An ancient and characteristic activity of Sicily and in particular of Favignana, one of the Egadi Islands, was the exploitation of the tuff quarries, called "pirrere", where the compact limestone rock was reduced into blocks of various sizes. The master quarrymen (the "pirriaturi") using cleavers an SICILY Favignana THE IMPOSSIBLE GARDEN An ancient and characteristic activity of Sicily and in particular of Favignana, one of the Egadi Islands, was the exploitation of the tuff quarries, called "pirrere", where the compact limestone rock was reduced into blocks of various sizes. The master quarrymen (the "pirriaturi") using cleavers and other simple manual tools dug the ground deep, leaving vast abysses in the case of open-air quarries, or a maze of tunnels, tunnels and environments in the case of cave quarries. In Favignana, the inhabitants extracted the stone first along the coast, then, in order not to be spotted by pirates, in the interior of the island. An ancient and characteristic activity of Sicily and in particular of Favignana, one of the Egadi Islands, was the exploitation of the tuff quarries, called "pirrere", where the compact limestone rock was reduced into blocks of various sizes. The master quarrymen (the "pirriaturi") using cleavers and other simple manual tools dug the ground deep, leaving vast abysses in the case of open-air quarries, or a maze of tunnels, tunnels and environments in the case of cave quarries. In Favignana, the inhabitants extracted the stone first along the coast, then, in order not to be spotted by pirates, in the interior of the island. When there was nothing left to use, the quarry was abandoned, and then, more often than not, it was transformed into a "garden": for the subsistence of the families there were planted mainly fruit trees, such as almonds, carob trees, lemons and oranges, which grew beautifully, protected from the summer heat, winter winds, salt. At times, they were planting also some pines or palms, to symbolize the water, like in the Arab world, or the vine, the pomegranate and some flowers, to be brought in the house and in the cemetery, and they were breeding farmyard animals, such as rabbits, chickens, and even the pig; obviously, they had to contain a well, from which they were extracting the water, which, even if slightly brackish, was used for cooking, washing, for watering the trees and the plants. Thanks to these gardens, today called hypogeous gardens, Favignana was self-sufficient. Today Favignana is dotted with them, an integral part of houses and gardens, even in the historical centre, because often the owners' houses were built next to the quarries; their recovery, therefore, is necessary to restore the memory of these places and promote their knowledge. This is what happened with the Hypogeal Gardens of Villa Margherita, also known as the Impossible Gardens, registered in the Book of Expressions of the R.E.I.L. Egadi Islands as an expression of the cultural heritage of humanity. They are the result of a dream and the tenacity of their owner, Maria Gabriella Campo, who arrived in Favignana as a young bride forty years ago and decided, against everyone's opinion, to reclaim the large family quarries and transform them into gardens. During the reclamation works, which began in 2001, evocative views and traces of the different cutting systems in the various mining eras emerged: the galleries and caves dating back to the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries and the large open-air part, cut with mechanical means in the years 1950-60. Four years later, in 2005, after the addition of earth to raise the bottom of the deepest quarries by a few metres, more than 300 different species and varieties from all over the world were planted, including Aleppo pines, fruit trees, carob trees, false pepper (Schinus molle), olive trees, strawberry trees, Polygala myrtifolia, Callistemon, brooms, agaves and Dasylirion in profusion, papyrus and water lilies. Today, the Hypogeal Gardens of Villa Margherita (which is also a residence) are therefore a place of extreme magic, a botanical garden and a submerged Eden. Walking through them, you can perceive, at times, images of distant and almost primordial landscapes, of ancient pagan times, of Arab and Persian gardens. Text by Margherita lombardi froma ITALIAN BOTANICAL HERITAGE The Garden Info: Official site Other gardens Villa d'Este GARDEN Kenroku-en PARK Ninfa GARDEN Villa Pizzo GARDEN Castello di Masino GARDEN Parigi PARK

