Garden Inspiration

By Veronica

We are taking you on a trip to the sunny coasts of France, Italy or Spain where the lavender is omnipresent along with the olive trees and aromatic herbs. Close your eyes and you can hear the cicadas whirring, feel a gentle breeze in your hair while you are relaxing on the lounge chair, in the shade of a pine tree, enjoying a glass of wine. Now, this is exactly what the Mediterranean garden is about, the famous ‘farniente’, an invitation to relaxation and rest. This is the reason why the Mediterranean garden is fundamentally a low maintenance garden. And, because of that, it puts the accent on local and native plants, perfectly adapted to the climate and soil. You are not here to work for the garden, the garden is serving you, gives you shade from the sun, provides essential ingredients for your favourite meals and ravishes the senses with exquisite scents.

We are lucky enough in Dublin to have mild and humid winters, and now, also, longer and hotter summers, in other words, the perfect conditions for creating a mediterranean garden by the coast. Sure, you won’t get the cicadas, but it is probably not the best part! Here are the key elements for creating a garden with sunny vibes

Ditch the plastic

Everything is very much natural in the Mediterranean garden: Stone, gravel, terracotta, wood and plants. Nothing too extravagant, although craftmanship can be celebrated through statement pots and ornate iron gates or handrails. If you wish to add a bit of colour, the concrete tainted tiles are an excellent option for durable pathways and patios.

Photo by shawn kim

More sustainable than grass lawn

We look at alternatives to the traditional lawn here. Creeping thyme or chamomile lawn are great choices for a fragrant ground cover. The latter is a less tolerant of very dry conditions and heavy soils. They are not ideal for a high foot traffic either. In this case, the small-leaved white clover is a better option. In shade, prefer the Ophiopogon, this grass is more tolerant of low light levels and requires no mowing.

Creeping thyme, Photo by Nikita Turkovich

Use the walls

Climbers will help blend the building with the garden and create an oasis. From the highly fragrant Star Jasmin (Trachelospermum Jasminoides) to spellbinding roses and exuberant wisterias, there are many ways to add of touch of colour and glamour to the walls.

If you have a conservatory, the Bougainvillea is a real showstopper with its vibrant bracts.

Bougainvillea, Photo by Jametlene Reskp

Fragrance

You have guessed it; perfume is a key component of a good design when it comes to the Mediterranean garden. Think of the south of France and its lavender fields, Grasse, the perfume capital of the world, nonetheless. Mimosa (Acacia dealbata), Violet, Rose, Jasmin, Helichrysum, Rosemary or even Santolina are all very aromatic and hardy.

Mimosa tree, Photo by Maïa Leleu

Start your planting scheme with your structural elements like trees: Olive trees, Bay trees or Italian cypress.  Echium, although not a tree, is eye-catching with its monumental flower spikes. Hibiscus (Rose of Sharon) will find its way in the flower lover’s garden. This large deciduous shrub can reach 4 metres high and blooms abundantly from Summer into Autumn.

Shrubs with silver foliage are best for the sunniest parts of the garden, like the convoluvulus cneorum (Silverbush), they make also perfect companions for blue and purple flowers like lavender, globe thistle (Echinops), Sea Holly (Eryngium) or Catmint (Nepeta). For warmer tones, opt for the Genista (Spanish Gorse) and the Callistemon (Bottlebrush bush).

Lavender, Photo by Antony BEC

For bedding in pots, Geranium is the star of the show and quite unrivalled for the quality of its blooms, its vibrant colours and its reliability.

Create Your Own Mediterranean Escape

A Mediterranean garden is less about recreating a distant landscape and more about embracing its relaxed way of life. By combining natural materials, aromatic plants, silvery foliage and sun-loving flowers, you can transform even a small Dublin garden into a welcoming retreat filled with fragrance, colour and texture.

Choose plants suited to your garden’s conditions, provide excellent drainage and add comfortable places to sit and enjoy the surroundings, should it be an egg chair or even a hammock. With a little thoughtful planning, your outdoor space can become a low-maintenance haven where the pace slows, the senses awaken and every sunny afternoon feels like a holiday.