BOTANY OPUNTIA FICUS-INDICA By CARLA DE AGOSTINI Opuntia ficus-indica , better known as prickly pear, is a succulent plant, with thick and fleshy leaves, belonging to the family of Cactaceae and it is xerophilous, that is living preferably in arid environments, where it can also reach 5 meters of height. The plant does not have a main trunk, its stems are cladodes, commonly known as paddles, which take care of photosynthesis, whereas its leaves with time have evolved into thorns. Its great ability to adapt in unfavorable environments is also due to its unique photosynthesis that limits water loss. This photosynthetic pathway, called Crassulaceae Acid Metabolism or CAM, separates the processes of assimilation and fixation of CO2 over time. CAM plants, in fact, open their stomata at night and not during the day to absorb carbon dioxide. This happens because at night temperatures are lower and the plant loses less water than it would during the day, when it closes its stomata and converts energy into simple sugars. This type of photosynthesis increases the ability of succulent plants to maintain water balance, which is why most CAM plants occupy arid or saline environments, and in general all those in which water availability is periodically low. The origin of the epithet Opuntia ficus-indica has been debated: according to someone it derives from an ancient region of Greece, Locris Opuntia and from its capital city Opunte, near which the writings of Pliny the Elder reported about a plant with tasty fruits rooting from the branches. With time, however it has been confirmed the plant is native to Mexico and the botanical name is therefore due to the morphological similarity of its fruit with the Mediterranean fig and to its geographical origin, West Indies. According to a legend, at the time of Spanish conquerors, the emperor of Aztecs, Montezuma, used to receive as tribute from the subjugated states sacks full of grain. That is a cochineal (Dactylopius coccus) parasite of the cladodes of prickly pear, from whose dried body it is possible to extract the dye of carmine red, useful for dyeing ceramics, fabrics and architectures, of a tonality so intense never seen before. Its coloring power is in fact ten times stronger and more persistent than kermes, considered until then the best product for red dyeing, so much so that the Spaniards decided to keep the process hidden for almost two and a half centuries, creating a monopoly of cochineals grain, which became among the most demanded goods. Among the biggest buyers there were the English who particularly cared about the color of their uniforms, the famous red coats. Until 1777 finally a French doctor was able to discover the process. Once obtained the information the English exported to Australia the plant and its cochineals, in the hope of making plantations to make the grain, but despite the apparently perfect climate, the insects did not survive. On the contrary, prickly pears became infesting plants damaging pastures and territory: it is estimated that in 1920 they were spread on more than 30 million hectares, with a rate of conquest of half a million hectares per year! An enormous damage which still today is trying to be remedied by looking for solutions. In Europe the plant was introduced for the its fascination and in the sixteenth century it became an important protagonist of botanical gardens, both for reasons of scientific curiosity and for its ornamental vocation. Success was also confirmed by the frequency with which the plant is represented in drawings or figurative arts, such as the Fountain of the Four Rivers in Piazza Navona, where Bernini put Opuntia in the background of the representation of the Rio de la Plata. Throughout the Mediterranean basin, its ability to adapt and propagate has facilitated its reproduction, especially on the Italian islands, where the prickly pear has acclimatized to become a characteristic feature of the landscape and is often used as a windbreak or fence for flocks. It has also proved to be an inexhaustible source of products and functions. The plant was immediately appreciated for the forage use of its cladodes and for its fruit, which can be eaten fresh or used to make juices, liqueurs, jellies, jams, sweeteners and much more. In Mexico, the young cladodes, known as nopalitos, are also eaten and used as fresh vegetables. Sicily has historically had the widest range of uses. It is in fact grown in inland areas, where the fruit is even called the 'bread of the poor', and in coastal areas, tending to be grown in fruit gardens for productive use and pleasure. The Sicilian peasant tradition is rich in prickly pear products, from its liqueur to mostaccioli (typical biscuits) and mustard. In 1891, René Bazin, a French writer of the late 19th century, wrote that "with twenty or so prickly pears... a Sicilian finds a way to have breakfast, lunch, dinner and sing in the interval". And it is from the Sicilian, and in part Sardinian, shovels that the prickly pear arrives and invades Eritrea, planted both by 19th century Italian missionaries and by migrants of the first Italian colonization. Here, the beles, the name in Eritrean, are not only the fruit but also the nickname jokingly given by peers from the Horn of Africa to second-generation Eritreans living in Italy, because they arrive with the same