Jardin de la Paix, a small garden opened to the public in 2003, is dedicated to the victims of the August attack that shook the UN in Baghdad, where Sergio Vieira de Mello, a Brazilian UN international official, also lost his life SHORT STORIES SET The Young Gardener at the Orsan Priory Text e photographs by Cristina Archinto That day he emerged from his deep sleep without that annoying sound of the alarm clock, but he already knew that it was about to go on anyway; he could see the faint glow coming from the dormer window. He tried to relive his night dreams, but they had already dissolved, fled to who knows where. He placed his feet on the old wooden floor, even though it had recently been renovated, that pleasant creaking sound was still stuck to him. During the day, his footsteps would have been also heard downstairs, in the large bookshop where tourists went crazy for all those articles, from soap to essences, from jars to books. But at that time it was still closed. He checked that there was water in the kettle and switched it on, while waiting he opened the curtains and checked the weather; fine even today, fortunately. There was also a small washbasin in one corner of the room. The actual bathroom was a shared one at the end of the corridor, but he was alone in the entire attic, a temporary solution that they had been kind enough to give him. The others, with different situations, were scattered around or in the village; he came from Paris. Who knows what the weather was like in Paris today, it was certainly starting to get cold. Shortly afterwards he realised, as often happened to him, that he was lost in his thoughts, it was getting late, he had to hurry, the meeting in the room next to the tool room was about to begin. He ran downstairs in his working boots and overalls and shortly after his arrival Gilles, the head gardener, as affable as ever, handed out to everyone their day's tasks. Thirty years earlier Gilles had been entrusted with the thirteen hectares of abandoned monastery gardens in order to restore them to their former mediaeval splendour, a very hard job that he had loved from day one. Nowadays, even though there were five of them, there was still a lot to do. The garden was large and there was also the matter of "replacing as much of the petrol of the machinery as possible with the sweat of one's muscles and forehead" as the boss recalled every morning. Pesticides were also banned, and one had to go to neighbours farms to retrieve the manure, a chore that often fell to him, the last one arrived. But it was right to start at the bottom. He had arrived there more by chance than by choice, and now he had to decide on his future, the day had come. "We'll talk later," Gilles told him at the end of the meeting, and he had no idea how to proceed with his life. But luckily, he still had a whole day to draw the conclusions. The gardens were organised around the central cloister, from where four alleys started, symbolising the four rivers of paradise. From here one had access to the numerous adjacent gardens such as the orchard with its ancient apple and pear trees, the courtyard with its vines and the garden of simples with its medicinal plants and the kitchen garden with its vegetables, and it was from there that one had to go to the labyrinth that had to be taken care of that morning, cut off the dried flowers and arrange the wooden weavings. The garden was full of wooden structures, yes because for architects Lesot and Patrice Taravella, who had bet on the site in 1991 by renovating it, it was a way of emphasising the garden's mediaeval soul. Structures for seating, pergolas for vines or structures to support climbing roses, small crowns to support flowering plants, structures to raise vegetables or flowers made from interwoven chestnut branches, beautiful but in need of constant maintenance. But as St Jerome used to say, to escape from the dangers of idleness, one must devote oneself to crafts: "make baskets out of reeds and weave baskets out of wicker, hoe the earth and divide your vegetable garden into small equal squares", and this is what he had been doing for six months. Passing through the vegetable garden he noticed that the vegetables were no longer as spectacular as at the beginning of summer, now it was time for the pumpkins, that beautiful orange, planted elsewhere in the garden. The roses had also faded, but passing through that arbour was always a thrill. He immediately set to work, knowing that soon the tourists would arrive and everything would become more difficult, not so much because of their always discreet and respectful presence, but because he would be barraged with questions. He didn't like questions, they would bring him back to school, paralysing him, even though he knew the answer perfectly well. After a while he realised that he was hungry, of course he didn't drink the coffee then, too bad he also had those good cinnamon biscuits that the girl in charge of