A naked cockspur hawthorn tree stands in new soil, and freshly dug plants bend in the wind.
The drive to protect thousands more species is an insurance policy against growing threats of deforestation and climate change, as well as the damage done by collectors digging plants up for profit.
Monet was not alone in digging, planting, weeding and pruning, and then painting the results.
Finally, last week, Ms. Pierson arrived with mulch, manure and trays of annuals, and we spent the day digging, planting and scattering seeds.
Deborah (with devoted help from Bill) spent every school holiday designing, digging, planting trees, opening up vistas, creating a luxuriant herbaceous border, a paved herb garden, a vegetable garden, paths, lawns and a pond.
But spending a day digging, planting and clipping can stress the back, knees and hips as well as strain muscles and joints.
Maurizio, who is in the vineyards digging, planting, trellising, and pruning, invariably arrives and proudly shows off his winery.
It takes a nursery far more time and effort to look after pot-grown plants then to dig a plant up from a field.
"They'll eat the understory in a forest and dig up plants by rooting the ground for insects and roots.
"You want to do something good for someone," Ms. Piacentini said as she watched shoppers dig up plants from her front yard.
