Shrubs and Plants from the Netherlands Planted in the Vatican Gardens
As of Friday morning, 11 September, a new large flower bed of shrubs and plants has adorned the Vatican Gardens. It is a green gift from the Netherlands, as tribute to the country’s ties with the See of Peter. For the occasion, 2 pyramidal Taxus baccata, 3 variegated Hosta, 10 Phlox, 10 Agapanthus, 40 variegated Carex, and 40 Heuchera micrantha ‘Palace Purple’ were planted.
The planting ceremony, held near the Fountain of the Frogs, was presided over by Giuseppe Puglisi-Alibrandi, Secretary General of the Governorate of Vatican City State, together with H.E. Mr Paul Bekkers, Ambassador of the Netherlands to the Holy See, and Ms Aino Jansen, Deputy Ambassador. Among those present were Monsignor Karel Kasteel and Stefano Giampaolo, Head of the Gardens and Environment Service of the Governorate’s Directorate of Infrastructure and Services.
On 24 April, the Netherlands had donated a Liriodendron tulipifera, commonly known as the tulip tree, planted in the Vatican Gardens. The occasion marked the 40th anniversary of the floral decorations donated by the Netherlands to the Pope for Easter. The new plants have been placed near the tulip tree, perpetuating the work of the many volunteers supported by the Dutch Bishops’ Conference and the “Bloemenpracht Rome” Foundation. Since 1985, they have adorned Saint Peter’s Square with thousands of flowers and plants grown in the Netherlands, in collaboration with Dutch florists and floral designers and the staff of the Governorate’s Gardens and Environment Service.
