It has been a great joy to watch my late grandfather’s garden, once the start of my fascination for everything Sicily and the inspiration behind my book ‘Sicily - a material research - slowly being restored to its former glory.

 

I hadn’t stepped foot on this enormous piece of land since his passing, almost 15 years ago. The garden became a deserted wildernis, until now - I am grateful to my family for restoring this piece of his legacy.

 

These flowers, chrysanthemums, are only grown once a year, especially for the first week of November, or more precisely, for the 2nd of November. On Il Giorno dei Morti (All Souls’ Day), a deeply rooted tradition, the chrysanthemums are taken to the cemetery to honor and celebrate those who have passed.