Reflecting on the Papal Gardens

In our last days in Italy I have started to reflect on my time here, the people, the places, and the plants. I know that when we get back most conversations will center on where we went and my favorite and least favorite parts of the trip. While perhaps not the most beautiful, I do think the most peaceful garden we visited was the Papal Garden in Castel Gandolfo. Maybe it was the small town atmosphere after the hustle and bustle of Rome, or the fact that the gardens have only recently been opened to the public so the garden felt quiet and undisturbed. My favorite part of that particular garden was a quiet space in the back of the garden with a lily pond in front of a statue of the Virgin Mary where a previous Pope came to pray. While the space itself was beautiful I was drawn in by the water lilies growing in the pond itself.

Water lilies are part of the Nymphaeaceae family and are considered basal angiosperms. They grow as rhizomatous aquatic herbs with their roots submerged in a body of water and their leaves and flowers floating on the surface. There are two types of water lilies, hardy and tropical with tropical lilies being separated into day and night blooming. Lilies can grow well in any USDA hardy zone; however, tropical waterlilies can become highly invasive in mild Mediterranean climates. Lilies require a lot of sunlight in order to grow and bloom and prefer still or slow moving water. Lilies provide both an aesthetic and functional purpose when planted in a pond. Water lilies function in a pond is to create an ecosystem where fish and other animals can live by providing shade which limits the growth of algae and the temperature of the water. These plants also help to recycle nutrients and keep the water clean. So when I’m asked what my favorite place in Italy was, I think I’ll have to say this spot, not just because of the water lilies, but they definitely did help.

-Lisa C. Maciques

Let Me Paint You A Picture: Uffizi Gallery Museum

To me, horticulture is the perfect blend of art and science. You can find horticulture everywhere you look. From the clothes you wear, to the cup of coffee or tea you sip, there is no denying that horticulture is an essential part of life. Nevertheless, one aspect of this amazing field I had not fully considered until coming to Italy, was that horticulture also links us to our past, as it is clearly depicted in many forms of art from all through the ages.

I found it intriguing that since plants were key elements in many works of art, we can gain a new perspective of what life was like back in the day. This also serves as a way to study the evolution of crop domestication, where certain varieties of plants originated from, as well as how plants have changed throughout time.

Yesterday we took our very last field trip to Florence and toured the Uffizi Gallery Museum. Before the Uffizi was gallery, it was actually an administrative office building for the wealthy and powerful Medici family. Uffizi literally translates to "Palace of Offices".  One of my favorite pieces of art displayed at the Uffizi Gallery was the La Primavera by Botticelli. Botticlli painted this masterpiece in 1482 for Lorenzo di Pierfrancesco de’ Medici. On the left side of the painting there is a women in a floral printed dress. She is Flora, the goddess of flowers and the season of spring. Venus is featured in the center of the painting, seemingly framed by the other figures and as well as the line of trees, drawing your eye to her. On the right side of Venus, you can find the Three Graces and a man who is Mercury. 

There are many speculations about what story the painting is trying to convey, but to me it perfectly captures the whimsically time of early renaissance and the anticipation for spring. It also amazes me that the La Primavera contains 500 plant species and 190 different flowers, all of which could be commonly found growing during that fantastic age of art and culture. 

While I have always loved the science side of horticulture, I am coming to appreciate the art in horticulture a lot more. The study of our environment has always fascinated me, and it is because of this that I choose horticulture as a degree and future occupation. Coming on this amazing study abroad program and learning about international horticulture has been the highlight of my collegiate career thus far. I am looking forward to continuing my education as well as my life journey. So for the last time from Italy, grazie and gig 'em!

-Lauren K

The All-Pervasive Acanthus (All-Over Italy)

Basilica of Santa Maria Novella, Florence

Boboli Gardens, Florence

Acanthus. This beautiful flower has caught my eye ever since I first arrived in Italy and saw it’s long spike inflorescence. Originally I related it to Bells of Ireland because of the relatable spike-like shape but I soon found out I was completely wrong. Not only did this flower pop out to me in gardens and the like but it also surrounded me in the architecture and paintings that practically cover the extent of Italian geography. In architecture, it is not so much the flower that designers etched on to these beautiful columns but the leaves. In lecture we learned that the acanthus has been in the minds of builders from many periods in time. The design of the acanthus has morphed and changed but still always related back to the spiny leaves. I believe that the reason for this explosion of acanthus in architecture and design is due to the fact that the acanthus is native to the Mediterranean region. Regardless of why, it has been a comfort for me to be able to recognize at least something in all of these new surroundings. I also hope that I can somehow incorporate the acanthus into my daily life, whether it be in décor, paintings, or simply the plant in my garden. - BP

Madonna della Loggia by Sandro Botticelli, Uffizi Museum, Florence

Keeping it Contained in Castiglion Fiorentino

   During our last week in Italy I meandered through the streets of what I now consider my Italian “hometown” and soaked in the sights, colors, and sounds of Castiglion Fiorentino. The numerous shades of green are not contained to the rolling hillsides but spill out onto the winding streets and window sills of this town in various forms. One common way the locals incorporate green throughout the streets is by container gardening.

   Castiglion Fiorentino is built on a hill, like most cities in Tuscany, so the inhabited areas are dense. This makes the area on the hill left for gardens and green space within the town extremely limited. The many types of plants in the pots and window boxes soften the hard lines of the stone walls and roads. They also add a nice pop of color to the drab shades of stone.

   I have been surprised to see the use of so many succulents in Italy. Nothing like cactus to make it feel a bit more like Texas! Some containers I have seen have a few varieties of cacti in one pot, which I had never seen before this trip. Other container gardens have succulents mixed with bushes or flowers that have contrasting shapes. Sometimes people have only one plant in a container but cluster the containers together to create a line of various colors, shapes, and sizes. Container gardening should have trailing, tall, and mass plants in the pot. Diversely textured plants should be used as well in the same container.

   I love the idea of container gardening. It is a good method for adding greenery to small spaces or bringing the outdoors in. 

EN