Orticola 2026: “Gardening makes you happy”

«Gabriella with the hundreds of roses in his garden he formed a very intimate symbiosis. In exchange for her care, they fill her with joy. You will always find Gabriella on all fours under her Pembertons, filling herself with thorns everywhere to keep them clean of weeds, pruning them gently even when it rains or tying up the long branches until the evening, knowing which ones will produce the most flowers this year. Because for her this treatment is a source of immediate well-being.”

Maurizio Zarpellon, garden designer and writer, in his book Garden souls (Gribaudo) gives us this nice portrait of a gardening enthusiast. Fully grasping the commitment and effort, but also the happiness you feel taking care of plants. The ranks of gardening enthusiasts are increasingly growing.

Orticola 2026: “Gardening makes you happy”

To them, but above all to those who don’t know yet this year’s theme of Orticola di Lombardia is dedicated to the joy that plants givethe market exhibition to be held in Indro Montanelli public gardens in Milan from 7 to 10 May: “Gardening makes you happy”.

Now science says so too. «Research by the University of Bristol attests that a bacterium, Mycobacterium vaccaecompletely harmless to us humans, if inhaled, it induces the production of serotonin, the happiness hormonewith benefits similar to an antidepressant” he explains Filippo Pizzonivice-president of the Orticola Foundation of Lombardy ETS and garden historian.

«This bacterium is found in the soil. So, every time we work the land to garden, we breathe it in». And our brain receives an important natural stimulus to make us feel good. According to Pizzoni, To discover the joys of gardening you don’t need to have a large garden: «Even a balcony or terrace, or a small space outside, offers the opportunity to enjoy the benefits of plants».

Gardening cures us

Another research, published by the University of Tokyo in 2017, and cited by Kathy Willis in the book Nature that heals (Aboca), compared a series of studies on the beneficial health effects of gardening. The curious fact is that the participants were heterogeneous, but the positive outcomes were identical: reduced incidence of depression, anxiety and stressdecrease in mood disorders, improvement in cognitive functions, lowering of blood pressure and reduction of body mass index. It’s worth a try. On the other hand, The therapeutic effects that gardening can have on fragile people have long been known, such as the sick and elderly.

Benjamin Rush, considered the father of American psychiatry, already in the nineteenth century had created occupational therapy in the garden to alleviate the symptoms of the mentally ill, achieving success. But gardening isn’t just good for people in difficulty. It is a panacea on a psychological level even for those who are healthy. For various reasons.

The power… of weeds

«The garden or balcony is a space of freedom, which gives happiness» comments Pizzoni. «No one orders us what to do, like at work. We can remove weeds or leave them, care for plants, meditate or stop to listen to birds singing. It is contact with other forms of life – animals and plants – that makes us feel good». Taking care of a living being helps you feel better. And it also applies to plants.

Filippo Pizzoni knows well the happiness that his garden offers him, a pleasure that has its roots in his love for nature experienced in childhood. «I chose this profession (he is also a landscape architect, ed) to be able to give the happiness I learned as a child to those who don’t know it.”

Plants are also alive and reward, with a different language, those who take care of them. Planting a seed and seeing the plant grow, enjoy good health thanks to the attention received and then flourish gives happiness also in the form of satisfaction, which gratifies and strengthens self-esteem. Furthermore, helps to rediscover that happiness, true happiness, is hidden in the little things. You can find serenity in the pleasure of simple, repeated gestures – such as watering plants regularly – and seeing life progress.

Plants are a school of patience: we don’t decide their times, we can only wait. You can then experience gardening free from the slavery of multitasking, which requires you to do multiple things at a time, generating stress. When digging, pruning, removing dry leaves, attention is focused on a single action and this makes us feel better. As for the urban environment, filling it with flowers improves the quality of life. Together with the others who take care of the balconies and terraces, you feel like you are part of a community. A further step on the path to happiness.

The joy of the colors of the geraniums

Another no less important element is that of sensory contact with plantsthrough the eyes, the hands, the sense of smell.Tiziana Meluzzi, nursery owner of The Ancient Flower in Neptune, has a collection of over 400 Pelargonium And Geranium. At Orticola he will present a selection. «In the gardens of the villas, in the eighteenth century, the noblewomen touched the scented leaf pelargoniums with their long skirts and became intoxicated by the pleasant smell, especially when the sun was shining, in the morning and at sunset» she says. Hints of apple, citrus, rose, mint, which give pleasure.

In Milan, Meluzzi will bring among other things Pelargonium tomentosum, with velvety mint-scented and edible leaves; Pelargonium graveolenswhose essential oil is used as a mosquito repellent; Pelargonium Chocolate Peppermint, peppermint scented; Pelargonium Fragrans Variegatumwith an intense aroma of nutmeg. «Look at them, touch them: they are an antidote to stress and a method of happiness» he adds. In addition to scent, plants are also colors and flavors.

Davide Bacci, owner of the agricultural company Davide Bacci of Albenga, will be present with the Gramaglia Brothers in Orticola, with its nasturtiums. «I will bring about ten varieties, those that remain smaller and are also good on the balcony” explains. «They are climbing or trailing, perennial, easy to grow. The colors convey joy. In addition to the mottled white, the flower can be yellow, red, orange, pink, dark red». Colors full of energy. «Flowers and leaves are edible. The flower is tasty, with a spicy note: a real pleasure for the eyes and the mouth” concludes Bacci.

This year Orticola celebrates Spain

Orticola 2026 will be full of initiatives. This year’s guest of honor is Spaina land rich in historic gardens and a varied landscape heritage, thanks to its climatic, geographical and cultural diversity. In addition to a workshop with the Thyssen-Bornemisza museum in Madrid, the Montanelli gardens will also host a temporary garden curated by the Spanish landscape designer Fernando Matos.

This year too iO Donna is media partner of the event and awaits you at its stand. From Friday to Sunday, twice a day will be possible participate free of charge in the workshop “Designer saucers for a happy garden” by Naïs for iO Donna.

This year iO Donna offers readers an exclusive opportunity: visit Orticola together with the editorial staff on the inauguration day, May 7th. All the information and details in this dedicated article.

Many activities also in Fuoriorticola. For ticket holders, free or discounted admissions to 29 museums and galleries, 12 historic gardens and botanical gardens in the city and outside Milan, with guided tours, workshops and meetings. To admire the flowered shop windows, which will involve 43 shops.

The “PromoPrimavera” is active until Thursday 30 April, the ticket costing 10 euros instead of 13. Info and purchase tickets on: orticola.org.