punctuality as the fruit: in the summer rainy season, and then leave again. Today, Opuntia ficus-indica is used for a wide variety of products, both for its high nutritional value, rich in minerals, especially calcium, phosphorus and vitamin C, and for its mucilage, the substance that allows the plant to have water reserves. Thanks to this, the prickly pear has become a major player in eco-sustainable innovations. For example, a Mexican professor of chemical engineering, Sandra Pascoe Ortiz, has patented a plastic and biodegradable material: by mixing prickly pear juice with glycerin, proteins and natural waxes, she has obtained a liquid which, after being laminated and dried, becomes a completely non-toxic, biodegradable and edible bioplastic. In Italy, too, alternative uses of prickly pears are proliferating. For example, a glue for fresco restoration work has been experimented with using mucilage, and a textile industry has obtained cruelty-free eco-leather from its waste. But that's not all, there are also sunglasses made from their fibers, furniture and sculptural lamps made from the waste from shovels that are entirely biodegradable at the end of their life! GALLERY Photo ©CRISTINA ARCHINTO Link Giardino di Valeria Parco Paternò del Toscano Giardino Botanico di Pallanca Giardino Botanico Villa Rocca MORE ENVIRONMENT AND BOTANY Poppies and bees Vie cave Trees Caño Cristales Palmeti Palm trees Caldara di Manziana Steep land Tiber

Terrimago projects FOR YOUR GARDEN Terrimago is specialized in the image of gardens and houses. With the photographs of Cristina Archinto Terrimago creates ad hoc editorial products to help promote gardens, parks, historic houses, accommodation facilities and wineries. Internet sites, books and merchandising are all rigorously refined and cared for in every detail to make your garden grow outside its natural boundaries . sites BOOKS gadget Terrimago is specialized in assisting gardens and homes. It promotes gardens, parks, historic houses, accommodation facilities and wineries through the creation of various editorial products. In order to make these entities known and appreciated, Terrimago realizes photographic shoots, websites, books, merchandising, all of which are rigorously refined and cared for in every detail. Garden photography Garden photography is a niche genre that requires thorough knowledge and profound love for nature’s beauty, as well as an in-depth botanical knowledge. Portraying a garden in the best possible way is much more difficult than one can imagine. Gardens change from day to day and from hour to hour, therefore the photographer needs to capture the perfect light and the most harmonious setting to properly enhance the garden and the plants. In order to transfer the natural environments’ vitality through photography, it is necessary to grasp the lights and the shadows, the colors and all the different shapes of the flora. The reward for all this hard work is the final creation of intense and memorable images that will best portray your garden forever. How we work The first step is a meeting in which the customer's needs are thoroughly analyzed. They may involve products for private use or more complete projects such as the development of merchandising for the start-up of bookshops. After a careful analysis of data and information, the customer is presented with various options and estimates. It should be noted that all the project proposals are tailored to each customer and will always be carried out in close contact with the customer. Merchandise The starting point are the pictures taken by the experienced professional photographer Cristina Archinto, who is able to reflect the emotions and singularity of a garden, a landscape or house interior in her original and unique images. Once the photo shoots are done, Terrimago elaborates photographic projects of various kinds, from simple but popular postcards, to leaflets in different formats or publications on a larger scale, such as books and volumes. To produce the more extensive publications, Terrimago edition, with the help of Livia Danese, works with renowned professionals such as writers, journalists and illustrators to capture and highlight every aspect of the beauty and the uniqueness of each garden, park or winery. The printing is mostly made in offset by professional typographers using state-of-the-art equipment. As for the establishment of bookshops for gardens and botanical gardens, Terrimago analyzes statistics regarding the flow of visitors to calculate the redemption, or the ratio between the number of visitors and the possible purchases made at the end of the visit. This analysis allows to design products for the bookshop that correspond to the emotional value of the visit; each object has its own importance because the more the experience in the gardens is engaging, the more the purchases in the shop should be targeted. Terrimago edition also designs websites for botanical institutions using innovative and user friendly site-builders, to enable the clients to be fully autonomous in the day to day management of the website. For further information or inquiries please write to us via contact form or live chat. Terrimago grow your own garden outside its natural boundaries

