L'Orto degli Angeli. A special flower garden on the island of Murano

Murano, a little gem of an island in the north lagoon whose name immediately evokes the art of glass. Images of factories, elegant Palazzos, chandeliers and refined tableware are what would normally come to one’s mind, yet… what attracts me are the side stories, the more urban and unexpected realities.

Today, in fact, I want to introduce you to Chiara Picardi, a soul so gentle and delicate who decided to grow a small private cut-flower garden called Orto degli Angeli, which takes its name from the nearby Chiesa degli Angeli.

I had read about her project but didn’t know her personally, so I sent her a message on Instagram asking if she would be so kind to spend some time with me and share some information about her cut-flower production. Here below, our brief conversation.

1) Chiara, can you tell us a little something about yourself?

I was born and raised on the island of Murano. I have intense memories of my childhood in the lagoon, in fact images of games in the campi, of me swimming in the canals, fishing adventures and trips to the bacan* still echo in my mind. I studied at the Liceo Scientifico Benedetti in Venice and once finished, I started Modern Literature at Ca’ Foscari, but it didn’t take long to understand that was not the right path for me.

So, I moved to London to improve my English and lived there for about a year, during which I also traveled to and worked in other countries, until I decided to return to Italy enrolled at the University of Trieste, where I graduated in 2004 with a thesis on the history of religions, becoming a sort of cultural mediator. I was so lucky to find a job at the Fondazione Cini in Venice, where I still work today and help in the activities regarding the promotion and research of extra European music.

*(the marshland between Sant’Erasmo and Lido, that emerges when the tide is low).

2) How did the adventure of Orto degli Angeli start?

When the pandemic started, my husband was already cultivating a small piece of private land. I started helping him with vegetable crops, then I began to study and learn more about farming and foraging and seized the opportunity to develop my passion for flowers. Through Instagram I was able to meet people who grow cut flowers in Italy and abroad. In 2023 we were told that the land we were working on was not going to be available anymore, so… with some effort, we decided to buy one of our own. I had never thought about buying a garden in Murano before… it’s been an incredible journey of discovery, I have learned so much about flowers but also about myself and acceptance.

3) What is it about flowers that you love so much? Is there a flower that you believe can represent you?

I like to decorate spaces and add beauty with the flowers I grow, in a way I can say that I like to cultivate the apparently ephemeral. Cultivating and decorating are interconnected activities, and this is why I opted for flowers rather than potatoes. With this said, I could easily spend days taking care of an unwanted weed. Botany passionates me in a broader sense. As for choosing a flower that could represent me… difficult question.

But I can say that sweet pea (lathyrus) can well represent my garden. It looks like its edible brother, but you can’t eat it. It is tenacious. It appears rustic, but then it gives the most beautiful purple and blue flowers, which have a delicate and incredible perfume. These flowers last only for a few days, making it clear that it is so important to appreciate the gifts of nature when they arrive and … well, let go when the time comes. And, last but not least, it is one of the few plants that even if pollinated, does not change color. It was the variety of pea used by Mendel for his studies.

4) The importance of following the seasons, not using pesticides and accepting unexpected changes. What have you learned with this activity?

I definitely understood why flowers are a luxury good. Especially when grown naturally. It is a hard job, involving many losses. I have learned to love the soil, always, in the good and in the bad, and to take care of it and its microorganisms.

On the occasion of some special events, I was asked to help with the flower decoration and, although honored, I understood that it is not the way I prefer to work. In big events and also in many hotels or similar, the flowers come from all over the world and are grown artificially, given special colors and treated with particular sprays. This means they have to be transported from far away places, which again involves a lot of useless packaging and waste. Then… once the event is over… most times, these beautiful creatures are thrown away.

Personally, I prefer a slower pace of life and a more sustainable and planet friendly approach. It is impossible not to be part of our times and, of course, I too produce a lot of waste and am far from being perfect, but at least with my cut-flowers I try follow a natural approach. They have taught me to be patient, to observe and take notes of the small changes and consider the infinite variables that can influence their growth.

5) Re-use, circular cultivation and (incredibly delicate) lagoon environment. Can you share with us some of the unique peculiarities of this territory and how it affects the flower world?

I only have a small garden, I cannot aim at a whole-sale market, I would definitely not be able to compete with the Dutch market, cost-wise. Besides, I have a full-time job and can only dedicate myself to this project part-time. It is challenging, but I do make an effort to offer fresh flowers to local clients for 8/9 months a year. In winter time I offer dried flowers, which I produce over the summer months. In Murano we have been producing vases, the containers, for centuries… I like the idea to provide the content.

I collaborate with some chefs, restaurant owners, artists and privates, also during some small private events. Differently from a florist, I can only provide what I have in my garden and cannot guarantee a specific type of flower, also because things can change from week to week, therefore clients need to trust me and have a sense of adaptability, in addition to some love for naturalness. I do not use sponges, glues nor dyes. Sometimes I can supply extremely resistant flowers like buttercups, tulips and sunflowers, but other times I have more delicate flowers which may cost more but last less. Then… I think about a bottle of champagne or a dish of spider crab. How long do they last? Flowers are a pleasure for the senses, exactly like food. They last what they last.

6) Do you have a dream? May I ask you to share it with us?

I would like one day to grow a small, partly shaded garden without worrying about production, but only for personal pleasure, with each plant becoming an important memory.

I am so grateful for the warm welcoming received from Chiara and also for being reminded how important it is to respect and appreciate what we have, because life -like a garden- needs to be treated with care. We must plant seeds and be patient to see the beauty of the blossoms.

You can follow Chiara Picardi on her Instagram page.

Meanwhile, thank you for reading!