Photography by Dario Fusaro courtesy of Cristiana Ruspa.
A native of northern Italy, Turin-based landscape architect Cristiana Ruspa of Giardino Segreto creates the sorts of gardens you see in a dream, with hazy swaths of color against a distant horizon.
When late-day sunlight hits a planting bed in the middle of the lawn, it makes the fronds of ornamental grasses smolder and turns purple perovskia (Russian sage) luminous.
Ruspa, who trained in Miami as well as in Europe, favors planting palettes that emphasize the use of water-saving plants that thrive in a Mediterranean climate.
Cypress and cork trees anchor garden beds; mounds of silvery artemisia and lavender spikes of Perovskia atriplicifolia add texture and color. In the distance are geometric flower beds bordered with woven hazel edging.
The hazel hurdles and planting beds are spaced in a precise, geometric formation to create a checkerboard effect against the lawn.
Wispy grasses give the garden a sense of movement.
A steel pergola is anchored to the surrounding landscape by a deck and walkway made of wooden slats.
Breaching the boundary of the walkway, a border of ornamental grasses and perennials adds an air of informality to play against the clipped green turf grass.
Silvery gray-green clouds of artemisia soften the edge of a planting bed.
Artemisia, grasses, and seed pods from spent flowers create a colorful autumn landscape.
Young trees are braced against the wind with teepee supports.
From a distance, the silvery foliage of artemisia floats on the lawn.
A rustic railing adds mystery to a wooden walkway bordered by a dry stone wall.