Sicily, the largest and most central of the Mediterranean islands, is an environment where the rich combination of fascinating geography, tradition, culture and experimentation, is displayed in the historic gardens. Understanding these gardens, must be guided by an accurate investigation methodology in order to grasp their fundamental characteristics. Since the plant component plays a key role, a botanical approach is the basis for studying living plant collections given it highlights the floristic and physiognomic characteristics. To reconstruct the original design and study the garden’s changes over time, we need to apply dendrochronology which can be used to estimate the age of the garden’s oldest trees. Their presence testifies to their ability to acclimatize to local ecological conditions as well as representing the stylistic culture of the period when the gardens were created. To this end, research was carried out on several historical gardens in Eastern Sicily and in particular on the “secret garden” of Villa Zirilli, located on the Milazzo plain. With two main paths that intersect orthogonally, the “secret garden” has four sectors, two of which contain an abundant camellia collection (132 individuals) of incomparable ornamental value. In addition, there are hundred year old camphor and cypress trees and other precious exotic ornamental plants. The garden still has a utilitarian aspect with a quadrant dedicated to fruit trees and an ancient white mulberry (Morus alba L.), once cultivated for the traditional breeding of silkworms. Overall, the botanical investigation allowed us to appreciate the biodiversity expressed by 62 families and 112 specific taxa. To date the old trees, cross sections of 3 cm of thickness were taken from the felled trunks of camellias and cypress. Ring counting revealed the age of Camellia japonica L. and Cupressus sempervirens L., documenting the temporal stratification of the garden’s tree tissue. The camellia collection is a valuable heritage: because of their size, shape, age and historical location, at least 50 of the trees are to all intents and purposes genuine ‘living monuments’. The investigation has provided an instructive picture of the main characteristics of the Villa Zirilli garden, a priority in the complex operation of maintenance and restoration as well as for its conservation and protection.
Understanding Historical Gardens Through Botany and Dendrochronology: The Secret Garden of Villa Zirilli (Milazzo - Eastern Sicily)
CRISTAUDO, Antonia Egidia;
2012-01-01
Abstract
Sicily, the largest and most central of the Mediterranean islands, is an environment where the rich combination of fascinating geography, tradition, culture and experimentation, is displayed in the historic gardens. Understanding these gardens, must be guided by an accurate investigation methodology in order to grasp their fundamental characteristics. Since the plant component plays a key role, a botanical approach is the basis for studying living plant collections given it highlights the floristic and physiognomic characteristics. To reconstruct the original design and study the garden’s changes over time, we need to apply dendrochronology which can be used to estimate the age of the garden’s oldest trees. Their presence testifies to their ability to acclimatize to local ecological conditions as well as representing the stylistic culture of the period when the gardens were created. To this end, research was carried out on several historical gardens in Eastern Sicily and in particular on the “secret garden” of Villa Zirilli, located on the Milazzo plain. With two main paths that intersect orthogonally, the “secret garden” has four sectors, two of which contain an abundant camellia collection (132 individuals) of incomparable ornamental value. In addition, there are hundred year old camphor and cypress trees and other precious exotic ornamental plants. The garden still has a utilitarian aspect with a quadrant dedicated to fruit trees and an ancient white mulberry (Morus alba L.), once cultivated for the traditional breeding of silkworms. Overall, the botanical investigation allowed us to appreciate the biodiversity expressed by 62 families and 112 specific taxa. To date the old trees, cross sections of 3 cm of thickness were taken from the felled trunks of camellias and cypress. Ring counting revealed the age of Camellia japonica L. and Cupressus sempervirens L., documenting the temporal stratification of the garden’s tree tissue. The camellia collection is a valuable heritage: because of their size, shape, age and historical location, at least 50 of the trees are to all intents and purposes genuine ‘living monuments’. The investigation has provided an instructive picture of the main characteristics of the Villa Zirilli garden, a priority in the complex operation of maintenance and restoration as well as for its conservation and protection.I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.
