If you ever find yourself in Padua, Italy, get yourself to the botanical garden, it is the oldest one in existence worldwide and on the UNESCO world heritage list. Going strong sice 1545.

1568, Europe’s first sunflower was planted here. This is also the home of Europe’s first potatoes.

Some of the plants and trees seen today are ancients. There is a European fan palm planted in the 16th century that Goethe admired in the 19th century. It is now nicknamed the Goethe-palm. Today, we admire fruit-bearing trees and the modern hothouses with all these beautiful leaves and patterns.

 

October 31st 2017