The poetry of nature greeted me in Florence as I chanced upon the ancient Medici botanical garden, now tended lovingly by the University of Firenze. Amidst bustling Florence, to discover this peaceful place was a happy surprise. I was enchanted by this garden and enjoyed framing a few detailed views, like this one of the magnolia just beginning to bloom, forming a delicate veil in front of a grand tree in the distance. For several other images of this garden see below in the comments.
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en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Orto_Botanico_di_Firenze
The Orto Botanico di Firenze (2.3 hectares), also known as the Giardino dei Semplici, is a botanical garden maintained by the University of Florence. It is located at Via Micheli, 3, Florence, Italy, and open weekday mornings. An admission fee is charged.
The garden was established on December 1, 1545, by Cosimo I de' Medici, Grand Duke of Tuscany, and is Europe's third oldest, behind the Orto Botanico di Pisa and the Orto Botanico di Padova. It was first laid out by landscape gardener Niccolò Pericoli to a botanical system and plantings chosen by Luca Ghini, and rose to prominence under Cosimo III, with Pier Antonio Micheli as its director. As was typical of early European botanical gardens, its prime interest was in medicinal plants. However, as in 1753 the Società Botanica was formed, the garden's focus turned to "experimental agriculture" amd its layout was revised accordingly. The garden grounds opened to the public in the mid 1800s, at about the same time that its glass houses (1694 m²) were constructed.
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