DISCOVERING NURSERIES: MONFERRATO, FROM ASTI TO ALESSANDRIA (PIEDMONT/7)

This post is also available in: Italian

Not far from Turin, easily reachable from Genoa and Milan, there’s the stretch of land between the beautiful and ancient towns of Asti and Alessandria – it features an unsurpassed wealth of wonderful landscapes. Think about Monferrato for instance, a Unesco World Heritage territory, where green valleys, rolling hills, vineyards, woods, castles, quaint villages, sanctuaries and Romanesque churches stretch as far as the eye can see; over the horizon, there are the gentle hills of the Langhe area, with their white and parched gullies, and the celebrated Roero with its ancient excellent wine traditions.

In this part of Italy, there are also parks and nature reserves, walks, bicycle, and horse riding opportunities, as well as excursions on the hills and to interesting wineries, art and culture centres. Monferrato is also home to several special nurseries. Our itinerary will lead you to the discovery of unusual shrubs and trees, collections of hydrangeas and flowering apple trees, Indian reeds and lotus flowers, water lilies, aquatic irises and marsh plants and much more.

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.

Val Mundoni Nursery

Val Mundoni Nursery, in Castelnuovo Don Bosco (AT): Silvana Riccaboni is the owner of the farm which is specialized in the cultivation of Indian shot (Canna x hybrida, Canna x generalis), featuring over 35 varieties including dwarf, giant, medium, aquatic and Phyto-purification specimens, from flowers to gladiolus flowers, and from orchids to giant and small flower, with ornamental foliage. Originating from the humid and open forests of tropical Asia and America, Indian shot conquered the European gardens, particularly in the XIX century. Summer flowering rhizomatous, easy to cultivate but sensitive to cold (if not protected at temperatures below -5 C°), are now appreciated again thanks to their exotic foliage and prominent flowers, which give an irresistible tropical touch to gardens and terraces.

Distances to other nurseries: 6,8 miles to Fiorella Gilli Nursery – 17,4 miles to Valleversa Nursery – 31,4 miles to Eta Beta – 46,3 miles to Pennone Nursery – 60 miles to I Giardini e le Fronde.

Wisteria at Fiorella Gilli Nursery

Az. agr. Fiorella Gilli Nursery, in Villanova d’Asti (AT): the agronomist Fiorella Gilli cultivates countless trees, shrubs and vines (some of them rare and unusual) in the local continental climate and on unfavorably clayey soil. She also grows horse chestnuts, American witch-hazels, chokeberries, lilacs, clematis, Ceanothus, Cornus, Cotoneaster, Cotinus, spindle trees, mock oranges, hydrangeas and roses.
Fiorella also produces some perennial and acidophilic herbaceous plants; she designs and builds gardens too. The nursery is located next to its enchanting garden; the latter surrounds Fiorella’s B&B facility.

Distances to other nurseries: Distances to other nurseries: 22,3 miles to Valleversa Nursery – 6,8 miles to Val Mundoni Nursery – 36,3 miles to Eta Beta – 47,2 miles to Pennone Nursery – 62 miles to I Giardini e le Fronde.

Valleversa Nursery, in Asti (AT): this 5-acre nursery, which includes a 600-square yard greenhouse, is specialized in the cultivation of annual and perennial flowering plants, trees, fruit species, shrubs, roses, hydrangeas, climbing azaleas and, in particular, clematis and wisteria.

Distances to other nurseries: 18 miles to Eta Beta – 17,3 miles to Val Mundoni Nursery – 22,4 miles to Fiorella Gilli Nursery – 29 miles to Pennone Nursery – 46 miles to I Giardini e le Fronde.

Eta Beta, Conzano Monferrato (AL): the famous nursery of Enza Romano and Gianni Ricci is specialized in aquatic, ornamental and typical marshland plants, including rustic water lilies, tropical water lilies, large, medium and dwarf lotus flowers, oxygenating, floating and marshy plants, species similar to water lilies and varieties suitable for moist soils. The collection of aquatic and marsh Irises, along with that of Chinese dwarf lotus flowers, is particularly interesting. Enza and Gianni, true and passionate connoisseurs of aquatic fauna, raise small fish, frogs, tree frogs, molluscs and turtles, used to bring to life the water gardens. They also build ponds and delightful potted water gardens.

Distances to other nurseries: 18,3 miles to Pennone Nursery – 31,4 miles to Val Mundoni Nursery – 36,4 miles to Fiorella Gilli Nursery – 18 miles to Valleversa Nursery – 35 miles to I Giardini e le Fronde.