the bistro or tea room as they liked to call it, with natural juices and other delicacies, had given him. Fortunately it occurred to him that the day before he had passed the hand mower in the orchard and picked up an apple, a juicy Gros Jaune, and it had remained in his pocket; he would eat it after some hard work. So it was mid-morning. Sitting on that beautiful structure circled around the persimmon tree in the centre of the labyrinth he enjoyed his apple in the stillness, this was peace he reflected. Perhaps the same peace that Robert d'Arbrissel was seeking when in 1107 he decided to found this Priory of Notre Dame d'Orsan in central France at the mercy of war and violence. He was certainly a renewer of his times; in his new community he not only put an abbess, Pétronille de Chemillé, in charge, but welcomed adherents of all conditions and above all of both sexes, a rare occurrence in those days. A man who had left his mark and for years had many followers and pilgrims who came from all over the world to honour him and admire his monastery. As for me , what did I want to do with my life, the boy wondered. Of course he missed Paris, gosh he missed it, hanging out in bistros with friends, going to the cinema, having no worries. Of course others like him had given up, moved elsewhere to study or work; every now and then he messaged someone. Around noon, as he did every day, he made his way to the canteen, which was actually a room next to the kitchen normally used as a pantry, with a beautiful rustic wooden table, where every time the cook kneaded the dough for the quiche lorraine to be sold in the tea room, a layer of flour and water and a warm smell remained between the cracks in the wood. Meals were always light but nutritious, one certainly did not want to risk finding some gardener dozing in the shade of a beautiful tree. In the afternoon he tended the flower garden, which was small but full. The flowers were all strictly medicinal or alternatively edible. At this time there were columbines which he liked a lot, certainly not for eating though; he also liked some dahlias with those melange colours and almost transparent textures. Meanwhile time passed and he still had no idea what he was going to say to his boss, every time he leaned towards one decision the other presented itself stronger than ever. The moment came when the sun began to set and he walked doubtfully towards the warehouse to clean and arrange his tools. As he arrived at the door he passed the young woman from the bistro, he thought of how beautiful she was and almost as shy as he was, plus she had that mysteriously tender air. It was at this time that, with a determination he did not know he had, he decided it was time, after months, to invite her out for a drink or something to eat. After listening attentively, she only replied with a smile, a wonderful smile that lit up the whole garden and also dispelled the fog about his future. Photo ©CRISTINA ARCHINTO Link 

For more than a thousand years, Masino Castle has overlooked the immense Canavese plain from high ground in front of the evocative morainic barrier of the Serra di Ivrea – an intact and seemingly endless landscape. The strategic location of the castle resulted in it being frequently attacked, but th PIEDMONT Masino Castle For more than a thousand years, Masino Castle has overlooked the immense Canavese plain from high ground in front of the evocative morainic barrier of the Serra di Ivrea – an intact and seemingly endless landscape. The strategic location of the castle resulted in it being frequently attacked, but the noble Valperga dynasty – whom, legend has it, are descended from Arduin of Ivrea, the first King of Italy–retained ownership of it right from the very beginning, documented as far back as 1070. Over the centuries, the illustrious family converted the castle into an aristocratic residence, and then into an elegant holiday home. This glorious past is recounted by the halls themselves, which are adorned with frescoes and ostentatious furnishings, and by the bedrooms used by visiting ambassadors, the private apartments, the lounges and the panoramic terraces. It all adds up to a refined embodiment of 17th- and 18th-century culture, which was also expressed in the rooms dedicated to the celebration of knowledge, such as the priceless library, which plays host to more than 25,000 antique volumes. Outside the castle, there are monumental, romantic grounds, featuring one of the largest mazes in Italy, a majestic tree-lined boulevard, large clearings and picturesque corners that, in spring, are inundated by beautiful blossom. A trip to Masino is an ever-changing experience: from visits to the castle, taking different routes round it each time, to a day in the open air to savour the beauty of the grounds, or participation in any of the numerous events organised throughout the course of the year, perhaps including a coffee at the panoramic cafeteria. Masino is perfect for kids, who will have great fun on the treasure hunt or visiting the Carriage Museum, the Tower of the Winds, the Elf Garden and other spaces designed with them in mind. Links Masino del Fai Castle Photo ©CRISTINA ARCHINTO MORE GARDENS AND PARKS Parco del Paterno del Toscano Villa Lante Labirinto della Masone Villa d'Este Giardino di Kenroku-en Giardino di Ninfa Villa Pizzo Parchi di Parigi

