The forest

Italy is a long peninsula shaped like a boot, so the climate is highly very different according to geographical areas and we have a great variety of flora and fauna.  For this reason, I prefer to tell mention only about the plants and the animals typical of the zone region where I live.  In the past, the part of Western Liguria, called “Flowers Riviera”, was covered, even on the coast, by large forests.  Nowadays, one must go in the interior of the territory to find the originally endemic vegetation and fauna.  There the flora is composed by of plants and trees like chestnut, some types of pine, oak, hazel tree, walnut tree, laurel, larch and beech.  There is also fern as well as and there is an interesting and charming “macchia mediterranea” (maquis shrubland) formed by holm oak, tree heath, strawberry tree, sage, juniper, buckthorn, spurge olive and myrtle as well as aromatic herbs such as thyme, lavender and rosemary.  The fauna of Western Liguria is as much interesting as the flora.  Although the unfavourable living conditions that have been made caused by humans during the last century (hunting and forest fires), wildlife is still multifaceted, so we have animals like badgers, wild boar, marmots, moles, foxes, squirrels, deer, hedgehogs and numerous bird species as well as little reptiles and amphibians.  When one approaches to the coastal towns, the type of vegetation changes completely.  In fact, in the parks and in the most part of the private gardens, one can see olive trees, many kinds of fruit trees (a great part most of which are citrus trees), mimosas, oleanders, a local variety of white brooms, but and especially many exotic plants such as several different types of palms, eucalyptus, bananas, jacarandas, bright colourful bougainvilleas, magnolias, cactus, (although the plural of cactus is cacti, cactuses or cactus, cacti seems to be the most popular plural used), “birds of paradise” (strelitzia reginae banks), pink pepper trees (Schinus mollis), jacarandas, and many other plants, which, in the last one hundred and thirty years, have deeply modified the look of this area.  Since the most part of the vegetation is formed by evergreen plants, the seasonal changes are not as marked as in the interior of the territory and when a tourist comes here, he can admire many fascinating views that look like tropical landscapes.

That was very well written indeed, Gina.  The area where you live sounds as if it is very beautiful.

With best wishes,

Les M

Italy is a long peninsula, shaped like a boot, so the climate is highly very different between according to its geographical areas and we have a great variety of flora and fauna. For this reason, I prefer to tell mention, (or describe), only about the plants and the animals typical of the zone region where I live. In the past, the part of Western Liguria, called “Flowers Riviera”, was covered, even on (including) the coast, by large forests. Nowadays, one must go in (to) the interior of the territory, to find the originally endemic vegetation and fauna. There, the flora is composed by of trees and plants, (you are listing the trees first, then the plants), like chestnut, some types of pine, oak, hazel tree, walnut tree, laurel, larch, beech, fern, and there is an the interesting and charming “macchia mediterranea” (maquis shrubland) group formed by holm oak, tree heath, strawberry tree, sage, juniper, buckthorn, spurge olive and myrtle as well as aromatic herbs, such as thyme, lavender and rosemary. The fauna of western Liguria is just as much interesting as the flora. Although the unfavourable living conditions that have been made caused by humans during the last century, (hunting and forest fires), wildlife is still multifaceted, so we have animals like the badger, wild boar, marmot, mole, fox, squirrel, deer, hedgehog, numerous bird species, little (small) reptiles and amphibians. When one approaches to the coastal towns, the types of vegetation changes completely. In fact, in the parks, and in the most part of the private gardens, one can see olive trees, many kinds of fruit trees (a great many many of these are citrus trees), mimosas, oleanders, a local variety of white brooms, but, especially, many exotic plants, such as several types of palms, eucalyptus, bananas, jacarandas, bright colourful bougainvilleas, magnolias, cactus, “birds of paradise” (strelitzia reginae banks) (The types of these trees are Eucalypt, Bannana, Jacaranda, Bougainvillea, Magnolia, Cacti and Bird of paradise; Les is correct about cactus), pink pepper trees (Schinus mollis), jacarandas,(I wasn't sure if there was a Jacaranda plant/shrub/bush?) and many other plants, which have deeply modified, in the last one hundred and thirty years, the look appearance of this area. Since the most part of the vegetation is formed by evergreen plants, the seasonal changes are not as marked here, as in the interior of the territory, and, when a tourist comes here, he can admire many fascinating views, that look like tropical landscapes.

Very good writing, Gina! If I am correct, There were a few errors and I have had/made several suggestions, corrections and questions.  You are, still, and excellent writer and you will go much farther in your endeavours.  May you have much good luck!!  James

Italy is a long peninsula shaped like a boot, so the climate  varies a lot in the different geographic areas and we have a great variety of flora and fauna. For this reason, I prefer to tell only about the plants and the animals typical of the zone where I live. In the past, the part of Western Liguria called “Flowers Riviera”, was covered, even on the coast, by large forests. Nowadays one must go in the interior of the territory, to find the (originally) endemic vegetation and fauna. There, the flora is composed of plants like chestnut, some types of pine, oak, hazel tree, walnut tree, laurel, larch, beech, fern, and there is an interesting and charming “macchia mediterranea” (maquis shrubland) formed by holm oak, tree heath, strawberry tree, sage, juniper, buckthorn, spurge olive and myrtle as well as aromatic herbs such as thyme, lavender and rosemary. The fauna of western Liguria is as much interesting as the flora. Although humans have caused unfavourable living conditions for animals  during the last century (hunting and forest fires), wildlife is still multifaceted. so We have animals like badger, wild boar, marmot, mole, fox, squirrel, deer, hedgehog, numerous bird species, little reptiles and amphibians. When one approaches to the coastal towns, the type of vegetation changes completely. In fact, in the parks and in the majority of the private gardens, one can see olive trees, many kinds of fruit trees (a great many are citrus trees), mimosas, oleanders, a local variety of white brooms, but especially many exotic plants such as several types of palms, eucalyptus, bananas, jacarandas, bright colourful bougainvilleas, magnolias, cactus, “birds of paradise” (strelitzia reginae banks), pink pepper trees (Schinus mollis), jacarandas, and many other plants, which have greatly changed, in the last one hundred thirty years, the look of this area. Since most of the vegetation is formed by evergreen plants, the seasonal changes are not as marked here as in the interior of the territory, and when a tourist comes here, he can admire many fascinating views that look like tropical landscapes..

Wow, what a beautiful place.  It sounds like paradise!  Excellent writing as always, Gina.  I'm sorry you've finished the course and I won't get to read any more of your exercises.  Maybe we can talk again sometime soon.  I'm also almost finished but I'm going to do some of the old exercises again now that I have more vocabulary.  I need to continue to work on VERBS OF OPINION!!