This post is also available in: Italian
This second itinerary around the nurseries in Lombardia will take you through the province of Varese, which stretches from its lake to the much bigger Lake Maggiore. It’s a territory rich in traditional gardens and nurseries, scattered across a most pristine landscape: when observed from above, it reveals a succession of mountains, valleys, woods, lakes and rivers, together with historic parks and villages perched along centuries-old tracks; the latter can be enjoyed on foot, on horseback or by bicycle, especially in spring and autumn. The very route to the nurseries will let you discover rare plants, orchids, XIX-century shrubs, irresistible fuchsia, charming perennial and annual species, as well as azaleas, rhododendrons and other acidophilic plants whose cultivation has always been part of the local gardening traditions and the large historical Italian (and mostly English) gardens.
You may follow our directions included in the previous itinerary: Andar per vivai: da Milano a Pavia, lungo il Naviglio (Lombardia/1), starting from Cooperativa sociale Cascina Bollate, which is only 16 miles away from the “Garden of the Lost Essences” – the first nursery in this second virtual route.
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.
Il Giardino delle Essenze Perdute, in Borsano di Busto Arsizio (VA): The Garden of the Lost Essences produces and cultivates geraniums (Pelargonium) with fragrant leaves, begonias, perennial herbaceous plants for shading, but above all it is specialized on fuchsia with an impressive collection of over 400 hybrids, varieties and species.
Distances to other nurseries: 18,6 miles to Floricoltura Coccetti – 5 miles to Il Giardino delle Essenze Perdute – 31 miles to Floricoltura Lago Maggiore – 19 miles to Orchidee di Morosolo – 16,5 miles to Agricola – 17,3 miles to Floricoltura Riboni.
Podere Restelli, in Olgiate Olona (VA): Podere Restelli is a floriculture farm of an ancient tradition. It was founded in 1885 by Dr Euguenio and Piero Restelli, the sons of Francesco: an Italian patriot who took part in the “Five Days of Milan” and was later appointed as an MP of the first Italian Parliament. The Restellis have always been enthusiastic scholars and experimenters of new agricultural and nursery techniques. In their family home, on the banks of the Olona River, they created a park with botanical varieties, some of which also imported from overseas: Back then, there was a big hype about unusual and rare species, which were constantly included in many European gardens and in the green areas around the lakes.
Distances to other nurseries: 18,6 miles to Floricoltura Coccetti – 5 miles to Il Giardino delle Essenze Perdute – 31 miles to Floricoltura Lago Maggiore – 19 miles to Orchidee di Morosolo – 16,5 miles to Agricola – 17,3 miles to Floricoltura Riboni.
Floricoltura Coccetti, in Sesto Calende (VA Floricoltura Coccetti was founded around the 1960s by Aldo Coccetti. His aim has always been to grow special plants for creating gardens full of emotions. Over the years, Aldo has introduced to Italy little-known species and varieties from around the world. Today, the nursery is run by his daughter Marina, an excellent advisor about evocative creations. Floricoltura Coccetti thus offers a few thousand species and varieties, including roses, leather flowers, and perennial herbs, collections of peonies, irises, geraniums, plantain lilies, and gentians.
Distances to other nurseries: 14,2 miles to Floricoltura lago Maggiore – 21,7 miles to Il Giardino delle Essenze Perdute – 18,6 miles to Podere Restelli – 17 miles to Orchidee di Morosolo – 15 miles to Agricola – 21,4 miles to Floricoltura Riboni.
Floricoltura Lago Maggiore – Cerro di Laveno, Mombello (VA): this is a historic nursery overlooking Maggiore Lake, now run by the three brothers Roberto, Dario, and Luciano Piffaretti. They reproduce and cultivate acidophilic plants, in particular camellias, including Camellia japonica and its hybrids Camellia japonica Higo and Rusticana, autumn-winter camellias (Camellia sasanqua, C. hiemalis, C. vernalis), Camellia reticulata and its hybrids, hybrids of other species and botanical species, also available in large sizes.
Over the years, some cultivars have been painstakingly selected and grown, including “Marta Piffaretti”, with small leaves and a small flower (since October 1974), “Youth”, with a lighter pink flower (since 1975, “Cadeau de Noel”, with a small flower, similar to a bright pink rose, “Swan Lake”, with a large single flower, pure white and light green rounded leaves, and “White Christmas”, with a double flower, white and very small that blooms during the Christmas holidays (since in 1985). Distances to other nurseries: 14 miles to Orchidee di Morosolo – 34 miles to Il Giardino delle Essenze Perdute – 31 miles to Podere Restelli – 14,2 miles to Floricoltura Coccetti – 14,6 miles to Agricola – 18,6 miles to Floricoltura Riboni.