Terrimago.com Passion for Nature photography Terrimago.com the webside for gardens and of the gardens Terrimago is a specialised structure created to enhance and disseminate knowledge of nature and botany and to promote gardens, parks, botanical gardens and historic houses through the production of photographic projects and publications that can be used free of charge. Terrimago Photos PHOTO SHOOTS New book In the section Terrimago photographs you can find, free of charge, articles and photographic services of gardens, botanical gardens and parks created with photographs byCristina Archinto and with texts by different authors. Stories of gardens, plants and characters, to tell this world from a different angle, more curious, historical and compelling. The latest photoshoot of gardens and botanical gardens alberi a Villa Borghese Parchi Orto Botanico di Madrid Orti Botanici Villa Pisani Giardini Garden of Villandry Gardens Meise Botanical Garden Botanical Gardens Royal Villa of Marlia Gardens Villa Marlia Giardini Orto Botanico di Meise Orti Botanici TUTTI I SERVIZI Terrimago On taking pictures To improve your shots ​ Terrimago On taking pictures is a section of Terrimago that develops in a purely photographic field,with the help of Cristina Archinto gardens and landscapes photographer for many years. MORE newsletter

JAPAN KANAZAWA Kenroku-en Garden ​ The Kenroku-en "Garden of Six Attributes" or "Garden of Six Sublimity" is an ancient private garden in the city of Kanazawa, Ishikawa Prefecture, Japan. It is considered one of the three most beautiful gardens in Japan. The large garden-park, located near the entrance to Kanazawa Castle, is famous for offering its visitors beautiful views in all seasons. Its construction can be traced back to the beginning of the 17th century by the Maeda clan, which ruled the Kaga fiefdom, but it is not easy to give an exact date of its origin. According to some, it can be made to coincide with the construction of the Tatsumi Canal in 1632 by Maeda Toshitsune, the third head of the Maeda clan from 1605 to 1639. The canal was later incorporated into the winding artificial garden river in 1822. According to others, the garden was created thanks to the fifth daimyo of Kaga, Maeda Tsunanori (r. 1645-1723). He had the building called Renchi-ochin ("lotus pond pavilion") built in 1676 on the slope in front of Kanazawa Castle, and a surrounding garden, initially called Renchi-ochin "lotus pond garden". Little is known about the structure and characteristics of the Renchi-tei, due to a fire that destroyed it almost entirely in 1759. According to documents dating back to previous years, the garden was often visited by the local nobility, who organized banquets there to contemplate the moon and autumn leaves, and to admire the horses. There is a legend linked to the sacred Fountain of Kenroku-en, according to some the oldest element of the garden remained until today: 1,200 years ago, a farmer named Tōgorō stopped at the Fountain to wash potatoes. Suddenly, fragments of gold began to rise to the surface of the water, which is why the city was called Kanazawa, "Golden Swamp. The water comes from the purification basin at the nearby Shinto shrine, and many people come to collect water for the tea ceremony at this fountain. The Shigure-tei, a tea house built in 1725 and miraculously survived the fire of 1759, seems to indicate not only the spread of this ritual in the period before the fire, but also the culture traditionally associated with it, which would have influenced the aesthetics of the garden. The Shigure-tei was also used after the fire and then completely restored during the Meiji period. Another element already present in the period before the fire of 1759 is the Kaiseki-tō pagoda, currently located on a small island in the central area of the Isago-ike pond. According to some sources it was erected by Maeda Toshitsune, third daimyo of Kaga, who lived between 1594 and 1658, and it is therefore possible that it predates the creation of the Renchi-tei garden. According to other sources, the pagoda was initially part of a 13-storey pagoda located in the Gyokusen-in garden of Kanazawa Castle, but a third source reports that it was brought from Korea by Katō Kiyomasa, returning from the military campaigns started at the behest of Toyotomi Hideyoshi, to whom it would be donated, who in turn would give it to Maeda Toshiie. If the theory is true, the pagoda arrived in the hands of the Maeda clan between 1592 and 1598, the years of Hideyoshi's attempts to conquer Korea and China. The above theories are not mutually exclusive, so it is possible that Maeda Toshiie received a 13-storey pagoda from Hideyoshi, placing it in the Gyokusen-in garden, and that subsequent daimyo would have moved to its current position, reducing the number of floors. In 1774, Maeda Harunaga, Kaga's eleventh daimyo, began restoration work on the garden, also building the Midori-taki ("Green Waterfall") and the Yūgao-tei, a tea house. Other improvements were made in 1822 when the twelfth daimyo Narinaga had the winding streams of the garden built with water from the Tatsumi canal. The thirteenth daimyo Nariyasu had more streams added and expanded Lake Kasumi, giving the garden its present shape. The garden was opened to the public on May 7, 1874. The name Kenroku-en was given to it by Matsudaira Sadanobu at Narinaga's request, and is a reference to the six attributes of the perfect landscape mentioned in the book Luòyáng míngyuán jì ("Chronicles of Famous Luoyang Gardens"), written by the Chinese poet Li Gefei. The six attributes are: spaciousness and intimacy, artifice and antiquity, waterways and landscapes. ​ Info: www.pref.ishikawa.jp Photo © CRISTINA ARCHINTO