Today, Vivai Cuba in Fontane Bianche, near Syracuse, stands out as one of the richest succulent nurseries in Europe. Here they grow plants from their own seeds, both in pots and in the field, and supply plants to wholesalers, retailers, architects, landscape architects, garden designers, interior designers and event organisers at an international level. SICILY One of the nursery greenhouses Vivai Cuba and the Mother Plant Garden Photographs of Cristina Archinto Text Carla De Agostini T hirty years ago Mariolina's mother used to say to her husband 'but who would buy all these thorns?' Fortunately, the answer was not long in coming and today Vivai Cuba in Fontane Bianche, near Syracuse, stands out as one of the richest succulent nurseries in Europe. Here they grow plants from their own seeds, both in pots and in the field, supply plants to wholesalers, retailers, architects, landscape architects, garden designers, interior designers and event organisers at an international level. All this within a framework of protection and respect for water, increasingly important in these years, and with attention to the circumstances of a rapidly changing planet. The Mother Plant Garden inside the nursery A unique place, not only the greenhouses but also the garden, Vivai Cuba was born in the 1960s out of the passion for roses and bulbs, which then flowed into strelitzias, kenzie, cycads and palms of lawyer Antonio Palermo, Mariolina's father. The story of this place begins with Antonio getting in touch with a Dutch bulb company, with whom the collaboration became more and more intense, until the families became friends. After a while, the father gave up flowers in the 1970s and was among the first to buy and sow Euphorbia, Agave, Aloe, Dasilirion and Yucca plants, gradually expanding the varieties of succulents cultivated. Agave area In the meantime, love blossoms between the two partners' children, Mariolina and Pieter, and together they begin seed procurement trips around the world. The young people begin to specialise more and more in cactus cultivation and are won over by the larger specimens, over time creating a unique collection of succulents that are ideal for low-water garden projects. These include non-traditional trees such as Moringa, Chorisia, Bombax, Brachychiton and Dracaena Draco. On the left a flowering specimen of Dasylirion , on the right Kigelia africana In the nursery, all these specimens can be seen in the Mother Plant Garden, an 'exhibition space' where it is possible to study allochthonous plants that grow outdoors and adapt to become almost native species. Seeds and cuttings of the plants considered most interesting for nursery production are also collected here. The Mother Plant Garden with the Sapindus mukorossi tree on the right The Mother Plant Garden is also a diverse reservoir of already existing species and new varieties derived from spontaneous crosses. A very interesting plant is Sapindus mukorossi, the soap nut tree, native to India. With a high saponin content, says Mariolina, the peel is an excellent organic detergent, which can be used instead of commercial products, both for laundry hygiene and for personal care! The tree is also beautiful from an ornamental point of view and is cultivated in Italy in only a few places. Walking around you can also come across a beautiful specimen of Euphorbia tirucalli, which resembles a coral, also known as 'sticks on fire' or 'red pencil tree'. It is a very decorative plant: it consists of long, soft, cylindrical stems, completely smooth with colouring that starts in light green and ends in a very striking orange-red at the tips. Euphorbia flowers among the thorns of the Stenocereus thurberi cactus The scenery one encounters while strolling through this garden alternates the physical bearing of large specimens with the softness of thinner plants, the colours flowing indifferently from the largest to the smallest and most insidious thorns. One only has to look around to be amazed by the violent lines of the cacti that suddenly become flowers, evoking not prickly emotions but rather delicate