Immersing myself in Florence’s gardens

While I was walking outside today on my way to run a few errands, I suddenly felt a desire to go to Giardino Bardini. Even though I didn’t really have the time, something inside of me insisted that I walk through the garden. After entering the garden, I hiked up to the top as quickly as possible to stand on the terrace and admire Florence from above. There is something powerful about embracing a larger view of Florence. It not only allows me to admire more of its beauty, but it also allows me to gain a better perspective of my own life.

Living in Florence :: Immersing myself in Florence’s gardens

Sometimes I focus too much on a project and don’t see how other activities or encounters benefit me and ultimately my project. Running is vital to my writing projects, but so is strolling through the gardens to immerse myself in nature and tap into its tranquility.

I enjoyed walking around Giardino Bardini to peek at the Duomo and through the olive trees and above the pergola. The lighting of this blog post’s photo grabbed my attention. I had seen this view many times when I walked around the garden, but it was the first time I felt inspired to capture it.

As I continued walking through the garden, I enjoyed listening to the wind as it blew through the trees covering up the hum of the city below. The church bells rang while I was navigating the shady trail woven throughout the garden. I love this trail because I wanted to be surrounded by the garden’s trees, flowers, and shrubbery without any distractions.

It’s such a gift to immerse oneself in nature and admire all the gifts it so generously offers us. I’m always so delighted to admire the multicolored flowers beaming with joy, the bright green leaves perched on long branches waving in the sky, the birds chirping from the tree branches, and the scent of the grass and fertile earth purifying my heart and mind.

I stopped at one tree and put my hand on it. Its energy was so strong that I could feel it vibrate through my hand, and spread throughout my body. Touching and hugging trees infuse me with a lovely sense of tranquility. It’s almost as if I’m able to connect to its roots in the earth and ground my energy with it.

Every garden has the potential to instill our hearts with peace and joy, and it’s up to us to receive it. I’m grateful for all the gardens I visit, like Giardino Bardini, Giardino delle Rose, and Giardino di Boboli. Every time I walk through them even if only for a few moments, I feel reenergized.

When I returned home, I was more relaxed to continue with my tasks at hand. The stress I felt this morning dissipated and made room for calm. Every time I feel the urge to visit a garden, I do it. Lately, I’ve been visiting at least one of the gardens every other day. And with the Giardino dell’Iris, I had to take advantage of it while it’s open so I went a couple of times a week, weather permitting.

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