TUSCANY IL GIARDINO DEI TAROCCHI The majestic works of Niki de Saint Phalle immersed in the Mediterranean landscape Photographs and text ©Cristina Archinto "La Papessa" It was 1974 when Niki de Saint Phalle, forced to undergo a period of convalescence in St. Moritz, met the art collector Marella Agnelli and wife of Gianni Agnelli. The two women immediately like each other and the artist tells her about the project that has been whirling in her head for a while now. Once back in Italy Marella, together with her brothers Carlo and Nicola Caracciolo, decide to make a lot of their land in Garavicchio, in Tuscany, available to her for the creation of Il Giardino dei Tarocchi, a perfect union between art, nature and spirituality. A place where monumental sculptures with round features and bright colors, unique in their kind, suck you into a fantastic world and psychedelic dreams, while maintaining complete harmony with a soft and typically Mediterranean landscape. The courtyard of the"L'imperatore" Niki de Saint Phalle (1930-2002) was a celebrated American-born French artist, known for her artistic versatility across multiple media, including sculpture, painting, installation and performance. Born in Neuilly-sur-Seine, France, of French-American parents, Niki spent part of her youth in the United States and her artistic career began in the 1950s, with paintings influenced by the Nouveau Réalisme art movement. However, over time she has become particularly famous for her monumental sculptural works. Saint Phalle's artistic practice in general is infused with symbolism, feminism and a bold and provocative approach. Many of his sculptural works represent vigorous and assertive female figures, often painted in bright and bold colours. Saint Phalle has used art as a tool for personal expression and as a means to address social issues, such as women's liberation and the denunciation of gender-based violence. The interior of "L'imperatrice" The fact remains that one of his most representative projects is certainly The Tarot Garden, a sculptural complex, where the different Arcana of the tarot are represented, a work of love and dedication, created with the help of Jean Tinguely and Doc Winsen, where the imposing and majestic statues seem to come to life. The mythological and mystical figures carved in stone and metal dominate the landscape with their enigmatic presence. Each card represents a unique and complex personality, conveying a sense of ancient wisdom and power. Starting with “The Magician”, as the artist calls him “The great juggler. The God who created the wonderful farce of this world in which we live” and the “Popess, the high priestess of female power”. These two works were built in 1980 together with the most iconic of the architecture-sculptures of this place the "Empress-Sphinx". Placed in a dominant position with respect to the rest of the park, this imposing and opulent figure recalls the Nanas, round and joyful female figures who embody a positive and powerful image of women, born starting from the 1960s. Just as Mondrian had transformed his Paris apartment into a gigantic painting, Niki lived inside the Empress for the entire time the garden was being built. Even today the furnishings are presented as an integral part of the enormous sculpture, a colorful apartment in which the shapes and colors blend with the surrounding environment of the Mediterranean scrub with trees and shrubs resistant to drought and high summer temperatures. "La forza" Plants such as juniper, mastic, phillyrea, helichrysum, cistus, laurel, heather, strawberry tree and alaterno are the frame for these giant works of art. There are also several specimens of olive trees, which, reflecting themselves thanks to the small mosaic-style reflective parts of the works, light up as if they were the real protagonists. Plants such as juniper, mastic, phillyrea, helichrysum, cistus, laurel, heather, arbutus and alaternus are the frame for these giant works of art. There are also several specimens of olive trees, which, reflecting themselves thanks to the small mosaic-style reflective parts of the works, light up as if they were the real protagonists. The mosaics that cover the figures were made with the trecadis technique which consists in the application of fragments of ceramic, glass and mirror, cut irregularly, fixed on white plaster. The purpose of this technique is to be able to create constructions resembling living creatures. An example of this is "La forza" where a tender girl dominates a fearsome green dragon, keeping it tied to an invisible leash, or "The devil" with its multicolored wings. "La'Imperatrice", the stairs of "Il mago" and "La luna" Discovering all the cards with the artist's exact wording is very interesting and opens the door to new awareness. Just like the thought that it took the artist more than twenty years to create this garden, in fact demonstrates how connected she was with this enormous work of hers and the personal commitment she invested in it. Also the presence of a local team of people, which the artist