A Morning at a Tuscan Flower Farm in the Heart of the Val d’Orcia 🌸

Some dreams smell like wildflowers and cypress trees.

For many of the women on our recent Tuscany & Umbria retreat, their favourite experience happened beneath a 100-year-old olive tree in the heart of the Val d’Orcia.

It wasn’t a village or a meal, it was a flower farm.

Hidden among the rolling hills of the Val d’Orcia, just outside the Renaissance town of Pienza, we spent one of the most memorable mornings of our week learning to gather flowers, create something beautiful with our hands, and linger over one of the longest lunches of the trip.

It quickly became everyone’s favourite day.

As we arrived, we were welcomed with Italian spritzes before gathering around a rustic workshop with our wonderful host, Teresa. She began by demonstrating the art of creating a hand-tied bouquet before leading us through the flower fields themselves.  Basket in hand, we wandered slowly through rows of seasonal blooms, learning how to cut each stem correctly and how to choose a beautiful balance of flowers and foliage.

In late May the gardens are overflowing with treasures such as, Cosmos, Roses, Poppies, Snapdragon, Queen Anne’s LaceFragrant herbs and eucalyptus foliage.  Each of us collected around 25 stems before making our way back to the workshop.

Every Bouquet Told a Story

The next hour flew by, and something rather lovely happened. Conversation slowed, smiles were beaming and my heart felt so full, we all got busy creating. Every arrangement reflected the woman making it. Some were wild and colourful. Others were elegant and understated.

Even those who arrived saying, “I’m not creative at all,” quickly became completely absorbed in the process. By the end, every single bouquet was different, and every single one was beautiful. It wasn’t about perfection. It was about creating something with your own hands.

Lunch Beneath the 100 year old Olive Tree

Waiting for us beneath the farm’s magnificent 100-year-old olive tree was a leisurely lunch of homemade gnocchi with rich tomato sugo, local wine poured generously, fresh seasonal produce, and quite possibly the most delicious strawberry panna cotta I’ve ever tasted. Nobody wanted to leave, we really slowed do

The conversations stretched long into the afternoon, glasses were refilled, and time seemed to disappear altogether.

A Little Piece of Tuscany to take home..

Perhaps my favourite part? Every woman took her bouquet back to the villa.  For the rest of the week, their rooms were filled with flowers they had picked and arranged themselves, a beautiful reminder of the day each time they walked through the door. It quickly became one of the most talked-about experiences of the entire retreat.   

We have only one spot left for our 2027 Tuscany & Umbria retreat 

🌿 Spring Table Retreat — Tuscany & Umbria
📍 Piegaro, Italy
📅 22–28 May 2027

🏡 Private countryside farmhouse
💃🏻 Intimate group of women
🍷 All-inclusive accommodation, meals, wine, transfers and all experiences

To keep things pressure-free, we’re offering a $500 fully refundable deposit to secure your place, with flexible payment plans available.