The heart of this garden is the archipelago of prairie islands, where the ecological spirit on which Piuca is founded can truly be felt. This area, originally used for arable crops, went through a long period of abandonment following the end of sharecropping, leading to gradual rewilding that left it covered with brambles and dense growths of Prunus spinosa.
In the late 1980s, it was restored without disturbing the soil, which in the meantime had regenerated a rich layer of humus. Experimentally, dormant seeds present in the soil were allowed to grow freely, resulting in remarkable biodiversity and a landscape that reveals the soil’s most intrinsic nature. Some areas are dry and host thermophilic plants, while others retain water and have become home to more hydrophilic species. Over time, spontaneous colonies of wild orchids, daffodils, alliums, ornithogalums, and many other valuable native species have appeared. These are carefully preserved through selective mowing that supports their growth and natural spread.
Altitude: 570 m above sea level
Area: 3,650 sqm
Soil type: humus-rich, sandy, loose rocky soil, from basic to slightly acidic
Cultivated plants: Arbutus varieties, Pinus thunbergii, Malus florentina, Paulownia tomentosa, Cupressus sempervirens
Fruit trees: apples, pears, quinces, azaroles, service pears, Sicilian mulberries, almonds
Other spontaneous / naturalized exotic plants: Ampelodesmos mauritanicus, Ferula communis, Pistacia lentiscus, Opuntia spinosa
