A Moment in the MEDITERRANEAN | Terra rossa
Terra Rossa. I wish I could say this was the name of my favorite drink from the Mediterranean. Unfortunately, this blog is deeply horticulture-based. That's not to say my favorite cocktails aren't a topic we could focus on in the future. If you follow my gardening journey through my social media, you may already know that I spent several winter months in Portugal developing and maintaining an incredible garden in the Algarve. I was honored by this opportunity and extremely excited to get my hands into Mediterranean planting. The owner took the time to sit and reminisce over old photos with me, displaying the journey the garden had embarked on since the family had taken over ownership three years prior. It was truly inspiring to see the garden in its natural form. The garden had already developed by leaps and bounds, but the family had taken on six hectares of farmland, so this was still only the beginning. We still had a long way to go to truly bring the owner's vision to life.
Like any new garden you design, it is important to first understand every aspect of the space: the soil composition, the aspect of the garden, the elevations, and most importantly, the sunlight. Thankfully, the project was taking place during the winter months, so the sunlight was on my side. If I were to undertake a site analysis on myself, it would be apparent that my pale, freckly complexion would not tolerate full sun. Blue eyes, shade-loving, and freckly—I suppose that makes me a close relative to the Pulmonaria 'Blue Ensign.' I digress. For those of you who have previously visited the Algarve, you will know it is famous for its ‘red’ cliffs and soil, known to locals as ‘Terra Rossa.’ This incredibly attractive, highly fertile soil is the perfect composition for olive and orange trees. This meant that not only were the surrounding landscapes beautiful to look at on my morning walks, they were also delicious!
The garden and natural landscapes contained such interesting plants, thriving in the Mediterranean soil and climate. We tried to draw inspiration for the garden from the natural landscape. We used boulders of local stone to divide the levels already in the garden and create interest with planted borders, creating more opportunities for planting and an inviting pathway to follow through the space. Creating a tiered garden not only provides depth but also improves soil drainage in certain areas, meaning plants that would not usually thrive in the original borders can now be incorporated into the elevated beds. The opportunities are endless!
Using local stone was not only sustainable and cost-effective, but it also meant we were able to replicate the natural landscape of the Algarve, creating a backdrop of Terra Rossa in our client's home.
My time in the Mediterranean really was a time for learning—well, learning, sunshine, and red wine, but mainly learning. There will be aspects of the structural techniques I take with me throughout my career and future designs.
Well, that’s my little moment of the Mediterranean I just had to share with you. Thank you for sharing a moment of your day with me.
