Inside the Iris garden in Florence: the magic of spring

It is no secret that, during the pandemic, nature has become a safe haven. And walking among the trees of a forest, or simply in the park near the house, gives calm and confidence. Just like the iris flower, which in all its versions symbolizes positive thoughts and hope. This flower grows spontaneously in the Chianti countryside, but also in the hills surrounding Florence and along the Arno, and since 1251 it has been the symbol of the city of Florence.

This is why it is close to Piazzale Michelangelo an oasis that hosts more than 1500 different varieties of iris, including about fifteen who are at risk of extinction.

The Iris Garden it is the only botanical garden in Europe dedicated to this flower.

Located between the corner of Viale dei Colli and Piazzale Michelangelo in the Podere dei Bastioni, the Iris Garden it has an area of ​​about two and a half hectares, and offers a spectacular view of the city and the famous Florentine square.

The idea of ​​giving space to this very particular garden came from the ladies Flaminia Specht and Nita Stross Radicati, passionate about hybrid plants and members of the Italian Society of Friends of Flowers, as well as promoters of the Annual International Competition for the best Iris varieties. The garden was designed by Giuliano Zetti and inaugurated in the spring of 1957, precisely in Florence due to the city’s historical link with this flower. The creation of the space was possible thanks to the donation of many foreign farmers and a vast collection of historical irises.

Small, tall, bearded, variegated, spontaneous and even Japanese … The Iris Garden hosts a great variety of this flower, and is visited by botanists and scientists from all over the world for the richness of the species it hosts. Every year, from April 25th to May 25th, it is open to the public in full bloom. To understand if this year the anti-Covid limitations will allow visits, as we hope, just consult the website http://societaitalianairis.com

You may also like