gardens

NINFA notebook
RIVER WILD
The river that divides Ninfa’s
garden in two is fed by a
spring-water lake. The icecold,
crystal-clear water
creates a tiny microclimate
so that temperatures in the
garden never drop to zero
in winter, or rise above 36°C
in summer. Even on the
hottest summer nights,
there is always a heavy dew.
TOP TIPS FROM STELLA & LAURO MARCHETTI
GARDEN CHALLENGES
HERITAGE: Ninfa is constantly challenged by the threat of pollution and unscrupulous development.
Lauro works hard to make good relationships with the local community. The garden has links with
local schools and thousands of children visit each year. As they grow up and take on positions of
responsibility in the local community, Lauro hopes they will remember Ninfa and what it taught
them about the conservation of the natural world.
RINGS OF ROSES
Roses are encouraged to scramble freely wherever
they choose, creating the romantic, ‘cultivated
disorder’ that is considered a peculiarly English
style of gardening in Italy. There’s so much to see
at ground level that it’s easy to forget to look up.
But unless you fling your head back, you won’t
see the roses making their valiant ascent of the
garden’s walls and tall trees.
Ninfa is a large garden. We have found that the optimum way to maintain it is to
assign part of the site to each of our five gardeners. In this way, each gardener takes
personal responsibility for a section of the medieval ruins and develops a close
relationship with the plants that grow over and among them.
We select plants for their shape and colour, but also for their ability to attract
birds, butterflies and pollinating
insects. This system is
extraordinarily successful and
visitors often remark on the
presence of green and red-headed
woodpeckers, golden orioles
and many other unusual birds
in the garden.
In 1966, Ninfa was the first
garden in Italy to restrict visiting,
so that visitors could only enter the
garden with a guide. This has
helped us to preserve the magical
atmosphere of the garden.
BANNED ON THE BRIDGE
Visitors are not permitted to cross the bridge to the
garden on the other side of the river. This experiment
has proceeded for many years, and Lauro has noticed
that plants in this protected part of the garden are less
prone to disease than those in the main garden.
ALSO IN THE AREA
gardens: italy
If you visit Ninfa, Lauro also recommends:
GARDEN La Landriana A 30-minute drive from
Ninfa, it is a 25-acre, 20th-century garden initially
designed by Russell Page in collaboration with
Marchesa Lavinia Taverna. Interesting at all times of
year, particularly in May, when nightingales practice
their songs during the day, and the Valley of the
Roses is in full flower. Via Campo di Carne 51, 00040
Tor San Lorenzo, Ardea, Italia. Tel: +39 (06) 9101
4140. www.giardinidellalandriana.it
NURSERY Vivai Torsanlorenzo, Via Campo di
Carne 51, 00040 Tor San Lorenzo, Ardea, Italia.
Tel: +39 (06) 9101 9005. www.vivaitorsanlorenzo.it
RESTAURANT Il Piccolo Ducato, Via Tivera,
Cisterna di Latina (LT), Italia. Tel: +39 (06) 9601284.
Closed on Mondays. www.ilpiccoloducato.it
B&B La Valle dell’Usignolo, Via Vigna Riccelli 2,
04010 Sermoneta (LT), Italia. Tel: +39 (0)773 318629.
www.lavalledellusignolo.it
February 2013 the english garden 33