Pennone Nursery, in Cabanette (AL): Pennone nursery was established in 1987, but since 1947 it has handed down its knowledge through different generations, with unbiased experience, professionalism, quality and passion. Located in the hamlet of Cabanette, on the outskirts of Alessandria, this nursery covers 16 acres of open-field cultivations and about 2.5 acres of greenhouses and tunnels for potted plants.

Distances to other nurseries: 46,2 miles to Val Mundoni Nursery – 47,2 miles to Fiorella Gilli Nursery – 29,2 miles to Valleversa Nursery – 18,3 miles to Eta Beta – 21,8 miles to I Giardini e Le Fronde.

Il Giardini e le Fronde

I Giardini e le Fronde, a Serravalle Scrivia (AL): This is a delightful nursery established by Lucia Mazzarello and Stefano Rhue, who live here with their two teenage children, a dog and some cats. They cultivate shrubs and small trees in pots in a wonderful rural setting, including, above all, hydrangeas, flowering apple trees, dogwoods and willows with coloured bark; not to mention herbaceous perennial and unusual annual species, as well as mostly forgotten vegetables. The plants can grow freely, with little pruning, natural fertilization and very few phytosanitary treatments: everything is aimed at achieving 100% organic cultivation. The nursery also offers screens, structures, gazebos, cones and other decorative items made of willow or twisted hazel; heather panels produced in the North of France are available as well, complementing the wide offer of romantic fences in naturally split chestnut poles (following the very grain of the wood – a feature that guarantees long-lasting creations). During the Christmas period, the nursery sells, also online, evocative wreaths, crowns and other outdoor decorations made with branches, fruits, berries, dried inflorescences, and pinecones: they are actually made in another family nursery in Casaleggio Boiro, Monferrato. Pruning and felling debris are also used for this purpose.

Distances to other nurseries: 60 miles to Val Mundoni Nursery – 62 miles to Fiorella Gilli Nursery – 46 miles to Valleversa Nursery – 34,8 miles to Eta Beta – 21,8 miles to Pennone Nursery.

From this last location, you may want to proceed on one of the following itineraries:

DISCOVERING NURSERIES: CUNEO, THE BIG PROVINCE (PIEDMONT/6), travelling to Il Bolfone Nursery (36 miles away);

DISCOVERING NURSERIES: SOUTH OF TURIN (PIEDMONT/5), travelling to Giani Nursery (6,5 miles away);

DISCOVERING NURSERIES: THE FLOWER RIVIERA, FROM IMPERIA TO PIETRA LIGURE (LIGURIA/2), travelling backwards to Il Giardino degli Ellebori, in Pietra Ligure (SV).

Gardens, castles, wineries, villas, natural oasis and reserves along the way

Here’s a short selection of these interesting locations along the way, while you can find the complete list on:
luoghi.italianbotanicaltrips.com/piemonte/asti-at/;
luoghi.italianbotanicaltrips.com/piemonte/alessandria-al/

Roseto della Sorpresa

Roseto della Sorpresa, Serra Perno District, Castell’Alfero (AT): Castell’Alfero is a village nestled on a hill at the entrance to the Versa Valley, acknowledged as a “balcony on the Monferrato”, due to the splendid countryside around it; the latter features, in fact, cereal cultivations, vineyards, pedestrian, bicycle, and horseback trails. Roseto della Sorpresa is actually a XIX century country house, surrounded by a garden with a small wood, covering about 3.5 acres along the hillside. The garden has a slightly wild look which truly respects the local environment: oaks, hornbeams, lime trees, walnuts, hackberry trees grow abundant here (respectively: Quercus robur, Carpinus betulus, Tilia spp., Jugland regia, Celtis australis); there are also some centuries-old Celtis and some large beech trees (Fagus sylvatica); birds and small animals of the undergrowth thrive in this untainted natural environment.

La Piscina di Villa Ottolenghi

Villa Ottolenghi, in Aqui Terme (AL): originally owned by the Counts Arturo and Herta Ottolenghi, this villa now belongs to Vittorio Invernizzi, who has quickly fixed thirty years of neglect and returned Villa Ottolenghi to its original and renewed splendour. The heart of the whole area is the “formal garden”, consisting of a checkerboard structure of stone slabs. At some points of intersection, large terracotta vases, containing lemon plants, boost its vertical layout. The promenade runs all around the Villa, along the ramparts, and it is next to the cistern of waters: right there, there’s also a beautiful space dedicated to the cultivation of herbs.

Accommodation

B&B Fiorella Gilli

B&B Azienda agricola Fiorella Gilli, in Villanova d’Asti (AT): the agronomist Fiorella Gilli cultivates countless trees, shrubs and vines (some of them rare and unusual) in the local continental climate and on unfavorably clayey soil. The nursery is located next to its enchanting garden; the latter surrounds Fiorella’s B&B facility.

This post is also available in: Italian

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