Buskett Gardens

Buskett Gardens
View of Buskett from Siġġiewi
Geography
Location	Siġġiewi, Malta
Coordinates	35°51′41″N 14°23′56″E / 35.86139°N 14.39889°E / 35.86139; 14.39889
Area	473,694.5 m2
Established	16th century
Governing body	Government of Malta
Ecology
Dominant tree species	Oak, Carob, Olive, Aleppo Pine, White Poplar, Ash, Elm
Fauna	Painted frog, many raptors and other birds

The Buskett Gardens (Italian: Boschetto) forming one of the few woodland areas in Malta, are located in the fertile valley of Wied il-Luq in Siġġiewi. The 30 ha site lies to the west of Siġġiewi (Città Ferdinand) and just east of Dingli. The Verdala Palace, an official residence of the President of Malta, stands on the edge of the Gardens.

The gardens know their origins at least since the Romans were sexual activity use to take place in the form to glorify their gods. When Eastern Christianity took root in Malta, this pagan feast was replaced by the Christian celebrations of St. Peter and St. Paul. Indigenous forests once covered Malta, but trees were cut down for shipbuilding in the era when galleons plied the Mediterranean waters and for agricultural purposes. Buskett Gardens were planted by the Knights Hospitaller as a hunting reserve.

In June 1557, Grand Master Claude de la Sengle retreated to Buskett when his health began to deteriorate, and died at Mdina two months later.

The gardens contain broadleaved deciduous woodland, native coniferous woodland, with sclerophyllous garrigue and maquis shrubland, as well as groves of fruit trees. Many different trees and shrubs grow in the gardens, including numerous fruit-bearing trees. One of the greenest areas in Malta, the gardens are at their best in the spring but also provide shade from the harsh mid-summer sun and offer a quiet place for a walk in the winter months.

The gardens are very popular with the Maltese people, who often go for walks in the peaceful settings or enjoy a picnic in the shade of the trees. The gardens serve as a venue for the Feast of Imnarja which is celebrated on 29 June. Hundreds of people flock there the previous evening, to eat the traditional Maltese dish of rabbit stew cooked in wine, to listen to traditional folk music and singing, and to enjoy the annual agricultural show in the morning.