by Marianne Binetti

Northern Italy reminds me of Washington state — the snowcapped peaks of the Alps surround crystal-clear lakes and the mild climate allows for beautiful and diverse gardens. So I declare the lakes district of Italy the most beautiful place in the world for visiting show gardens.

We recently returned from exploring the gardens near Bellagio on Lake Como (the real Bellagio, not the Vegas imitation) and Stresa on Lake Maggiore. We took home more than great wine, olive oil and photographs. We took home ideas from these classic gardens that surround centuries-old villas, which are not only practical but water-saving as well.

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Source: http://www.theolympian.com/