The thematic islands
Seventeen species, seventeen islands
Each island of the modular grid hosts a traditional species of the territory. Photographs of the individual species will be available as the planting matures.
Fruit species are the main and defining part of the Pope’s Orchard. The orchard favours the now-forgotten historic species of the territory — those that, for market reasons, have vanished from today’s offering yet belong to our traditional heritage — in compliance with the relevant strategy of the Lazio Region (Regional Law 15/2000 on the protection of native genetic resources).
All species share some common traits: small-to-medium size; a shallow root system, within 1.50 m, so as not to interfere with any archaeological remains below; seasonal deciduousness, ensuring variability through the changing seasons; a low irrigation demand, with watering only as emergency support during peak drought.
Cultivation entirely excludes synthetic chemicals: fertilisers are replaced by natural microbial biostimulants, which encourage rooting and cause no alteration or pollution of soil, water and air. The Orchard is thus a true agro-ecosystem, a laboratory of biodiversity.
Each island of the modular grid hosts a traditional species of the territory. Photographs of the individual species will be available as the planting matures.
Within each species, specimens of different varieties, ages and sizes were planted, to recreate the mixed, uneven-aged character of the old orchards. Below are some of the traditional cultivars mentioned in the project.
| Species | Historic varieties |
|---|---|
| Apricot | Monte Porzio, Velletri, Valleggia, Rubini Mariae |
| Plum | Regina Claudia verde, Coscia di Monaca, Prugna di Gallinaro, Recinella |
| Cherry | Graffione, Ferrovia, Durone Nero, Ravenna Tardiva |
| Sour cherry | Visciola Nana dei Castelli, Visciola di Germania, Progressiflora |
| Apple | Limoncella, Mela Rosa, Renetta, Abbondanza rossa, Cerina o Gelata |
| Pear | Spadona, Santa Maria, Angelica, Coscia, Precoce di Fiorano, Passacrassana |
| Quince | Melocotogno (apple-quince), Perocotogno (pear-quince) |
| Fig | Brogiotto bianco, Brogiotto nero, Gentile, Fillacciano, Reale, San Giovanni |
| Pomegranate | Wonderful (Precoce), Dente di Cavallo, Mollar, Nero da Frutto |
| Mulberry | Black mulberry, White mulberry, Regina, Saharanpur, Pakistan Black |
| Almond | Tuono, Genco, Supernova |
| Persimmon | Tipo, Cioccolatino, Vaniglia |
| Medlar | Loquat (Japanese medlar), Common (German) medlar |
To these are added azarole, cornelian cherry, domestic sorb and hazel, likewise selected for their small-to-medium size, shallow root system and ornamental appearance.
