The Gardens of the Villa Lante 
to walk In, and from which to view as one 
wanders, the beauties of the parterred space 
just left below. Kverywhere are fountains, 
either a series of jets or cascades, where are 
reflected niched walls and stairs and urns. 
But mere greenery, running water and these 
architectural ornaments are not all, for the 
shaded levels are heightened in color by great 
potted plants. Rhododendrons and azaleas, 
finds himself in a grove of oak-trees that 
surrounds the formal part of the villa. Here 
and there, usually where a path divides, is a 
fountain or basin recalling the more formal 
arrangement elsewhere, but nothing more, 
for this is really Nature’s part. In these 
thick woods, wild flowers and ferns cover 
the ground ; ivy carpets it, clambering over 
banks and climbing not infrequently to the 
THE FOUNTAIN, on the Second Terrace VILLA LANTE 
camellias and huge hydrangeas surround 
balustrades and border green alleys. One 
lingers and rests on old stone seats, listening 
to songs of birds and the ripple and splash of 
water, watching the golden patches of sun¬ 
light that sift through the interlacing branches 
and dance over lichen-covered walls, tree- 
trunks and columns entwined with vines. 
Awakening from his reverie the visitor 
topmost branches of the oaks. Trickling in 
and out among the great roots of the trees 
are little streams, so overhung with delicate 
ferns that, but for the gentle murmur of the 
water one would come upon them unawares. 
Beyond all these superb trees and their water 
courses and basins are out-lying olive groves 
and vineyards and the wilder and more 
rugged hill slopes. 
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