Scenes from an Italian garden

The University of Perugia's medieval garden is located on the site of a Benedictine monastery, San Pietro, that was founded in the 10th century. The garden was designed by Alessandro Menghini, a professor of pharmaceutical botany at the university, as a "hortus conclusus," which sounds like an invention of J.K. Rowling but is actually a garden surrounded by a wall in which medicinal herbs and edible plants often are grown and which was a traditional part of medieval monasteries. Some of the professor's design concepts are something of stretch-an oval lily pond is described as the "basin of cosmogenic ovulation"-but it was a very pleasant place to spend some time and it was nice to see many familiar friends in the garden.

6 Comments

Sandra R Breinigsville, PA

Just beautiful, I'm speechless!

on Jun 08, 2012 · Like 0
Miriam I New York, NY

Absolutely breathtaking. Did I mention that I'm jealous, yet? :)

on Jun 08, 2012 · Like 0
Donna Dixson Buford, GA

So ....how long did you linger in that lovely paradise? :). I am quite envious!

on Jun 08, 2012 · Like 0
JP S Marietta, GA

Love the pictures.

on Jun 08, 2012 · Like 0
Becky H Tampa, FL

Thanks for sharing Douglas! I left some questions behind.

on Jun 08, 2012 · Like 0
Jean M Valdosta, GA

I can only wish that my garden will ever looks like that.....might need a pond and an area to throw out some more southern wildflower garden seeds....

on Jun 09, 2012 · Like 0

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Scenes from an Italian garden

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