The stay to "I Calmi"
   
   
In winter, when everything is covered with snow, the view from "I Calmi" is a scene of great peace and beauty extending over a large part of the valley.  On the Asiago Plateau and on Monte Grappa, the snow generally falls from the end of November to March, sometimes even into April. On their highest slopes, the nearby mountains offer facilities for all snow sports and especially for cross-country skiing and ski mountaineering.
   
 
Spring comes early, announced in February by the blooming of snowdrops and anemones, while in March the undergrowth is carpeted with primroses. The hazel trees and cornelian cherry dogwood blossom early too and, in April, the wild cherry trees burst into flower, while the meadows are newly clothed in green and studded with golden dandelions and other edible species. This is also the period when the soil is prepared for sowing crops, the last pruning is carried out and, if the temperature is favourable, farmers start sowing seeds and planting protected species.
 
 

In May the largest number of species is in flower, while the woods of hornbeam, manna ash, with the rarer maples and oaks (especially pubescent oak) have almost completely acquired their new foliage. Now is the time to pick cherries, the first raspberries are ripening, followed by redcurrants, white currants and blackcurrants, while apricots and green and gold plums are starting to appear.

 
 
Towards mid June the first warm days arrive and at the same time the chestnut trees bloom, followed by the little-leaf linden which, at the highest altitudes, has a prolonged period of bloom well into July, which is very important for the bees. Meanwhile summer arrives at its height with lots of sun and at night people are tempted to sleep in the open.
   

Cornus mas (Cornelian cherry dogwood)

 

Between the end of August and the beginning of September it is time to pick the purple plums, as well as the first apples and pears. In the vegetable garden the season ends with the appearance of the last tomatoes and a few courgettes, while aubergines and peppers reach the peak of ripeness. The potatoes, which are not very large but tasty, have all been lifted from the ground and the corn cobs for maize and polenta flour are nearly ready. Meanwhile the reddish pumpkins are swelling. The honeycombs are taken from the hives and the golden honey poured into jars.

     
 
By mid September the grapes are ripe and the perfume of their juice fills the air; the last cornelians and wild blackberries can still be found. Now the apples and pears have all been picked, while the quinces turn yellow, indicating that they too are ready to be plucked from the branch, placed in boxes and preserved.
       
 
In October the prickly husks that enclose the sweet local chestnuts begin to fall and it is time to light a fire in the fireplace. The last fruit still to be picked, before the first frost, is the kiwi. Meanwhile the woods have turned yellow and the dry leaves form a carpet along the paths. November generally brings heavy rainfall and the river swells as it flows faster down towards the nearby plain.
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I Calmi - Via Oliero di Sopra, 50B - 36020 Valstagna (VI), Veneto, Italia - Tel./ Fax : 0039.049.603269 Cell. : 338.1422614