Never Against Nature: Thomas Hanbury’s La Mortola

Thomas Hanbury and La Mortola

This botanical history post was featured on The Daily Gardener podcast: Click here to see the complete show notes for this episode. May 2, 1867 On this day, 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…

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Cecil Ross Pinsent: Mastermind of Tuscany’s Iconic Gardens

The Italian gardens of Villa I Tatti, located in the hills outside Florence, Italy.

The Tuscany Garden Designer May 5, 1884  Today is the birthday of the British garden designer and architect known for his innovative gardens in Tuscany, Cecil Ross Pinsent. Cecil worked with the American art historian Bernard Berenson on his iconic estate known as the Villa I Tatti. This relationship opened doors for Cecil, and soon he…

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