INTRODUCTION
by Ursula Salghetti Drioli Piacenza

It is six years since I became secretary of the Amici and I have tried to heighten awareness of our aims. I feel therefore that this is an opportune moment to tell you of how we have spent our money and contributed to the enrichment of the garden.
The section to which we have made the greatest contribution is in the acquisition of plants that now complement some of the important collections already existing; such as the 20 new species of acacia (mimosa) and various species of citrus, in the lower garden.
We gave a large example of the palm “Livistoia chinensis” to commemorate the centenary of the donation of Wisley by Thomas Hanbury to the Royal Horticultural Society. During a small ceremony this palm was planted by the President of the RHS himself. There have been many species bought to enrich the collection, including a fine series of “gioggioli” irises.
The library has been improved by our donation of new botanical books from other continents, for example some about plants in China and South Africa. We have contributed to the purchase of bunk beds and furniture for the student accommodation at La Foresteria. Many come to stay here for work experience.
Our help has not only been on the botanical front, important though that is, but also in assisting the curator to continue her work in the garden when her grant ended and her new contract with the University had no yet been completed. Thanks to our financial help she was able to remain at the University and continue her valuable work here in the garden in her role as curator.
Given the increasing international status of the garden, a group of distinguished foreign professors were invited to start up an International Scientific Committee, dedicated to discussing and planning the future direction of the garden. Our Association helped by co-ordinating their travel plans and paying their expenses during the meetings.
This then is the outline of the contributions we have made over the past six years, so what are we doing at present? Today we are maintaining the contacts between the academics of the University of Genoa and those of the RHS in order to keep working on the main project that we began helping with: a feasibility study on prospects for the establishment of a school of horticulture and suggested courses for this. We have paid for the translating of these studies and some travel expenses.
Further,we have recently purchased four new wooden garden benches, on which will be a written inscription from the Amici. This garden has always been involved in encouraging an international study programme, so we will be helping to finance the living expenses of a Polish student this summer whilst he is studying here.
Therefore, as you can see from this brief resume, the contribution of our Association has been, and still is important to this garden. Doubtless the future will see us continuing our work alongside the gardeners and members of the University of Genoa, who keep the garden flourishing with such passion day after day. A garden is an evolving living thing and in the end will be passed on to posterity with the same love that it was given by its creator. It is an honour for the Amici to be involved in playing a part and contributing to some of their great objectives.
I feel that the work that we have done has been worthwhile.
I have tried to create a real friendship between our members and a desire to spread the word of the gardening culture.
For the first time we will make a two day trip this year to visit the garden of Ninfa in the Provence of Latina. This wish came after we all heard the curator of Ninfa, Lauro Marchetti tell us of this fantastic garden at a conference here last year. One day we spent watching a demonstration of how to prune citrus was very interesting, thanks to the gardeners Roberto and Francesco, who showed us how to put this into practice.
The trip to Camogli and San Fruttuoso on foot to see the Mediterranean flora was both instructive and fun. Our profound thanks go to our member Maria Pia Turbi who organised the trip and told us of its historical and botanical significance.
In the next few months I hope to find some and interesting and fun autumn outings, and would appreciate your ideas and input. Above all I hope that all this will entice you to continue to be a member of our Association as well encourage new people to join.