Rehab Diaries: The Resurrection of a Medieval Nobleman's Garden - Gardenista
The site A medieval nobleman s summer retreat a palace in ruins in the Piedmontese hills of northern Italy... Photography by Dario Fusaro via Cristiana Ruspa, except where noted. ...The challenge Create a modern garden to complement a renovated complex converted into a luxury hotel and spa Rocca Civalieri The color palette of the garden plants moody purples set off by the silver and gold leaves of ground covers and perennial grasses complements the... ...color of the metal clad tunnel architects Baietto Battatiato Bianco designed to reinforce existing structures and to connect buildings from the medieval complex to one another Shells of buildings and no evidence of a former garden, save a few spindly trees. Photographs via Baietto Battiato Bianco. In the large driveway circle is a mix of grasses and ornamental flowering plants. Plants include grasses miscanthus, stipa, and festuca, as well as flowering plants verbena and euphorbia. Existing trees were pruned and shaped to provide dappled light. The arched branches of the tree in the driveway echoes the shape of the hotel loggia’s archways. Says Ruspa, “The inner court of the hotel has a bleached wood pergola, designed in conjunction with the renovation architect, with gravel walks under the pergola and a lawn in the open central section.” Mixed borders of perennial grasses and hardy flowering plants similar to those in the driveway circle are in garden beds at the base of the pergola. The plants are low-water, hardy perennials that thrive in full sunlight. For more information, see Rocca Civalieri.