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

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 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

To contact us and who we are. Who we are Terrimago è una struttura che si avvale di diverse collaborazioni, professionisti e appassionati di territori e giardini, per i singoli progetti o per i servizi on line. Tutti servizi fotografici di Terrimago.com sono di Cristina Archinto . Collaborano Carla De Agostini, Livia Danese, Patrizia Staffico, Alessandra Valentinelli, Paco San , Stefania Bellingardi Beale, Greta Arancia Sanna, Alessandra Boraso. On line è possibile acquistare le pubblicazioni realizzate da Terrimago. ordine on line Contact By purchasing the book you will support Terrimago and its project to enhance and spread the culture and knowledge of gardens, botanical gardens and parks. The cost of the book is €26 each + €4 shipping within Italy. With the purchase of at least 3 copies, shipping is free. For payment we require a bank transfer, the data will be sent to you once the order form is received. I agree to the Terms and Conditions Send Your form has been sent successfully

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