One of my favorite places in Florence is the historic Caffè Rivoire.

On my last visit there, waiting for my luscious cappuccino to be made to order, I noticed this sign below, claiming that the Negroni cocktail was invented here.

Below is the rough translation.

Now I had always thought, if and when I even thought about it, that the Negroni, which an old friend of mine called “truth serum,” was invented in Venice, but maybe that was the Bellini. Probably was.

So after reading the sign in the Rivoire, I looked up the history of the Negroni and found this:

Citrus season is in full swing and these tissue paper-wrapped Sicilian specimens take the first prize. I have never had oranges like those that are readily available any day of the winter here! Delizioso!

They are sweet and sometimes tart, often combining both flavors in the same segment. It tastes like magic! The skin that surrounds each segment has a special light consistency that I have never experience in an orange in the USA. What accounts for these differences, I ask myself all the time.

I will also note that these fabulous Italian oranges can go from perfect to covered with mold in 24 hours. Not often, but sometimes. I’ve never seen an American orange go bad so quickly. Who cares?! Not I!

Fruit passion indeed!

Have you ever seen pink leaf lettuce like this?!

The Midnight Library by Matt Haig. What an amazing book! Highly highly highly recommend.

Fredrik Backman,Anxious People. A startling, fresh take on an old well-known form of the novella. I liked a LOT! A LOT! I read it twice!

I didn’t do so well with this next title.

The Ten Thousand Doors of January, by Alix E. Harrow. A very good book, chockfull of wisdom. The plot becomes a bit too sci/fi for my taste and I admit I lost the plot and didn’t finish the book. But I can still recommend it.

And despite the fact that I didn’t finish a book I have the nerve to recommend to you, I hope you will overlook my slacker attitude and agree with the following:

Has her finger on the latch.

I’ve read this quote attributed to Goethe, and I think it is fine advice. “Everyday one ought to hear a little song, read a good poem, see a fine picture, and, if it were possible, to speak a few reasonable words.”

These are my reasonable words for today and my picture. And, I feel better for having both!

Florence’s Rose Garden is a beloved space. It is relatively small and quirky in form as you can see from the map below, but it is filled with wonders. Any time of year it is a sacred space to walk through, offering splendid views of Florence from its position perched on a hill opposite the city.

Below are photos showing the sculptures located in the garden.

As you can see, in February the tender plants are still wrapped up for winter protection. The little fountain area is filled with Japanese koi, who gather towards the bottom of the water, saving their energy for the spring that is sure to come. The small building with many windows is the orangeries, filled with the potted orange trees that will come out of hibernation for the spring, summer and fall. The large shrub that is neon yellow is mimosa, one of the first signs of advancement through the winter.

I love these pollarded trees.

Below, the mimosa.

And for the masterpiece plant that is in already in full bloom, I offer you this camilla with the red variegated blossoms. What a sight for sore eyes in mid-February!

And a white-blossomed camellia is nearby.

Birdsong! Such a welcome sound!

Below, the grassy areas of the garden are embellished with the tiny white blossoms of the Marguerite daisies. Always a harbinger of spring and a welcome sight!

And an orange tree in the wild. It’s location in this snug area of Florence must give it enough protection to survive outdoors through the winters.

Alla prossima!

I was lucky enough to see this exhibition in Florence last fall. It was a splendid show. It drew record crowds which was good for the enterprise but difficult for the spectators.

Not this year, buddy. Sorry.

The view from Piazzale Michelangelo, which is just south of Florence, is breathtaking. Everyone and her sister thinks so! It is wonderful in February because there is room to breathe up here.

Even this pigeon seems to be enjoying the view in relative peace!

Same pigeon below on David’s head?!

Today there was a battle in the skies. The rains of winter were being pushed out by the sunshine of spring. It was a pretty even match and neither side actually won the battle. I called it a tie.

As I left the Piazzale and was walking down to enter the Rose Garden, I happened to look back up and for the first time ever I noticed that the lookout has a special sign visible from the road below with a name I never knew even existed.

It turns out that this breathtaking view is dedicated to Franco Zefferelli. As you can see on the sign, it reads: Belvedere Franco Zeffirelli, Regista Scenografo and gives the dates of his life. In English it means “Lookout named for Franco Zeffirelli, Director and Sct Designer.” Huh. But, it’s a rare day that I don’t discover some new detail about this magnificent city!