has formed and which continues to maintain the garden, testifies to his willingness to involve the local community a lot and to ensure that his work is preserved and cared for over time. "La temperanza" Niki de Saint Phalle is regarded as a highly influential figure in contemporary art and her work continues to be exhibited in leading museums and galleries around the world. His artistic legacy is characterized by his ability to transform personal pain into works of beauty and joy, inspiring generations of artists and art lovers and walking in his garden is a real path towards art in all its forms , a spiritual journey full of messages, which pushes you to reflections out of the ordinary, almost to the limit. GALLERY Photos ©CRISTINA ARCHINTO Info: Official website Other GARDENS and PARKS Villa Marlia Giardini Botanici di Villa Taranto Giardini Botanici di Villa Taranto I giardini di Villa Melzi I giardini di Villa Melzi Parco giardini di Sicurtà Parco giardini di Sicurtà Gairdino di Villa Lante Villa Lante parco del Flauto Magico Parco Flauto Magico Bomarzo

CAMPANIA GIARDINI RAVINO CACTI FROM ALL AROUND THE WORLD Cactaceae of all shapes and forms Photos Cristina Archinto Text Lydia DeRosa V isiting Forio, on the western side of the island of Ischia in front of Naples, it is possible to come across one of the largest and most varied collections of succulent species in Europe: the Ravino Gardens, where cacti of every shape and bearing stand out against the intense light of the Tyrrhenian Sea and draw imaginative landscapes. The Gardens tell the story of a passion cultivated throughout a wandering life: the Navy Captain Giuseppe D'Ambra. Like his father Antonio, a collector of crassulae (succulent plants native to southern Africa) that he used to plant inside shells, the Captain in his long career brought back specimens from every corner of the world: from Mexico to South America, from Madagascar to Arabia. After a dazzling encounter with specimens of giant saguaros in the Arizona desert, since the 1960s on every trip the Captain has brought cuttings, seeds or plants back to Forio; in forty years he has built up a collection of more than 3,000 specimens housed in every corner of his Ischian residence. ​ Variegated garden beds, among large saguaro and Echinocactus also known as 'mother-in-law's pillow But his real ambition was to be able to create a real succulent garden that could also be visited by everyone and, as luck comes to those who know how to wait, in 2001 the Captain began to realise his dream by buing the land beside his house. From that moment all the family will be involved in the intense work, which lasted four years, until 2005 when the Ravino Gardens were finally opened to public. By then, many years had passed since the first plants arrived and, thanks to the particularly favourable climate in that corner of the island, several specimens had grown considerably (some species normally reach similar sizes in twice as long). Today, the collection has over 400 plant species and, despite the captain's retirement, continues to grow year by year. A "portico" of vegetable columns In 2010, the garden was awarded by the European Commission as the best tourist facility in southern Italy, as it is sensitive to environmental and social issues. A variety of forms reigns supreme in the Ravino Gardens: sculptural Peruvian Cerei cacti with their ribs striating their profile stand out, flanked by Ferocactus, cylindrical cacti with fierce thorns (as the name suggests, from the Latin ferox) sometimes softened by flowers that seem to crown them, and Selenicereus creepers, also known as 'queens of the night' for their showy nocturnal blooms. Wax cacti from Peru, saguaro, Stenocereus and palms This magical place looks different at every turn, thanks also to the presence of a family of peacocks that stroll undisturbed among the flowerbeds bordered by San Pedro cacti (Cereus pachanoi , from Ecuador and Peru) and the dry tuff walls typical of this area of the island of volcanic origin. Strolling through the gardens, one can also admire the branching, downy Stenocereus cacti (species of this genus are widespread throughout Central America, especially in Mexico and the small Central American republics such as Costa Rica, Belize and Nicaragua) or the Madagascar palms (Pachypodium ) and the Cyphostemma, succulents with swollen trunks encircled by leaves, whose area of origin extends from North-East Africa to South Arabia. Aporocactus (or 'rattail') with their brightly coloured flowers fall from the walls, and the classic prickly pears are cleverly pierced so that the wind does not knock them down. But the most striking thing are the huge spiny globes, the Echinocactus, wittily nicknamed 'mother-in-law's pillows', which - solitary or in groups - seem to roll around the garden. The contrasts of light created by the hard shapes of the xerophytes Here and there, the collection of xerophytes (from the Greek xeros , 'dry') is intertwined with Mediterranean plants: citrus fruits, strawberry trees, olive trees and aromatic plants such as lavender, thyme, oregano, marjoram, mint, damask rose and different varieties of fragrant pelargonium. In one corner of the garden it is also possible to admire the Wollemia Nobilis , a conifer that was thought to be extinct until 1994 when David Noble rediscovered it in Australia. Today, specimens of this protected species, whose fossil traces date back 90 million years, are very rare and mostly found in gardens and botanical gardens. Flowerbeds of succulent species and Mediterranean flora such as sedum, agave and dracaena draco overlooking the sea GALLERY Photo ©CRISTINA ARCHINTO LINKS Official site Other GARDENS and PARKS Giardini Botanici di Villa Taranto Giardini Botanici di Villa Taranto I giardini di Villa Melzi I giardini di Villa Melzi Parco giardini di Sicurtà Parco giardini di Sicurtà Gairdino di Villa Lante Villa Lante parco del Flauto Magico Parco Flauto Magico Bomarzo Parco Villa la Grange Labirinto della Masone

