In the oil lunette, done in 1599 by the Flemish painter Justus Utens, the gardens appear on a grander scale than in Botticelli's day. Still the essential features are the same: symmetrical terracing, a central fountain, small "secret gardens" at either end of the house, and thick groves of evergreens for shading. flowers often grew wild; they were apparently of minor interest to Renaissance gardeners. They were concerned primarily with neat hedges and the ordering of space. Botticelli may have been as expert an amatueur botanist as anyone in Florence, the Athens of the early Rennaissance.

:: I prefer Jasmine Tea :: Jasmine tea hails from the Fujian province of China. It is infused with the delicate scent of the night-blooming jasmine flowers which are harvested during the day and stored in a cool place until night. During the night, the flowers bloom with full fragrance. They are, then, layered over the tea leaves during the scenting process. The quality of Jasmine tea is determined by the quality of green tea used as its base and the effectiveness of the scenting. Jasmine teas are very pleasing with strong-tasting foods and are both soothing and refreshing.

I am a Renaissance woman.