Saint Patrick's Day

spring weather today

Spring weather and garden catalogs seem to go together. My mail is packed with beautiful flowering pictures of plants, veggies, flowers, trees. The mood is right for thinking garden. This nice weather really sets the scene.
Tomato trees and long climbing tomato vines look interesting, never tried them have you? Mine are plain old tomato plants, not complaining.

My parents planted artichokes, cardoons. that I would like to try my skills with this year. The plant itself is attractive, and large and requires space. Has anyone out there some input about these plants raising them in gardens?

Time for my break, and my cup of Mint Tea. Mint raised from my own garden and dried and produced into Mint Tea, truly deliciious! Nita

Roberto Ferruzzi artist of Madonnina

Ferruzzi's first exhibition of the painting was in Venice Italy, in 1897. Roberto Ferruzzi's beautiful painting of the "Madonnina" was given to me by my daughter Maria. Her boss brought it back with him from a recent trip to Italy. It is very beautiful, and she asked me to do some research about the painting.

Apparently, the painting has been referred to with several names. Another title used has been "Madonna of the Streets." However, there was some resentment from the town's people that the title was not appropriate, because of the connection of Madonna and streets. The name "Madonnina" refers to "little mother." because she is holding a child. The child she is holding was her baby brother.

Sister Angela Marie Bovo a Catholic nun from the Order of St. Joseph of Carondelet, discovered the "Madonnina" in the picture was her mother, and began her search about the picture.

The St. Anthony Messenger magazine published a story relative to history of the picture. January 2000 issue.