"The Earth laughs in Flowers"

"The earth laughs in flowers."
-Ralph Waldo Emerson

If this is true, there is a lot of laughter in Italy, especially in Castiglion Fiorentino. One of the first things I noticed during our tour and walks through the city was that most houses had flowers and gardens around. The gardens were bright and beautiful and looked to be well taken care of. This was proven when we walked past a house as the owner was walking out to water her flowers.

Along with the flowers, some houses even had fruit growing close by. On our tour, we passed a spot with strawberrys growing on top of the wall. Later while on a walk right around the corner from Santa Chiara, I also spotted a small lemon tree (and the elusive cat that meows all day). So many gardens is not a common site in my neighborhood back home in Texas so the change in scenery is very much welcomed.

Flowers always seem to brighten up a space and my mood. Luckily there is no shortage of laughter here in Italy and I look forward to visiting even bigger gardens like the Boboli Gardens in Florence!

Erin Fore