How to talk about nature

This might seem like a strange topic, but trust me, there's a lot of useful words that you probably don't know in English, and you probably use them more than you think! Autumn is a beautiful season, full of events that even the most diehard city slicker can enjoy. One of the things that I love about Italy is that even if you live in a big city, you don't have to go far to become immersed in a field full of olive trees or grape vines, or to be surrounded by mountains or a beautiful beach landscape. Another cool thing is that even people that seem to have stepped out of a high fashion magazine still have a valid interest in connecting with nature, be it through a family garden or even a vineyard! Anyways, today's post will be a bit different as it's just going to provide you with a picture dictionary of some of the more common places you can go to connect with the great outdoors.

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The great outdoors

Field

A field is a (generally) flat (ish) piece of land that is covered with grass or agricultural crops.

The wheat fields in Poland are some of the largest in Europe.

Vineyard

The magical place where grape vines grow. The word vineyard refers to the actual grape vines as well as the rest of the property. The cellar (cantina) is where the transformation process happens.

Le Langhe is an area in Piemonte that is famous for its renowned vineyards.

Olive grove

An olive grove is the proper name for a cultivated field of olive trees.

Puglia is famous for its olive groves and exquisite olive oil.

(Grape) harvest

A harvest, or the harvest, as it is often referred to, is when farmers can collect their crops and start the selling and or transformation process.

The famous vendimia, or grape harvest is an iconic moment of the Italian autumn.

The country(side)

The country, or countryside, is the term used for any place that is not hugely populated or full of big cities. Not to be confused with country - un paese.

Even though Rome is a huge capital city, it is surrounded by beautiful countryside.

Natural park or reserve

A natural park or reserve is a place that is officially protected by the government in order to conserve its natural beauty, as well as to conserve the natural habitat of the animals that live in it.

The Gran Paradiso National Park in Aosta is a protected area that is definitely worth a visit!

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So, how often do you get the chance to get out of the city and connect with nature? The next time you need some peace and quiet from the daily hustle and bustle of everyday life, try and think about how you would describe your favorite place to go, but in English!

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Glossary

• diehard: informal for - unchangeable, inflexible, intransigent

• city slicker: slang for people who live in the city and don't know how to do "anything" with their hands

• field: a generally flat area of land used for pasture or agriculture

• landscape: the visible features of an area of land (often noticed for its natural beauty)

• crops: fruit and vegetables grown to be sold

• renowned: synonym for famous, important, well known

• hustle and bustle: informal for something that is very busy or chaotic