sensations. Euphorbia tirucalli The family recounts that these mother plants are the foundations for the very life of Cuba Nurseries: they have individual stories that intersect with personal adventures, with time forged by the weather of the place and people, through generations. They are part of a past that at the same time tells of the present and future of a garden that represents an increasingly arid and globalised planet. Here, research and collaboration combined with great care give rise to a rich diversity of succulent plants and an incomparable landscape, creating an unprecedented ecosystem that encompasses all the continents in just a few hectares. Young specimens of Echinocactus including the first flowering specimen After a tour of the garden, Mariolina allows visitors to browse through the greenhouses with the most diverse varieties of cacti, lined up like diligent toy soldiers, almost as if looking at an abstract work of art. A marvel. Here one can also observe the phenomenon of 'synchronous flowering': when one cactus flowers, all the others around it do so at the same time. This strategic choice constitutes a common 'fitness' advantage: when more plants flower at the same time, more mates arrive and consequently more mating opportunities are available for the individual plants. This also occurs due to adverse climatic conditions, the stressed seedling flourishes in such a way as to increase its species' chance of survival. The stress suffered by one is also communicated, via chemical components, to the others, which follow suit and flower at the same time. Nature's magic. Synchronous flowering phenomenon In conclusion, with the intention of spreading a culture of xerophilous plants, i.e. those adapted to live in environments characterised by long periods of drought or arid climates, Vivai Cuba has succeeded in creating a wonderful and varied succulent garden, unique and unrepeatable, where anyone can look and learn from the greatest teachers of the earth the values of adaptability, resilience and sustainability. Adenium multiflorum also known as Impala lily GALLERY Photo ©CRISTINA ARCHINTO LINKS Official site FEATURED FUGA IN SICILY Inside the Cuba Nurseries is Helena Medrano's atelier, a textile herbarium inspired by the essential forms of the natural elements that surround it. In the enormous Syracuse garden of succulent and exotic plants, Helena arrived eleven years ago, driven by continuous artistic research. Here, the cultural and botanical wealth that surrounds her led her two years ago to the conception of design objects created with plants, then to the realisation of the Fuga in Sicily project. In her workshop, she creates tapestries and tablecloths using the monotype technique: on natural fabrics, mainly hemp, linen or cotton, she chooses the plant or leaf, covers it with ink, then with the press transfers the plant design to the fabric or piece of paper she wishes to produce. In her atelier, objects and materials are exclusively vegetable: the weave of the fabric and the direct printing technique of the plant give a feeling of elegance and simplicity as only natural things can do, and the design pieces are unique and original. Among his creations are cushions made of an antique hemp from 1930, printed directly using Kentia leaves in their characteristic green colour. In this journey out of the ordinary, Helena continues to experiment with plants: art and botany are intertwined, in something always new, such as tiaras or succulent bouquets, tailored to the wishes of future brides. Link Victoria Greenhouse More botanic gardens and nurseries Orto Botanico di Berlino Orto botanico di Madrid Orto botanico di Amsterdam Orto botanico di Napoli Giardino Botanico Nuova Gussonea Orto Botanico di Catania Orto Botanico di Ginevra Centro Botanico Moutan

Terrimago On taking pictures Terrimago On taking pictures i s a section of Terrimago that develops in a purely photographic field, with the help of Cristina Archinto garden and landscape photographer for many years. Here you can find the photos tips to improve your shots in a specific field such as gardens and plants. Subscribe to the newsletter to keep you up to date and not lose any information. MORE " Cristina Archinto with her photographs project us beyond the purely aesthetic dimension, they accompany us in a profound experience with the environment, with a garden, with nature. Photographic stories that narrate amazement and that lead you to reflect on these beauties , a leap for the spirit, a cultural journey. Clever photographic games to reconstruct the magic of a garden, a vegetable garden or a plant; the magic of nature." My fair newsletter

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