The language of gardens
Sight-seeing phrasebook & gardeners’ glossary
Dead or not, Latin certainly provokes heated debate amongst the gardening fraternity. Used for classification purposes, for many gardeners the botanical names add important intellectual input. Others however, find Latin names ‘foreign-sounding’, both difficult to pronounce and to remember.
We asked international Guide Sylvia Holz which language she favours when ‘talking gardens’. Born in Chile, she studied Art History in Munich and work in the German Institute of Art History in Florence. With groups, she told us, I ask their preferred language - which is invariably English. For the same reasons of universality, for plant types, ‘I use Latin names’. Common names are different in each language and confusing.
When visiting gardens in Italy remember many are private gardens. Indeed you may encounter a mixed bag of facilities, services and attitudes from the generously passionate to the vaguely apathetic. Be sure to check visiting times. You may also need to be armed with a little more than just English.
We have put together some basic information vocabulary that may help you to enjoy the gardens and the facilities. For gardeners visiting gardens and nurseries we include a few more specialist terms.
Key organisation in Italy the Fai, La Fondazione Ambiente Italia is the ‘National Trust equivalent’ that works to protect Italy’s landscape, together with the nation's historic and artistic heritage. www.fondoambiente.it
Grandi Giardini Italiani, Great Italian Gardens, is increasingly proactive organisation in creating a network of gardens, private gardens and non, open to the public, listed on its website: www.grandigiardini.it/EN/giardini.php
Visiting a garden
La guida - the guide
La visita guidata - the guided tour
L’entrata libera - free entrance
Il biglietto d’ingresso - entance ticket
La tariffa ridotta - concessionary rate
I giorni feriali - weekdays
I giorni festivi - weekends/holidays
L’orario di apertura - opening times
Plant types Gli Alberi - trees I cespugli - bushes Gli Arbusti - shrubs Le Conifere - conifers Le Eracee perenni - herbacious perennials I Rampicanti - climbers I Succulenti - succulents piante aquatiche - aquatic plants I Palmizi - palms Bambu’ - bamboo
For more vocabulary please download Italian garden glossary PDF here>
Read on > San Gimignano: The Medieval Manhattan Vernaccia - gourmet food
Read on > Chelsea Flowers: In the Show Garden of Italy
Our articles express an independent viewpoint but you may wish to know ‘who’ helped make the trip.
Where we stayed: We stayed 20 minutes from San Gimignano at Borgo Pignano Country Residence. We loved this place and highly recommend it. More information>
Our guide: Beatrice Fornai – Tuscan spell bea@tuscanspell.com, +00393331662326,
Car rental: Green Motion, Pisa. Pisa@greenmotion.it
See our photo album and short videos from the trip on Pintrest and Facebook>