The Italian word ‘Giglio’ translates as ‘Lily’. The flower is the symbol of the city of Florence but actually it is an iris which is represented!

In the 1950s the city’s mayor, the noted Florence historian Piero Bargellini, offered a group of enterprising keen lady gardeners a site to set up an Iris garden on the left of the panoramic Piazzale Michelangelo.

We have loved visiting this lovely spot in previous years and were lucky enough yesterday to catch the garden shortly before it closes down to await next April’s blossoming season.

The organisers informed us that this year the sudden spell of above average temperatures in May had spoilt a lot of blooms. However, there were still enough beautiful examples of this graceful flower around for us to enjoy: