| Every garden has a bit of fantasy in it and, for | | | | which this style arose, shade is extremely |
| Houstonians longing for the look and feel of, say, | | | | important-making it perfect for the Houston area. |
| Tuscany or the Italian Renaissance period, no garden | | | | Live oaks, with their twists and turns, look lovely in |
| fills that desire like a Mediterranean landscape design. | | | | this garden. Also, Italian cypress, olive trees and fruit |
| Combining elegant elements of nature with the | | | | trees such as orange and lemon trees. |
| relaxed Mediterranean culture, the Mediterranean | | | | Vines. Use creeping vines like wisteria and |
| landscape design can go from simple, yet cultivated | | | | grapevines. |
| to elaborate lavishness. Crystal clear water and | | | | Herb gardens. Basil, rosemary, sage and thyme |
| outdoor water fountains, sweet herbs right off the | | | | enhance the Italian influence and create enticing |
| vine to be used in outdoor kitchens, relaxed spaces | | | | smells. Herbs are especially attractive in terra cotta |
| for entertainment, and lush, practical vegetation | | | | planters. |
| characterized the Mediterranean landscape design. | | | | Vegetable gardens. Since authentic Mediterranean |
| Just as a rose by any other name smells sweet, so | | | | gardens are practical, heralding back to their roots in |
| too the Mediterranean landscape design. It is known | | | | farming cultures, a vegetable garden fits right into |
| variously as Andalusian, Santa Barbara Revival, | | | | the landscape. A vegetable garden not only provides |
| Tuscan and Moroccan styles. Primarily taking its name | | | | sustenance, but also color. |
| from the climate of the Mediterranean region and | | | | The Spaces of the Mediterranean Landscape Design |
| southern Europe, it falls midway between the broad | | | | The residential garden with a Mediterranean flair is |
| formal and informal garden design categories. The | | | | beautiful and relaxed, capturing the easy living of the |
| influences of classic landscape design can clearly be | | | | outdoors. In choosing the spaces and hardscapes to |
| seen in this style due to the proximity and | | | | further augment that tone, consider these options: |
| prominence of ancient Rome. | | | | Outdoor kitchens. A focal point of outdoor |
| Mediterranean Landscape Design-Through History | | | | entertainment, a summer kitchen provides a natural |
| The Mediterranean landscapes originated in ancient | | | | gathering place. Its design should tie the house and |
| Arabia and evolved, as all garden styles have, | | | | the landscape together and must, above all, be |
| throughout the centuries. Major influences were the | | | | functional. |
| gardens of Greece, Rome and Italy. | | | | Outdoor water fountains. Water is a critical part |
| Since it is so closely associated with the warm, | | | | of the Mediterranean landscape design, so consider |
| sometimes arid, climate of the Mediterranean region, | | | | fountains done in an Italianate, Romanesque or rustic |
| this style has little in common with English garden | | | | style. Be mindful of scale-you want the fountain to |
| design, largely due to plant material choices. Because | | | | be in proportion to the rest of the landscape. Also |
| of its evocation of another time and place, the | | | | consider the sightlines of the shooting water from |
| Mediterranean landscape design stands apart from | | | | your favorite viewing spot. |
| modern landscape designs with its emphasis on | | | | Luxury swimming pools. Within the Mediterranean |
| contemporary choices and imagery. | | | | landscape design, classic shapes, like rectangles and |
| Features of Mediterranean Landscape Designs | | | | circles, work well. Which, given the versatility of basic |
| You can pick and choose among several different | | | | forms, means the pools can be simple and austere-or |
| striking features suitable for residential gardens done | | | | eye-catching and mesmerizing. Often, you can |
| in the Mediterranean style. The byword to remember | | | | combine them with an outdoor water fountain that |
| is "Old World ambiance." | | | | eliminates some redundancies while adding vitality to |
| Stone, weathered bricks, terra cotta tiles, | | | | your overall design. |
| flagstone, tumbled travertine | | | | Walkways. Gravel, stone, bricks and flagstone |
| Wooden beams | | | | work well for paths in the Mediterranean landscape |
| Wrought iron | | | | design. Neutral colors are preferred. |
| Classical statuary and Roman columns | | | | Final Thoughts on the Mediterranean Landscape |
| Outdoor furniture that evokes Arabian, Moroccan | | | | Design |
| or Italian sensibilities | | | | Jeff Halper with Exterior Worlds says, "Our clients |
| The architecture of the house needs to be carefully | | | | travel to Europe and come home wanting to emulate |
| considered when using a Mediterranean landscape | | | | a scene that they fell in love with in Italy, Tuscany, |
| design. Actually the house dictates this choice, as | | | | Spain or Greece. As the name implies, Mediterranean |
| some architectural styles-Colonial and Federal-style | | | | gardens are usually formal, dry-climate gardens. They |
| come to mind-would jar the senses if paired with a | | | | have the same attributes-linearity, use of axis and |
| Mediterranean garden. The intelligent placement of a | | | | central focal points-of formal landscape design. I think |
| hardscape feature, perhaps a wrought iron garden | | | | their most distinguishing feature is in their use of |
| gate in the curvaceous style of Barcelona, can be | | | | materials: limestone or gravels for paths, junipers, |
| used to solidify the connection to your home. | | | | Italian cypress, dwarf yaupons and other blue-green |
| When this style is appropriate, the home and | | | | or grey dry plants. Think of the dry, rocky hills of |
| landscape can also be tied together through selective | | | | Austin with olive groves." |
| use of plantings. Your choice of plants, in fact, further | | | | He goes on to say, "What surprises people most |
| defines your Mediterranean design: | | | | with this type of design is the amount of math and |
| Trees and shrubs. Given the hot climate from | | | | order that it takes to create chaos in a garden. |