By Benedetta Checcarelli
Strawberry tree, emblem of Italy: at the Pacelli Nursery in Cortona, the owner explains which plants are absolutely essential in a garden.
If it weren’t a play on words, we could almost call him a “red primrose”, Germano Pacelli, owner of the nursery of the same name, whom we have tracked down with difficulty to be able to know something more about him and his company. But in truth we are talking about a man really engaged in a thousand activities, and you know, the land is tiring and certainly does not wait. We meet him one morning at the beginning of June and we ask him to tell us more about this imposing and historic company in Cortona, which includes a nursery open to the public, a shop, olive groves, vineyards and other crops and the design of gardens and green spaces; In short, an all-round service in the “green” sector supported by almost a hundred years of experience.
“As far as the systems are concerned, in addition to the initial design and consultancy, we mainly follow the first phases, also because the regulations require the company to be autonomous”. Germano explains. “We therefore try to make our customers independent and usually give a one-year warranty, but in any case, it always remains a direct line for any information and advice”.
Pacelli is mostly used by farms and agriturismo, i.e. buyers who do business with plants, but among the customers there are also many private individuals who ask for the design of their own garden. “What are the most popular plants?” we ask him with curiosity, coming to discover that it is the native ones that are the masters. “They ask us above all for cypresses, holm oaks, vines, but also fruit trees. In my opinion, however, those that should never be missing in a local garden are the olive tree, which is also obviously in great demand, and the strawberry tree, which is perhaps less known”.
Valley Life: “We didn’t expect the strawberry tree, why?”
Germano Pacelli: “It is a very beautiful tree, but above all it represents an emblem of Italy. He was elected to this role by the revolutionaries of the Risorgimento who fought the Austrian regime because in this plant red fruit, green leaves and white flower are present at the same time, symbolizing the Tricolour”.
VL: “This story is really interesting. Do you also have rare or special plants that are only found in your nursery?”
GP: “Absolutely, we try to make a rich and accurate selection in this sense. We are also experiencing the obvious climate change, so let’s keep citrus fruits for example, which until ten years ago it was unthinkable to offer. Today, however, with a minimum of precautions, they survive very well and give an exotic touch to the garden. But we also keep other Mediterranean species, mostly from southern Italy, which are found only in Italy. The rarest plant sector is a sector that we really want to follow and expand”.
VL: “What is the job that has given you the most satisfaction to date?”
GP: “In general, the one done well, which does not necessarily have to be a large facility, it can also be a small green space. For example, we have arranged gardens in the historic center of Panicale or Perugia for which we have really committed, also for the inconvenience of reaching the places, often carrying products and equipment by hand. But then the result repaid us for all the efforts”.
Pacelli boasts a staff of twelve people trained by specific studies, but above all by the company’s almost century-old experience. “We grew up on bread and plants,” adds Germano smiling. “In the evening at home, during dinner, we ate yes, but above all we talked about crops, flowers and gardens”. Yes, because this historic activity, he explains, began in the 30s of the last century thanks to his grandfather, his namesake, who had the intuition to grow vegetables and seeds not only for himself, but also as a service to offer to others. The plants came later, in the 50s, starting from the vineyards and olive groves, when the first cooperative wineries began to be bottled and then arrived, thanks to the economic boom, to the ornamental ones.”
I joined the company in the 80s, representing the third generation,” Germano proudly explains. “I thank my grandfather for having had the intuition and foresight to look beyond, in this way he gave a future to my father Pietro and then to me. And my greatest hope and dream, today, is to pass the baton to my children in turn”. And we sincerely wish him so.
Info: Pacelli Piante, S.R. 71 – Terontola di Cortona (Ar), c/o uscita Castiglion del Lago, raccordo autostradale Bettolle Perugia / Tel. 0575 67194 / 349 7186496 (Laura) / 333 4095529 (Germano)
