10 Garden Ideas to Steal from Provence - Gardenista
For most of us, Provence is a dreamy holiday location. In many of the photos below, you can see how his garden designs showcase the climate’s best characteristics.
Photography courtesy of Scape Designs, except where noted.
Gardens in the South of France need to cope with strong sun and a dry climate, and at La Louve, Nicole de Vesian’s supremely elegant garden in the Luberon hills, there is a master class in how to plant for it.
Embrace Evergreens
Photograph via Emile Garcin.
With a tightly knit patchwork of lush greens and grays, the former Hermès designer combined drought-tolerant plants such as santolina with evergreens such as boxwood.
Plant a Lavender Field in Miniature
In a large garden near Grasse, Basson conserves water with a design that includes lavender in “large beds of mixed perennial dry planting.” One of the most memorable areas of Nicole de Vesian’s garden is the meticulous grid of lavender plants laid out like a dramatic geometric print.
Build a Terrace
After new construction in Chateauneuf left stone rubble in its wake, Basson used the old stone to make terraced walls and create beds for hardy perennials, such as Russian sage, capable of thriving in the dry, rocky conditions.
Whether it’s pea shingle or crushed limestone, an area covered with crunchy gravel adds an instant French feel.
Photograph courtesy of A+B Kasha.
Add Gravel
Source Stone Troughs or Fountains
In Beaulieu-sur-Mer, Basson’s brief was to create a garden would look as if it had been there for centuries. Stone fountains carry water from the top of the garden to empty into the swimming pool.
Gather Your Pots
Keep it simple with one-note pots and planters. At the incredibly chic Provencal home of designer Francois Catroux, a grand courtyard is filled with terracotta pots, all planted with boxwood domes in varying sizes.
Photograph by Mimi Giboin for Gardenista.
Whether they are lining a long drive or standing as sentinels by a house, columnar cypress trees add a striking architectural element, and they are also a perfect foil to the soft gray of the other Provencal must-have, the olive tree.
Add Height with Cypress
Photograph by Salva Barbera via Flickr.
Emphasizing “the architectural qualities” of phlomis and perennials grasses, Basson created a four-season landscape in Opio that offers interest even in winter months.
Plant Sun Lovers
Provencal gardens may focus on evergreens and subdued palettes, but some plants are tailor-made for the free-draining soil and long hot summers.
Add Texture with Old Stone
In the village of Saint-Victor-des-Oules, Basson created a modern landscape—including a swimming pool and a dry garden—while preserving “the authentic atmosphere.”
Gardeners in the South of France are often blessed with panoramic views of the surrounding hills.
Use the Views