Tree Museum Project - Leo Club Crotone
Recovery and enhancement of the Orto Candela.
in collaboration with lawyer Fabrizio MeoService Chairman for the X District Lions 108 Ya.
The purpose of this project is to give a voice to trees. This is not strange or unlikely, if we consider that the idea that plants have legal status, a legal personality and ultimately the right to speak, is becoming more and more prevalent in the constitutional laws of most nations.


The garden was rescued from urban decay thanks to the work of several organizations: Italia Nostra, Pantagruel, and the Lions – with the “Trees for Life” Service- who, over the past months, have planted oaks, pines, almond trees, pomegranates, laurels, olive trees (with the rare white olive tree) including medicinal herbs of various kinds, such as the chaste tree plant, now difficult to find locally.
All these plants held a relevant place in the mythology of the Magna Graecia era, and they continue to have a meaningful role in the religiosity of the people. These plants and herbs tell us of the early days of our territory.
A 40 x 60cm metal panel has been installed next to each tree , with the botanical characteristics and the story of the myth related to the plant.
Here attached are the descriptions of the laurel and the chaste tree.
The master goldsmith was not randomly selected. Michele Affidato is an undisputed excellence of the territory, and a member of the Lions Club Crotone Host. A source of pride for the community, has been forging the annual Sanremo National Music Festival prizes for over a decade. He is celebrated for making the coats of arms of the last three popes, and for the creation of the diadems that adorn the ancient image of the Madonna di Capo Colonna, inside the Cathedral of Crotone, and the diadems of the image of the Madonna of Czestochowa.
This event lead to the twinning of the two sanctuaries.
His participation in an initiative that celebrates the millennial bond between plants and religion, was therefore not accidental and his magnificent “Tree of Life” honors a prestigious initiative that will continue over the years, always enriching itself with new contents.
On the same day, another very delicate and emotional issue was discussed. A few days before the presentation of the event, the city of Crotone was devastated by a disastrous flood which has caused enormous material damages. Nonetheless, this wounded city was able to get up and react, holding the scheduled ceremony as planned. Dr. Roberto Iuliano, president of the X District, concluded the meeting with his speech, reading a message from Governor Antonio Marte who addressed a greeting and an encouragement to those present and to the City of Crotone, encouraging its prompt reaction and anticipating the Lions’ solidarity which resulted in the donation of $10,000 to the most affected families in Crotone and a further donation, as part of the Lion Alert project, of 17 tons of Rummo pasta.
At the end of the day, tools and safety devices were donated to the volunteers working in the Orto Candela area by Mr. Fabrizio Meo, X District Service Coordinator, to ensure continuity in the care of the numerous plants.
A portion of the Orto Candela has also been destined to host a small Memorial garden for the victims of Covid-19, and the information panels will keep memory of this terrible pandemic.
On March 18th – Italy’s COVID-19 Memorial Day- a luxuriant Grevillea Rosmarinifolia (Rosemary Grevillea) was planted; it will compose a path of scents within an area which, because of its peculiarities and potential, is likely to become a meeting place for the various local associations: a designated place for socialization, culture, commemoration and memory of the past.