LUCCA The Villa Reale of Marlia and its Camellia Photographs and text byCris Tina Archinto Camellia japonica "Bellina Major"" Villa Marlia, an enchanting Renaissance residence located near Lucca, represents one of the treasures of the region. Its beauty is sublimated by the famous Viale della Camelie, where the visitor is captivated by the vision of over forty varieties of Camellia japonica, which with their elegant and showy flowers, declined in various shades of red, pink, white and pink, stand out among large bushes with glossy green leaves. The slight succession of the stream, which carries the fallen petals towards the valley, creates a pleasant sensation of freshness and a certain oriental atmosphere, capable of bewitching the visitor's senses. Camellia is a flower native to East Asia, mainly China and later Japan. The first mentions of camellias date back to China in the third century BC, where the poet Hsu Fu wrote about a wonderful flower that grew in the province of Hunan. Subsequently its cultivation was introduced in Japan where it became particularly popular among the nobility for its beauty and symbolic importance. During the Edo period (1603-1868), camellias were grown in private and public gardens throughout Japan also for their variety of colors. Camellia japonica "Francesca da Rimini" In the West, camellias were discovered in the 18th century by the French Jesuit missionary Georg Joseph Kamel, who lived in the Philippines. Kamel discovered the plant and described it in his work "Herbarium Amboinense" of 1704. However, the actual diffusion of camellias in Europe and their popularity as an ornamental plant can be attributed to the Dutch since 1739. In the past the great innovator of poetry father of the haiku genre, Matsuo Basho (1644-1694), inspired by the nature and landscapes he encountered wandering around Japan one day wrote, "The camellia, sweet, solitary and unpretentious, more than any other plant, reminds me human beauty." Today I'm not sure she would feel the same way about humanity, but the beauty of the camellia has certainly not withered over time. The Royal Villa of Marlia also offers a long history full of characters. Born as a fortress for the Duke of Tuscia, over time it became a noble palace passing from one family to another until 1651 when it was bought by Olivieri and Lelio Orsetti. The new owners, who fell in love with the place, started considerable expansions and embellishments also focusing on the garden with the help of the famous French landscape architect Jean-Baptiste Dye with new arrangements of scenic avenues and gardens with a decidedly Baroque taste. In 1806 it was the turn of Elisa Bonaparte Baciocchi, sister of Napoleon and then princess of Lucca, who bought the property. The Princess' bond with the Royal Villa of Marlia was particularly passionate and in fact we owe her the major interventions that once again transformed the structure of the palace and its gardens. The model he adopted was that of the Malmaison, the private residence of Napoleon and Josephine near Paris, a residence characterized by the harmonious fusion between the sobriety of classicism and the refined elegance of the imperial period, he also partially redesigned the Park according to the fashion period with English garden: a rare case at that time in Italy. After the fall of Napoleon, Elisa had to leave his kingdom in 1814, and the Villa Reale passed to the Bourbons who made it their summer residence, becoming the protagonist of splendid dance parties, with illustrious guests including princes and sovereigns. When the decline of the Bourbons arrived in 1861, the villa was abandoned to its sad fate, the assets were confiscated and auctioned off and many ancient trees in the Park were cut down to produce timber, until the arrival in 1923 of the Count and Countess Pecci-Blunt who bought the villa in Lucca and the following year commissioned Jacques Greber (1882-1962) a French architect, urban planner and landscape architect, to restore the park and gardens, with the aim of combining tradition and innovation. Woods, streams, bucolic elements were created which completed and enriched the romantic framework of the gardens but above all built the lake, still a very important element within the ecosystem of the park. Since 2015 it has been owned by Henric and Marina Grönberg, a Swedish entrepreneur and designer, who bought a very neglected and disused property with the aim of restoring and preserving its historical and artistic heritage and opening it to the public. Their hard work of restoration has allowed to recover the original aspect of the villa and the rehabilitation of the park, all put to the test by