Orchidee di Morosolo, in Casciago (VA): This is a historic nursery overlooking Maggiore Lake, now run by the three brothers Roberto, Dario, and Luciano Piffaretti. They reproduce and cultivate acidophilic plants, in particular camellias, including Camellia japonica and its hybrids Camellia japonica Higo and Rusticana, autumn-winter camellias (Camellia sasanqua, C. hiemalis, C. vernalis), Camellia reticulata and its hybrids, hybrids of other species and botanical species, also available in large sizes.
Distances to other nurseries: 3,7 miles to Agricola – 23 miles to Il Giardino delle Essenze Perdute – 19,2 miles to Podere Restelli – 15 miles to Floricoltura Coccetti – 14 miles to Floricoltura Lago Maggiore – 3,7 miles to Floricoltura Riboni.
Agricola Home & Garden: This is a peculiar garden centre; opened by Giacomo Brusa, it offers the most common, but differently organized departments (House & Flowers, Garden & Vegetables, Animals & Cuddles, Green & Solutions). Furthermore, it grows its own plants and flowers on sale, while comprehensively tutoring its staff of true professionals (they’ve all got a University degree or a professional diploma), as well as offering gardening and exhibiting courses to the customers. Phytopathology counselling is also available. The incredibly wide range of products on sale includes exquisite vases and furnishings, pesticides and organic fertilizers, selected insects and other pest antagonists, as well as a rich choice of plants and flowers.
Distances to other nurseries: 3,7 miles to Floricoltura Riboni – 19,2 miles to Il Giardino delle Essenze Perdute – 16,5 miles to Podere Restelli – 21,4 miles to Floricoltura Coccetti – 14,6 miles to Floricoltura Lago Maggiore – 3,7 miles to Orchidee di Morosolo – 9,6 miles to Floricoltura Riboni.
Varesina Orchidee di Gioele Porrini, in Varese: In Varese, there are several greenhouses protected by the first pre-Alpine slopes, where orchids are cultivated with true passion and joy. Elegant and wild, these flowers are mysterious and fascinating, and have always been a feature of undisputed beauty and elegance. Far from being delicate, they are tenacious plants and quite adaptable to most different environments – they have always mesmerized artists and scientists from all over the world.
The Varesina Orchidee farm was born as a professional and dedicate nursery specialized in the cultivation and sale of botanical and hybrid tropical varieties from all over the world. After all, flower nursing has been a local tradition for centuries.
Distances to other nurseries: 19,9 miles to Il Giardino delle Essenze Perdute – 17,3 miles to Podere Restelli – 21,4 miles to Floricoltura Coccetti – 18,6 miles to Floricoltura Lago Maggiore – 5,9 miles to Orchidee di Morosolo – 9,6 miles to Agricola.
At the end of this itinerary you may proceed on the third one we’d recommend:
Andar per vivai: Como e Lecco, la via dei Laghi (Lombardia/3), travelling to Vivaio Baradel (27,5 miles away),
or simply following our fourth itinerary:
Andar per vivai: Monza e Brianza, alla corte di Teodolinda (Lombardia/4), visiting Floricoltura Fenix, which is only 14,6 miles away.
The gardens in the province of Varese
There are many beautiful gardens in this area, but we’d like to mention just one, while you may feel free to look them all up on www.luoghi.italianobotanicaltrips.com/dimore-storiche-con-giardino, and
www.luoghi.italianobotanicaltrips.com/giardini-e-parchi storici.
Villa Cicogna Mozzoni, in Bisuschio (VA): Villa Cicogna Mozzoni was built in 1463 as a hunting lodge of the Mozzoni family and renovated and expanded in the third decade of the sixteenth century commissioned by the brothers Francesco and Maino Mozzoni. In the 1580s Ascanio Mozzoni tried to revive, in the settlement of the land around the villa, the many ideas learned during numerous trips to Rome and Florence. The park, in Renaissance style, is divided into seven levels, and it is in perfect harmony with the lines of the villa. Particular attention has been given to the fusion of the surrounding nature with the interior, characterized by a decoration with important frescoes, which overlook the Italian garden.
This post is also available in: Italian
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