An enchanted garden, not because it is inhabited by fairies and elves – albeit by mysterious characters – but because it changes its appearance from evening to morning and during the seasons. Owner, creator and dreamer of what she called A Garden with a view, on the hills of Florence just above one of the most beautiful views of the city, the Florentine Alice Esclapon de Villeneuve who, even for this harsh winter, has created a fascinating visit to her arboreal and hilly open-air installation
When the day lights give way to dusk, from a small and almost invisible door in the Erta Pass, just like the one through which its more famous namesake begins the journey into Wonderland, visitors also begin a walk to discover of the curious characters of the garden in the light of the “seeker lanterns”, which project a softer and more intimate light on the ground, suitable for starting a search for emotions. Discovering them, evoked by the twenty-six installations, is guided either by a narrator of the garden, or can be reached independently through the audiovisual map that explains the work, the materials and the plants chosen with the young voice of Serle, the Alice’s daughter to whom she dedicated her work. There are two very popular installations that change their face depending on the time and month in which you visit them: the Pineapple Amphitheater and the Long Road in the Woods. The first was called this way because the ground reminded of its structure and the theatrical space made by the pendulous mulberries that are the curtain, the flowering apple tree which, with its small red berries, the chandelier of the gallery while the flowering of the lilac changes the scenography. . But also the sunrise or sunset contributes to the spectacle of nature. In the second installation, on the other hand, through a game of mirrors hidden among the leaves, we enter a ramp in the garden where the real mystery, in the end, turns out to be us.
But the particularity of all the installations that are to touch, to smell, to experience just like the strange house of Mr. T, an entirely plant-based labyrinth-house in which to enter and sit together with Mr. T-americe. Anyone, however, can choose the type of visit that most intrigues him because, in fact, Alice offers several: the one with the lanterns, or the one with a toast on the Florence skyline in the heated club-house or the aperitif that includes an aperitif. more complete. What interests me is above all to show that gardens can also be lived in in winter and that even these, although well-kept, are imperfect. In the “earthworm”, in fact, I recycle all the prunings to create a sustainable gardening, also supported by the hens, my help gardener.
To be part of Alice’s magical but also imperfect world or to offer her cultural events and activities, she can be contacted – preferably by message – at 348.7929209 or from the edvgarden.com website. Further snippets are shared on the Instagram page @EdvGardenFirenze.
January 7, 2022 | 11:38
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