a terrible windstorm that occurred a few months after the start of the works which knocked down many ancient trees . Today the result of their efforts can be seen and the villa with its park is definitely worth a visit. The facade of the Villa Reale Present in the park in the lake area are two specimens of weeping willows, positioned as if they were two wings to the distant villa, which in this season are tinged with that delicate light green due to the new leaves. The weeping willow (Salix babylonica) is a tree native to China and present in different parts of the world. Always present in parks and gardens, it is often planted near watercourses because its roots are able to retain the soil and prevent erosion. The name "weeping" derives from the characteristic of its thin and flexible branches that can hang down to touch the ground giving the impression that the tree is actually crying or as Lewis Carroll suggested in Alice in Wonderland "It was a meadow of grass tall and flowery, with a stream running by, and over which hung a great weeping willow which seemed to stoop to listen." Two specimens of Weeping Willow (Salix babylonica) GALLERY Photos ©CRISTINA ARCHINTO Info: Official website Other GARDENS and PARKS Giardino di Villandry Giardini di Villandry Giardini Botanici di Villa Taranto Giardini Botanici di Villa Taranto I giardini di Villa Melzi I giardini di Villa Melzi Parco giardini di Sicurtà Parco giardini di Sicurtà Gairdino di Villa Lante Villa Lante parco del Flauto Magico Parco Flauto Magico Bomarzo Parco Villa la Grange

GENEVA Park Villa la Grange by LIVIA DANESE Parc La Grange is the largest park in the city of Geneva. The 19th century English garden welcomes visitors and citizens who enjoy the park in every season by organizing picnics and walks in the well-kept natural environment. The Favre family donated the park to the city of Geneva in 1917 but overall the area has very ancient origins, as shown by the archaeological remains dating back to the Neolithic period. The territory’s history has spanned the centuries until the second half of the 18th century when the Lullin family commissioned the construction of their summer residence. The neoclassical structure of the villa is still visible today and has preserved beautifully over time. Because of its magnificence and its historical eminence, the place still hosts important events and diplomatic meetings today. The view of Lake Geneva, initially concealed by the main entrance, is soon revealed in all its splendor, enclosed by plants of every shape and color. The garden surrounding the villa is embellished by the presence of monumental trees, including oaks, cedars, beeches, chestnuts and plane trees, which stand out in the picturesque landscape offering a unique autumn display. Their foliage, gradually taking on the characteristic autumn colors, covers the park with a bright and colorful mantle. ​ The park’s main attraction is the rose garden which counts more than 200 species. Starting from the first warm spring days it is particularly popular and appreciated. The scent of roses accompanies visitors and enthusiasts along a beautiful and intimate flowery walk in the octagonal garden, which was recently renovated. The latter, designed to recreate the privacy of a hortus conclusus, was built at the end of World War II to create a colorful, bright and positive environment in the postwar period. Parc La Grange is constituted by tree-lined avenues, ponds, colorful flowerbeds and beautiful historical buildings, offering visitors a charming and beloved natural oasis overlooking Lake Geneva. In addition in Parc La Grange, biodiversity is encouraged by wood-digging insect breeding sites and bee hives, as well as native shrubs and meadows where sheep graze during the summer and is ecologically managed without the use of chemicals. GALLERY Load More Photo ©CRISTINA ARCHINTO LINK S TREE WATCHING Web more gardens and parks Parco del Paterno del Toscano Labirinto della Masone Villa d'Este Giardino di Kenroku-en Giardino dell'impossibile Giardino di Ninfa Villa Pizzo

DATES PALMS IN OMAN The Palm Date tree and the Omani have been connected since ancient times. This bond is rooted in the culture and civilization and linked to his daily life and has contributed in developing the society and supplementing the economy which in turn solidify the Date Palm position as a valuable component of the Omani nature. ​ The UNESCO World Heritage Committee, meeting in Bogota in Colombia, unanimously approved on 12 December 2019 the inclusion of the knowledge, skills, traditions and practices associated with the date palm in the List of Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity of the 'Unesco. The recognition goes to 14 Arab countries: Bahrain, Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Mauritania, Morocco, Oman, Palestine, Saudi Arabia, Sudan, Tunisia, the United Arab Emirates and Yemen. "The date palm has been established for centuries by the regional population of the candidate states, serving both as the basis for numerous occupations, professions and social and cultural traditions, associated customs and practices, and as sources of nutrition," reads the website of the 'Unesco. ​ The date palm has been connected to the regional population of the submitting States for centuries, serving both as the source of numerous