Intreegue Garden of the Month:

Hanbury Botanical Garden

I had the pleasure of spending a day at Hanbury Botanical Garden in 2013. Although it’s been quite a while since I visited, the memory of the garden is still quite vivid for me. I had the wonderful opportunity to teach a study abroad class for the University of Maryland in 2013, which brought me to Hanbury Gardens! Located on the Italian Riviera, it’s a magnificent place to view all different types of Horticulture, even better yet a great place to teach a class on Landscape Sketching! There are exquisite formal details that lend themselves to creating a great pen and ink sketch or even a watercolor, which our students tried their hands at. (Featured below is Dennis Nola teaching a student watercolor).

While now owned and maintained by the University of Genoa, it’s start was in the 11th Century and was called the “Palazzo Orengo”. These fell into ruins that the entrepreneur, philanthropist and botanist, Sir Thomas Hanbury purchased in 1867. He and his family curated important changes to the garden till the late 1930’s and finally it landed in the hands of the University in 1987.

Hanbury sits on the peninsula called Cape Mortola, taking full advantage of the viewshed – the views down to the water are stunning. The Peninsula encompasses 45 acres of the garden, half of this is curated and half native vegetation.

Highlights to explore include:

• The Cypress Walk – breathtaking walk with pebble details that frames the view down to the water, which leads directly to the bridge over the historic Roman Road.
• The beautiful Mauresque Mausoleum – the Hanbury’s are buried here!
• Several fountains and sculptures – including one by the famed Italian sculptor Antonia Canova.
• The Agave Collection – it brings a texture to the sight that only an Agave can—bold yet graceful and effortless.