The Lido - Sicily's Grand Gardens (9/11)

The Lido - Sicily's Grand Gardens (9/11)

In the past, the gentry used to create green oases in the scant landscape of Southern Europe. Present-day garden owners continue this tradition. Those who cultivate a garden under the burning sun of Sicily and defend it tenaciously against water shortage and drying-out must indeed have an extraordinary passion for horticulture.

This film portraits people who confront the stranglehold of urbanization and building speculation in their ancestors' gardens, who wrench green oases from the cities' stone deserts or dream of gardens with meter high cactuses. Many old mansions and with them their gardens have vanished in the meantime though. During the past years, a palm tree vermin has been causing additional problems. The gardens of Sicily - they are hard.fought, indeed.