associated crafts, professions and social and cultural traditions, customs and practices, and as a key form of nutrition. The date palm is an evergreen plant typically associated with dry climates, where the roots of the plant penetrate deeply into the earth in search of humidity. Bearers and practitioners include date palm farm owners, farmers who plant, nurture and irrigate the date palm offshoots, craftspeople who produce traditional products using various parts of the palm tree, date traders, creative individuals and performers of associated folkloric tales and poems. The Date palm, knowledge, skills, traditions and practices have played a pivotal role in strengthening the connection between people and the land in the Arab region, helping them face the challenges of the harsh desert environment. This historic relationship in the region and the element has produced a rich cultural heritage of related practices between people in the region, knowledge and skills maintained to this day. The cultural relevance and proliferation of the element over the centuries prove how committed the local communities are to sustaining it; this is achieved through collective participation in multiple date-palm related activities and numerous festive rituals, traditions and customs. Load More Photo ©CRISTINA ARCHINTO MORE ENVIRONMENT AND BOTANY Grosseto Caño Cristales Palmeti Palmeti Caldara di Manziana Terra Scoscesa Le Palme Luoghi d'Acqua Conoscere gli alberi

Biography Cristina Archinto was born in Milan. At the beginning of her career she dedicates herself to editorial designing collaborating with several magazines, a passion that over time she will always carry on. In 1989 she moves to New York and studies photography at Parson School. Once back in Italy she focuses on architectural photography; her knowledge of graphics helps her in the balance and the weights of her photos. In 1999 his daughter Greta is born, this event slows down her life rhythms and brings her to the continuous search for green spaces. Stimulated and attracted, she will make these places her new focal point bringing her to focus on the atmosphere of a park, the detail of a flower or a vast landscape. In 2002 she moves with her family to Rome to look for new sceneries and a new light. There she develops the profession of garden photographer and starts to collaborate with several specialized magazines, and publishes several books. At the same time a more artistic journey begins, a research always focused on the emotions that nature transmits to us by exhibiting her works in several Italian galleries. One of her latest works is focused on movement catching lights and returning materials and transparencies in the balance of shapes and the elegance of colors. In June 2017 she founded Terrimago.com an online magazine on territory/landscape and on gardens. ​ Personal Exhibitions 2001 “Immagini” Spazio Brera, Milano 2005 “Il giardino che vorrei” Horti di Veio, Roma 2006 “Il giardino che vorrei” Lingotto, Torino 2008 “Naturalmente design” Galleria Blanchaert, Milano 2008 “Naturalmente colorati” Kasthal show-room, Milano 2009 “Naturale” Aveda show-room, Milano 2010 “Naturalmente al sole” Galleria Antonia Jannone, Milano 2012 "Tevere una storia che scorre" Palazzo Bufalini Città di Castello PG 2013 "GUARDA! verso oriente" Mimma Gini, Milano 2013 "GUARDA! Appunti da un finestrino" Viaggiandoilmondo Genova 2015 "Tevere una storia che scorre" St. Stephen's Cultural Center Roma Collective Exhibitions 2006 “13x17” organizzata da Philippe Daverio, in giro per l’Italia 2008 “Hyperorganic: ambiente emergente” Triennale di Milano 2009 “Alimentart” Palazzo Murat, Bari 2009 “Il Giardino del Delta” Arte Galleria. Roma 2010 MiArt, Milano 2011-2012 Biennale di Venezia Padiglione Italia a Torino Books published ​ 2002 - WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE - PENSIERI PER UN ANNO (Lettere edizioni) A combination of beautiful and poetic photographs of different plants and landscapes combined with extracts of Shakespear’s work, articulate the days of the year, our own biological rhythm, life, death and all human passion. ​ 2004 - VILLA BORGHESE - IL SILENZIO DEL PARCO (Skira) 80 suggestive images leads us through “Rome’s most beautiful garden” with his lanes, fountains, statues, flowers, plants, and all of the hidden corners. Cristina Archinto’s pictures catch the enchanted environment, the most suggestive corners, and a very special silence that “covers” the park during the week when it becomes a shelter for people. 2006 - IL GIARDINO CHE VORREI (Electa) ​ Cristina Archinto guides us throught various types of different gardens and landscapes with unique images, that underline the grace of plants, even the most usual ones. The photographer has the great talent to catch the charm of a common landscape, available to everyone, and the different magnificent textures of the plants. She also teaches us how to look to our surroundings, and how easy it can be to create a beautiful garden. This book whispers us how the beauty of nature can hide everywhere even in the most unexpected corners. 2008- ROMA E I SUOI LUOGHI D’ACQUA (Babalibri) Guida of Rome 2013 - GUARDA! APPUNTI DA UN FINESTRINO (Canneto editore) Italian landscapes from the train ​ 2020 - EUROPEAN BOTANICAL GARDEN A journey through History Science and Nature (Terrimago edition) link