Past Plants Parallel Present Plants

Tis a pleasure to view the Vatican Gardens, a hidden treasure that few visitors to the Vatican even know exists. From the lush, green lawns encompassing the papal palace to St. Mary’s grotto to the giant Vatican Seal made out of flowers, the gardens offer beauty, serenity, and a behind-the-scenes look at the inner workings of Vatican City.

Even with its wide variety of extravagant plants and statuary, one of the gardens' most interesting offerings comes in one of its simplest offerings. Off of the main path, a small trail contains a row solely made up of the world's most historic plants: plants mentioned in the Bible. Each plant is planted in chronological order based on their appearance in the Bible. In addition, the Vatican Gardens, as a whole, houses every plant species ever mentioned in the Bible. In the BC era, people utilized plants such as olives, garlic, and aloes in everyday life, plants that people still use today. These plants put the past into perspective by connecting the past and the present. Man has made huge strides in horticultural practices since ancient times, but the same plants still remain, providing sustenance, beauty, medicines, and luxuries to the world. The world has the power to change any time it wants, but in order to live, Earth and mankind have always relied and will continue to rely on the durability of plants. - Nathan Monger