Exploring Italian Gardens

It seems I can’t stay away from gardens. A recent trip to Italy was meant to be a break from work and, therefore, all things horticultural but the chance to explore a couple of Italian gardens was too good to miss.

The weather was glorious and both gardens were the perfect way to escape the hustle and bustle of first Lucca and then Florence. (I’d deliberately left the camera at home so these are just phone snaps.)

The Botanical Garden of Lucca

We’d been to Lucca a few times before but I hadn’t realised it has a botanic garden. Set just inside the walls that encircle this Tuscan city, it was founded in 1820 and is run by the municipal authority.

One of the main features is a small arboretum and there are many magnificent trees including a Cedar of Lebanon that was planted in 1822. It also has a collection of rhododendrons and camellias – obviously not in flower for our visit – pond with bog plants, glasshouses and a botanical school.

I spotted several things that were familiar, such as zinnia, hibiscus and, to my delight, sunflowers.

There were lots of unfamiliar things too – these plumeria were really striking.

And a few things that need to be handled with care – both the Ochrosia elliptica and Cascabeia thevetia are poisonous.

Even in early autumn, there was plenty of colour to be seen.

A walkway gave great views over the garden. You can also look into it from the city walls, which you can cycle or walk around.

The pond and bog garden were a tranquil spot on a hot day and a good illustration of how you don’t need anything more than green to create something lovely.

The Bardini Garden, Florence

Think of Italian gardens and the chances are it will be the Boboli in Florence that comes to mind. However, having visited that several times in the past, we decided to go to the less well known Bardini Garden.

Set on a steep hillside, it was home to a succession of wealthy families but is now run by a foundation and open to the public with the villa used for exhibitions and events.

The garden has three distinct areas – the grand stairway built in the 18th century, which dominates the central part, an Anglo-Chinese garden with water features, and fruit garden with traditional Tuscan fruits.

The climb to the top is worth it for the views. The Belvedere also has a good cafe.

There were still roses in the small rose garden and alongside the orchard where different methods of growing fruit trees are demonstrated.

The Anglo-Chinese section was a complete contrast to the other areas of the garden.

Best of all, The Bardini Garden was quiet in comparison to the Boboli. Perfect for escaping the crowds of Florence.

More information on both Italian gardens can be found on their websites: The Botanical Garden of Lucca and The Bardini Garden.

You can read about more of my garden visits here.

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