This post is also available in: Italian
Following our first recommended itinerary in Lazio (Discovering Nurseries Lazio/1), which from reaches Tivoli from Lake Bolsena, going through Viterbo and Rieti, here is our second suggestion: this itinerary runs from the outskirts of Rome to Latina. Along the way, visitors will come across historic villas, large gardens, parks, nature reserves, villages, and evocative landscapes; not to mention very peculiar plants like tillandsias, countless bulbous varieties, fascinating ancient and modern roses, Mediterranean, South African and Australians species with unusual features, geraniums, and numberless aquatic plants. When following this very itinerary backwards, you may link it to the first one, and then reach Il Fiore all’Occhiello Nursery, in Palombara Sabina (RM), 28,5 miles away.
The Nurseries
The map shows the nurseries and other locations included in our suggested itinerary. Distances are also mentioned, in order to make it easier and more practical for you to make your choice and save petrol and time.
Le Figlie del Vento, a Roma: this nursery has produced and imported Bromeliads Plant (Bromeliaceae) of the Tillandsia variety since 1990.
Its collection features many rare specimens, and common ones are easily grown in our climate.
Growing plants are not artificially boosted, thus they can develop naturally.
Distances to other nurseries: 15 miles to Floriana Bulbose – 34 miles to S’Orrosa – 35 miles to Torsanlorenzo Nursery – 32 miles to L’Antico Fiore – 46 miles to Waternursery.
Floriana Bulbose, in Monte Porzio Catone (RM): A wonderful nursery specialized in bulbs, corms, tubers, and rhizomes, founded by Dr. Enrico Shejbal, who’s now aided by his son Christian. Bulbous, rhizomatous and tuberous plants blossom in winter, spring, summer, and fall offered to true connoisseurs, park and garden designers, botanic gardens, nurseries, landscapers, and also online buyers.
Distances to other nurseries: 27 miles to S’Orrosa Nursery – 15 miles to Le Figlie del Vento – 28 miles to Torsanlorenzo Nursery – 25 miles to L’Antico Fiore – 34 miles to Waternursery.
S’Orrosa Nursery, in Tor San Lorenzo (RM): this nursery is specialized in ancient roses – including Chinese, Indian and American varieties; it now features a collection of more than one thousand species, including new and very rare ones in Italy.
Distances to other nurseries: 0,6 miles to Torsanlorenzo Nursery – 34 miles to Le Figlie del Vento – 27 miles to Floriana Bulbose – 6 miles to L’Antico Fiore – 21c miles to Waternursery
Torsanlorenzo Nursery Gruppo Florovivaistico, in Tor San Lorenzo (RM): this is actually a private organization that manages some Italian and International nurseries specialized in the cultivation and distribution of high-quality plants. Today, there are over 5.700 varieties in its official register, mostly Mediterranean, Australian, and South African – classified according to painstaking and passionate research. There are ideal plants for hot and dry climates, seaside gardens, public green areas, and, in general, for responsible and well-planned management, thanks to low maintenance and reduced water requirements. Torsanlorenzo has always focused on instructional and scientific values, organizing conferences, research, reforestation, and environmental requalification. Not to mention, recovery and reintroduction of Italian spontaneous species, reconstruction of natural environments, and their use in the garden.
This nursery is very close to I Giardini della Landriana(see below): do not miss that location as well!
Distances to other nurseries: 5 miles to L’Antico Fiore – 35 miles to Le Figlie del Vento – 28 miles to Floriana Bulbose – 0,6 miles to S’Orrosa Nursery – 20,5 miles to Waternursery.
L’Antico Fiore , in Nettuno (RM): this small farm produces, in a natural cycle, unusual, and rare collectible pelargoniums, rustic geraniums, and pomegranates (Punica granatum).
Distances to other nurseries: 18,5 miles to Waternursery – 32 miles to Le Figlie del Vento – 25 miles to Floriana Bulbose – 5,5 miles to S’Orrosa Nursery – 5 miles to Torsanlorenzo Nursery.
Waternursery, in Latina: This nursery is specialized in water plants, collected in the course of more than two generations, including many Iris species, and plants for phytodepuration. It also features collections of Nymphaea and Nelumbo plants, among the most important in Italy. On sale, you can also find gorgeous ready-made water pot gardens, made of weathering steel, of several sizes.
Distances to other nurseries: 46 miles to Le Figlie del Vento – 34 miles to Floriana Bulbose – 21 miles to S’Orrosa Nursery – 20,5 miles to Torsanlorenzo Nursery – 18,5 miles to L’Antico Fiore.
You may now proceed on the second itinerary in Lazio: Discovering nurseries, from Rome to Bolsena (Lazio/1), starting at Il Fiore all’occhiello nursery, 28,5 miles away.
Must-see Gardens
Due to the huge amount of interesting locations in this part of Italy, you should visit Italian Botanical Heritage, regione Lazio for more detailed information. Still, we’d like to mention at east two truly spectacular gardens that everyone ought to see:
Giardino della Landriana, in Tor San Lorenzo, Ardea (RM): The Landriana garden stretches over 25 acres in Ardea, near Rome. It was conceived by Marquise Lavinia Taverna and designed by Russel Page.
The green area is divided into gardens with many floral species of all kinds and all origins: the gray garden, the blue lawn, the valley of roses, the white avenue, and the garden of olive trees. Russel Page worked on a highly geometric layout, highlighted by hedges and paths. Adjacent to the house he built a pergola, a garden with a tub, and a flower bed of gray plants. Page then designed a rose garden, now called Giardino degli aranci (Orange Garden), a garden for special collections – now called Giardino degli ulivi (Olive trees garden), and a rock garden. The garden hosts two main events dedicated to gardening and nursing, in October and April.
Giardino di Ninfa in Cisterna di Latina (LT): the romantic English-style gardens of Ninfa, situated about 80 km south-east of Rome, have received a prestigious European Garden Award from the European Garden Heritage Network (EGHN). Ninfa came second only to London’s Kew Gardens in the “European heritage of gardens and gardening” section of the EGHN network which comprises 190 parks and gardens in 14 countries. The recognition was awarded to the president of Ninfa garden’s Roffredo Caetani Foundation, Tommaso Agnoni, who said that Ninfa is now a “point of reference throughout Europe.” Considered by the New York Times as “the most beautiful and romantic garden in the world”, Ninfa has more than 1,000 shrubs, plants, and flowering trees spread out over its eight-hectare site. Remember to book your visit in advance!
Local gastronomic treats
You should absolutely try Ravenna cherry from Sabina, broccoli, Roman artichokes, White celery from Sperlonga, Chicory of jagged Puntarelle from Gaeta, and Campodimele wild peas.
This post is also available in: Italian
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