WHAT DOES GARDENING MEAN TO THE ITALIANS??

How do Italians view gardening?, How do Italians design their own gardens? Is gardening important in Italy? - just some of the questions that I am constantly asked as a garden designer, living here in Italy, by my colleagues back home in England.

Well, they are indeed an interesting set of questions and now, after nearly 15 years of being a gardener in Italy- I can finally begin to answer them!

I am quite sure that gardening and gardens in general would instantly be rendered far more interesting for the Italians if it allowed an Italian lady to gain the kind of street credibility that donning a Louis Vuitton, or Prada handbag or a pair of cool sunglasses might allow. If gardening could provide the same kind of thrill for an Italian man as cruising around Sardegna in a Ferrari, wearing his Raybans/ handmade shoes or even just screaming at his favourite football team from the terraces on a sunday afternoon- but it really doesnt! It just doesn't and it probably never will!

Gardening, as it is widely viewed in the UK, is a pacifying, and nowadays even trendy means, by which one can get a little closer to and begin comprehending the wonderful logic of natural physics that governs our very existence! Therefore, it's clear that a certain emotional sensibilità and humiltà is needed before one can develop a sensitive and humble appreciation of the art of gardening. Clearly Renaissance garden genius, such as Giacomo Barozzi daVignola or Triboli understood that subtlety and humility of landscape design very well. However, at the same time, they were able to underline the aesthetic grandeur of this art. The love and comprehension that these two Italian garden artists demonstrated for natural law was conveyed wonderfully through their magnificent creations at Villa Lante and Boboli, respectively.

Despite this, in present day Italy all that wonder, that humble courage and the almost blind Catholic faith which once allowed for the creation of such works of garden art seems to have distanced itself somewhat from the average Italian. As with so many other facets of Italian life, gardening, understanding the land etc, appear to have been well and truly lost to fashion! One may well be excused for blaming fashion for all this in a society that has allowed itself to become a victim of this modern 'religion'.

Getting ones hands dirty or spreading manure in the garden has been declassified to a work of peasants and really bears no relation to modern Italian life whatsoever! In Europe, the UK, or for that matter, the States spending an afternoon pottering in the garden is still considered to be healthy for the mind and body and even spiritually nourishing somehow. Here in Italy, however, gardening now seems to be perceived as a degrading chore that clashes drastically with the clean hands, clean shoes and Armani lifestyle, which now seems almost, if not more, popular than the Catholic Church!

Showing a group of friends a bright green, English style lawn irrigated by costly, computer-controlled irrigation systems can be considered Chic, whereas an afternoon of (essential) muck-spreading or skin-ripping rose maintenance, most definitely is not!! The essence and joy of good, old fashioned, gardening seems to have abandoned Italy at the end of the17th Century! During that period this absorbing art was relegated to the peasant farmers, who now tend consider that the cultivation of any plant that isn't edible is a complete waste of time!

Gardening has always managed to cross and unite many facets of society and the discussions between the Lord of the manor and the peasant, while leant against farmers gates in the UK summer have been very influential in deciding countryside affairs/ decisions. To the contrary, the battles fought between the common man and the wealthy landowner here in Italy have resulted in soaring labour costs and even a rather distorted Italian communism. This has put a stop to the once available labour that paved the way and encouraged those works of Renaissance genius .. to blossom!

Gardening and all its aesthetic luxuries, now appears to have become more of a thorn in the side of the common people, rather than a stimulating hobby or way of enjoying ones Sunday afternoon. The superbly cultivated vegetable gardens, immaculate olive groves and hectares vineyards still display an inherent and rare talent for gardening in Italy.

However, it would appear that until a garden designer invents a system for gardening in Italy, costing less than a Prada handbag, requiring little hard work, providing delicious edible (and organic!) produce yet doesnt require dirtying ones hands gardening in Italy will remain a Renaissance enigma!

Curiously I believe that, as a garden designer, I have managed to do just that! All that's left to do now, it seems, is wait for fashion to catch up with it!
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