Thomas Hanbury and his Garden of Dreams: La Mortola

On May 2, 1867, Thomas Hanbury, a man of discerning taste and boundless ambition, purchased a property that would become a testament to his love of nature and his desire to create a horticultural haven on the French Riviera that he called La Mortola.

In 1913, The Botanical Journal shared the story of Thomas and his brother Daniel and described the moment that Thomas saw his property for the first time.

It had been the dream of Thomas Hanbury from his early youth to make a garden in a southern climate and to share its pleasures and botanical interests with his favorite brother.

While staying on the Riviera, in the spring of 1867, after many years of strenuous work in the East, he decided to carry out his plan.

He was first inclined to buy Cap Martin, near Mentone, but gave up the idea as soon as he became acquainted with the little cape of La Mortola.

As he first approached it by sea, he was struck by the marvelous beauty of this spot. A house, once the mansion of a noble Genoese family, and at that time, though almost a ruin, known as the Palazzo Orego, stood on a high commanding position.

Above it was the little village, and beyond all rose the mountains.

To the east of the Palazzo were vineyards and olive terraces; to the west, a ravine whose declivities were here and there scantily clothed by Aleppo pines; while on the rocky point, washed by the sea waves, grew the myrtle, to which La Punta della Murtola probably owed its name.

And so, in the balmy embrace of the French Riviera, a botanical dream materialized.

By July of the same year, Thomas returned with his brother, and together the two of them started to transform both the home and the garden.

Thomas's first goal was to get planting because the property had been destroyed by goats and the local villagers who had come in and taken what they wanted from the property during all the years that it was left unoccupied now Thomas and Daniel went all out when it came to selecting plants for this property, and by 1913 there were over.

Five thousand different species of plants, including the opuntia or the prickly pear cactus, along with incredible succulents (so they were way ahead of their time).

Thomas loved collecting rare and valuable plants and found a home for all of them on this beautiful estate.

La Mortola, a name evocative of its myrtle-clad promontory, was a canvas upon which Hanbury would paint a masterpiece of flora. With the support of his brother, Daniel, he embarked on a grand endeavor to transform the neglected estate into a paradise of exotic plants and vibrant colors.

As the sun kissed the Mediterranean, Hanbury's vision took root. He planted with a gardener's passion, carefully selecting species from around the globe to thrive in this temperate climate. The once-barren landscape burst into life, adorned with cacti, succulents, and a myriad of exotic blooms.

La Mortola became a sanctuary for the rare and the exquisite. Hanbury's botanical obsession was insatiable, and he sought out specimens that defied the ordinary. His gardens were a testament to his tireless pursuit of horticultural excellence.

Now, for the most part, Thomas and his brother Daniel did the bulk of the installations, but a year later, they managed to find a gardener to help them. His name was Ludwig Winter, and he stayed there for about six years. Almost a year after they hired him, Thomas's brother Daniel died.

Yet, Hanbury found solace in his family, friends, and gorgeous estate at La Mortola - where Thomas spent the last 28 years of his life. It was a place where he could connect with nature, honor his brother's memory, and continue their shared dream.

Thomas knew almost every plant in his garden, and he loved the plants that reminded him of his brother.

La Mortola's reputation grew, attracting visitors from far and wide. Hanbury's passion for botany inspired countless others, and his gardens became a source of inspiration for horticultural enthusiasts.

As the seasons changed, so too did the face of La Mortola. Spring brought a riot of color, summer a symphony of fragrance, and autumn a tapestry of golden hues. But it was in the quiet moments, when nature's beauty was most profound, that Hanbury found his greatest joy.
Thomas went on to found the Botanical Institute at the University of Genoa. The herbarium there was named in his honor; it was called the Institute Hanbury and was commemorated in 1892.

As Thomas grew older, the Riviera grew more popular, and soon his property was opened to the public five days a week.

The garden is practically never without flowers. The end of September may be considered the dullest time. Still, as soon as the autumnal rains set in, the flowering begins and continues on an ever-increasing scale until the middle of April or the beginning of May. Then almost every plant is in flower, the most marked features being the graceful branches of the single yellow Banksian rose, Fortune's yellow rose, the sweet-scented Pittosporum, the wonderful crimson Cantua buxifolia, and the blue spikes of the Canarian Echium.

But Thomas knew that there were limitations, frustrations, and challenges even in that lovely growing zone.

It was Thomas Hanberry who said,

Never go against nature.  

This philosophy guided his horticultural endeavors, ensuring that La Mortola remained a harmonious blend of human intention and natural wonder.