Italian Garden

The Italian Garden was inspired by the famous formal gardens of Italy. It features a Fountain of Apollo, a wrought iron eagle statue purchased from the Paris Exposition of 1900, life-size statues of Greek gods and goddesses, floral urns mounted on marble pedestals, and two semicircular pergolas with Tuscan columns, marble benches and statuary. Most of the trees in the Italian Garden are conifers, and include Himalayan Pine (Pinus wallichiana), White Pine (Pinus strobus), Pitch Pine (Pinus rigida), Shortleaf Pine (Pinus echinata), Colorado Blue Spruce (Picea pungens), American Arborvitae (Thuja occidentalis), Oriental Arborvitae (Platycladus orientalis), Eastern Redcedar (Juniperus virginiana), Chinese Juniper (Juniperus chinensis), Eastern Hemlock (Tsuga canadensis), Hinoki Falsecypress (Chamaecyparis obtusa) and Moss (Sawara) Cypress (Chamaecyparis pisifera). The first trees of Italian origin were added to the garden in 1999-2000: Italian Cypress (Cupressus sempervirens) and Italian Stone Pine (Pinus pinea).

Peak color in the Italian Garden is from May 15–Sept. 30, when the geraniums in the urns are in flower.

The weeping needles of Himalayan Pine (Pinus wallichiana).

The Fountain of Apollo, a birthday gift from George to Edith Gould. Water for the fountain is drawn from Lake Carasaljo. The conifers in the background are Norway Spruce (Picea abies).

The wrought iron eagle, purchased from the Paris Exposition of 1900.

One of many urns in the Italian Garden, planted with red geraniums. Many of the flowers grown in the urns on campus over winter in the university's greenhouse. The trees in the background are Oriental Arborvitae (Platycladus orientalis).

Floral urns mark the southern end of the Italian Garden. A pair of lions guards the entrance to the Sunken Garden.

One of the pair of pergolas that are at the northern end of the Italian Garden.
A saucer magnolia (Magnolia soulangiana) is in the background.