Let me start right off with “There’s no place like home.” This is regardless of a lovely 12 days in Italy. I have material for weeks of columns.

The weather was perfect and it seems they were a full three weeks ahead of us garden-wise. The wisteria was in full bloom everywhere. Bridal Wreath spirea was in full flower all along the highways and at the edges of fields. Rapeseed covered the fields in yellow. It is the mustard like plant from which they make canola oil. The olives and grapes were just getting under way.

I saw fields of artichokes about 18 inches tall. Mine are a mere two inches, if that. The roadsides and ancient ruins were awash in red poppies. The street markets were full of beautiful asparagus and haricot verte. I bought a fennel and ate it like an apple.

What can I say about the food... It may just be possible to max out on pasta.

Huge kudos to Jonah Maidoff from the Martha’s Vineyard Public Charter School. He organized an incredible and aggressive itinerary. There was not a free moment. He, as the social studies teacher in the MVPCS middle school, also had a remarkable grasp of the ancient art world. All of us came away much more informed about the world at large.

My favorite part was the day we spent in Orvieto, a town between Rome and Florence. We rode a cable car up to the city. The bird’s-eye view of the Italian countryside was spectacular.

We took a guided tour to the “underground.” This is a series of cavities dug 3,000 years ago into volcanic rock. Everything to sustain the cities inhabitants had been provided. There were pigeon holes cut into areas so that the birds could come and go and also provide food for probably the Etruscans when they were under siege. Ancient olive presses were still obvious and most likely could still be used. We had lunch in a glass room built into an outdoor courtyard. I loved the way terraces and gardens were part of the houses and/or restaurants.

It was shocking to arrive home and see the incredible growth in my own garden. The forsythia had not shown color when we left. My tulips were all in bloom and remarkably untouched by the deer. Weeds are way over a foot tall. Yikes! I have much to do. I hope to keep some of the simplicity in my daily tasks that I observed among the Italians.

One thing that was alarming and oddly comforting were the number of soldiers with machine guns. It was difficult to see so many at the Vatican and in the subways. I guess it is the new reality — our poor children’s world!!!

I spoke to several people from the UK, Canada, France and, of course, Italy. One of the first things they asked was “what’s the matter with Americans? Donald Trump???”

One of the Italian women commented: “We were equally embarrassed by Silvio Berlusconi.”

An English woman remarked: “America is a young country...it’s like a teenager.” There you have it.

Martha’s Vineyard can hold its own in the world’s most beautiful places. Happy to be home.