Mezze Planner: Making a Mediterranean Garden

Mediterranean gardens can be naturalistic and wild, formal or some combination of both. Here, three examples of Mediterannean design offer inspiration for your own garden.

Mosaic Masterworks

Colorful mosaic tile is widely used in Mediterranean hardscaping. A small mosaic pool ties color bursts of planting and painted walls together in this courtyard, and provides a focal point around which pots and specimens are arranged. Planting is dense and textured, using palms and large-leafed architectural species.

Professor and designer Newell says:
“This garden was inspired by Spanish and Moroccan courtyards, in which intense, painted color is combined with carefully detailed spaces. I like crafted elements, so I laid and designed the pattern for the mosaic tiles (based on traditional Moroccan designs) myself. The garden’s not far from the beach, and enjoys a sheltered microclimate, enabling me to introduce a Mediterranean range of plants. The planting palette is varied and relatively high maintenance, which suits me as I have a keen interest in gardening. The space provides an outdoor room.”

Enlarge Photo+Shrink Photo-DK - Garden Design © 2009 Dorling Kindersley Limited

Key Ingredients

Hardy fuchsia (image 1)

Japanese spindle tree (image 2)

Japanese maple (image 3)

Hosta (image 4)

Secondary Styles

Lords and ladies (image 1)

"Vancouver Centennial" geranium (image 2)

Sweat pea (image 3)