I've been wanting to share a few photos of my last visit to the Giardino delle Rose, Florence's lovely hillside rose garden, where I added some more copper "peace" leaves to my favorite olive tree. (You may remember that I'd requested new words for my "Elements of peace" project last fall...photos of the "installation" can be seen here & the making of the leaves can be seen here.)
As I approached the tree, I couldn't make out the wire-words title and thought it might no longer be encircling the trunk, but as I drew closer I realized the copper had merely lost its shine. Now it blends in nicely with the bark. I was surprised to see how many of the twenty-six leaves remained——I counted at least seventeen, but it was hard to keep track of them, scattered among the branches/foliage as they are. I do know that "love" was missing, because it had been placed on a new shoot close to the trunk. I like to think that either a happy couple or someone looking for love has claimed it...
Here are photos of some of the latest additions, which include sustain, alegria (Portuguese for "joy") & gratitudine (Italian for "gratitude"). I'm afraid these few that I photographed are a bit difficult to make out; the noon-time sun was glaring, so I turned the leaves away from it and ended up with considerable, difficult-to-make-out-the-details, contrast.
I am always happy to make/add more leaves. As I'd mentioned in the initial post(s), just as the quest for peace is ongoing I hope this project can be as well. So please feel free to offer an "element" that you feel might help to bring more peace into the world (either in the comments section below or in an email). Now that spring is in arrivo I will be up at the rose garden more regularly, and on future visits I would love to place more peace leaves among the branches of my favorite olive tree.
Wishing you a happy & peaceful week...
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| The original "Elements of peace" leaves, mixed in with their inspiration |
Lisa,
ReplyDeleteThanks for adding 'alegria' as a new leaf at your favorite olive tree.
Down here in Brazil we have olive trees, but they are just ornamental, the climate is not appropriate for the hole cicle of fruit production.
The first I knew is still alive at my grandfather's back yard and is part of my childhood. My mother's family name is 'Oliveira' = olive tree in portuguese, and as far as I know, this 'family tree' was planted by my grandfather before I was born (1959). I´ll go there one of these days and take a picture of it...
Enjoy spring!
Love, Vera.
You're very welcome, Vera! It's a beautiful word, in both Portuguese & English, and something that makes life so much more worth living.
DeleteI never realized that olive trees don't bear fruit in Brazil - my only memory of an olive tree while living there was the one my father brought home as our very first Christmas tree in São Jose... We had moved into our house just four days before Christmas, and he drove miles & miles looking for a tree but all he could find was a very bedraggled olive tree (of course this would have been summer)!
I'd love to see a picture of your "family tree" if you take one next time you visit it. Each olive tree grows in its own special way, and I'm sure it will be interesting to see how it's changed.
- Lisa
Lisa,
DeleteLife with alegria / joy is beautiful!
Looking at Google Maps, can you point out which one is 'your' olive tree?
https://www.google.com.br/maps/@43.7631796,11.2628445,164m/data=!3m1!1e3?hl=pt-BR
I hope to visit you again in Florence and have a chance to embrace this special tree.
I'll try to take a picture of my grandfather´s tree and send to you by email.
Love, Vera
Hello again, Vera ~ I'm sending you the tree's location via email as I don't see any way of attaching it to my reply here...
DeleteI'm looking forward to your photo of a special/Brazilian olive tree!
- Lisa
Hi Lisa- Love this whole concept...I can imagine the surprise when people discover "your" olive tree!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Julie! It has been fun, and I was so happy to finally figure out a way to integrate my peace words with this particular olive tree. It's on an upper terrace of the garden, so I don't think many people make it up there, but I, too, like to think of these copper leaves being an extra little surprise for those who stumble across it.
Delete- Lisa
Lisa - I popped by straight after you posted, loved it and have then taken a wee while to return. Isn't it just the most wonderful thing that the tree is being loved and appreciated and that peace and beauty are growing...such a delight. I would like to add 'love' once again to the tree, and "shine" if I might be so bold...it feels special to be connected to your peace tree so far away; thank you.
ReplyDeleteI would be delighted to hang another "love" leaf - and I just love "shine"...it's a very "Fiona" word somehow (have I maybe seen it in various incarnations/media on your blog over the years?) We've had a bout of wet & gray, but the next chance I get I will be up at the rose garden, and very happy to make some additions. Thank you for your contributions, Fiona!
Delete- Lisa