and gardening on her beloved terrace above the rooftops has resulted in this memoir. Highly personal and containing anecdote, history, and insight, Joan's experience of Rome and Romans is infected by her contagious fascination for plants, a hobby she shares every week with The Women's Gardening Club of Rome.

Notes from a Roman Terrace

Arts & Photography

Transworld Pub

Notes From a Roman Terrace

Travel

Europe

Black Swan.

Thirty years ago Joan Marble and her sculptor husband Robert Cook bought an unpromising piece of land near the little hamlet of Canale in an area north of Rome that was home to the ancient Etruscans. Here they built a house and, more importantly, grew a wonderful garden. 'Why do you want to have a garden here?' the local inhabitants asked. 'There's no water, the ground is like cement, it's too cold in winter and too hot in summer...' But Joan and Robert's enthusiasm, their ignorance of the obstacles that faced them, their downright obstinacy, the unexpected friends who helped them - all served to conquer the intransigent terrain.

Notes From An Italian Garden (CH)

Cookbooks, Food & Wine

Charnwood

"This description of making heaven on earth is an unlooked-for delight." INDEPENDENT ON SUNDAY Joan Marble has lived in a sixteenth-century Roman palazzo apartment with her husband, Robert, for over forty years. A lifetime of mingling with the citizens of Rome and pottering about on her beloved terrace above the city rooftops has resulted in this witty book. Woven among tales of escapades to famous Italian rose gardens are her informed views on everyday life in the city; of partying, politics and popes; of bicycle thieves, cat-catchers and gardening ladies. Imbued with a special feel for history and human observation, and scattered with serious green-fingered tips, this idiosyncratic study of Joan's beloved, adopted home will delight armchair gardeners and travellers alike.

Notes From A Roman Terrace (CH)

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