Gardens in urban Italy

Sean O'Hare's interesting comments in his November 3rd message about urban gardens in Italy made my thoughts flutter.
 
Tourists rarely have an opportunity to really peek into urban gardens which are mostly hidden behind high walls, thick hedges or have been created on terraces high up with a view of city roofs.  Privacy is part of the reason most are out of sight, but also there is a need for security and safety.  You won't find any gardens to cut across here as you walk about.
 
If you fly over Rome it is amazing how green it is.  When in the city, except for the large public parks, it is hard to believe that this is one of the greenest cities in Europe. 
 
We live in Rome in an area called Casal Palocco which lies 3km from the sea and 22km from the heart of the city.  Here, in this unusual Italian urban-suburban setting, the houses were built with small gardens.  However, each is private, hidden behind cyclone fences with thick hedges or behind walls.  Each garden is a micro oasis in this very fast paced and stressed out city.  The Japanese came by busloads to photograph this area when it was first built in the '60s.  Here Pinus pinea umbrella pines and Quercus ilex Holm oaks tie the greenry together in the area, and then there are the 'essences' of this part of the Mediterranean, with other plants from all over the world.  Palms are in nearly every garden as sell as lemons, pomegranates, apricots and such.  The gardens are planted without much landscape design usually.  They are reflections of each owner.  Here in what is considered an affluent area there are very few vegetables grown except for a few herbs.  We are not the norm and this is an oddity for Italy.. 
 
Terrace gardens in every Italian city are often spectacular and it is amazing how one forgets to be on the top floor in an apartment house.  Pergolas, awnings, palms, roses, jasmine, elegant lawn furniture, even small lawns, go to make up these terraces.  Many of these have been designed by specialists.  Drip systems keep the plants watered when the family and help are on holiday.
 
Gardens in luxury sea coast areas are usually planted with easy care native plants, beautifully placed to seem natural.
 
Rural areas on the other hand will be every bit as interesting to see as the gardens are generally all purpose and will have fruit trees, grapes, vegetables and flowers all together.  In the Alps, just under Mt. Blanc the 'cottage' gardens in the alpine towns are all perfectly tended and each window spills geraniums and other plants down in flowing joy.
 
In the very south, the Sicilian gardens often have hedges of prickly pears for protection from intruders as well as for the much loved fruit, an olive tree or two, almond trees, fig trees Carobs and jasmine which releases its fragrance as the evening sets.  The ground is often bare and swept.  Rare lawns are very expensive to keep as water is at a premium.
 
As Sean noticed, there are hundreds of balcony gardens with everything imaginable growing in happy contentness.  The Italian Gardens of vast proportion are few and far between and mostly property of the State.  Every year more garden centers pop up which is an indication that more and more people are creating gardens however and where ever they can.
 
These Italian gardens are indeed a bouquet of every type, and as varied as their excellent world famous cusine. 
 
Many thoughts will continue with me on this subject.  Good 'food' for thought.
 
Best wishes to you all,
Helene Pizzi
Rome, Italy
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