By Alana Mitchelson
ITALIAN couple, the Scuglias, showcased their beautiful flower garden and vegetable patch for a dozen special guests last week.
Raffaelina and Michael Scuglia hosted the Cardinia Diabetes Awareness Group’s latest social meeting at their two-and-a-half acre Pakenham property on Wednesday 9 November for their friend Meryl Waterhouse, serving morning tea with a selection of herbal teas freshly picked from the garden.
Raffaelina said the group’s visit could not have been better timed as her rose garden was in full bloom.
She said more than 500 roses had flowered this year – ranging from Queen Elizabeths to blue moons, Mister Lincolns, pink carpet roses and golden bunnies.
Their garden is decorated with an array of rose variations, brightening up the front and backyards with different shades of pink.
Michael can often be found working away in his veggie patch.
He is currently growing silver beet, lettuce, rhubarb, potatoes, tomato, corn and broccoli.
The Scuglias’ neighbours, family and friends are all lucky to receive fresh produce all-year round.
Raffaelina also preserves fruit and makes her own jams. They have previously run their own fruit shops in Pakenham and Noble Park.
The property had been a native garden when the moved to Pakenham 28 years ago.
“My parents would visit and my mother would say that we had to get rid of all those gum trees because you can’t eat them,” Raffaelina said.
“Our love of growing our own produce dates back to our life in Italy.
“We both came from Conflenti in Calabria. We were neighbours.
“I came to Australia when l was six years old and Michael came out when he was 22 looking for more work opportunities.
“We met in Australia many years later and it was love at first sight.”
