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Episode 7: Tuscan Gardens

Rachel and her family live in Mauritius and wanted Abacus Gardens to design a garden for them at their second home just outside Pretoria. The architecture of the home is Tuscan and in light of this distinction Rachel requested a Tuscan garden design. Tuscan gardens originate of course in Italy, particular reference to towns such as Piza and Florence.

Tuscan gardens have been a very popular trend for several years in South Africa and in light of this the Abacus design team wanted to design a Tuscan garden with unique flare resonating old world charm. To inspire the design team we borrowed emotions in Hollywood blockbusters such as “Tea with Mussolini” and “Under the Tuscan sky”.

Typical Tuscan gardens represent something of the Italian renaissance combined with rustic yet elegant accessories of 16th century Italian farms. Informal peasant style with emphasis on organic flows and wild flowers would be contrasted comfortably with formal aristocratic themes.

The South African interpretation of Tuscan gardens is often synonymous with Provencal landscapes, frequently blurring their unique attributes. One has to recognise that the two styles have much in common and thus this overlap in style is not unusual or necessarily incorrect. After all both are Mediterranean and Provence is a geographical area in France immediately adjacent to Tuscany in Italy. Broadly speaking Tuscan gardens would be emulate that of the aristocracy while Provencal gardens that of the bourgeois, the first being formal and the other probably less so. An easy difference is that lavender hedges would be trimmed tightly in Tuscan gardens whereas they would be left to their own devices to grow wild and flower abundantly in Provencal gardens, which are traditionally more relaxed and organic in form as apposed to the strict geometric patterns and trimmed box hedges commonly found in Tuscan gardens. Certainly man’s control and dominance over nature is strongly emphasised through the balance and proportion that is an integral component of Tuscan garden designs, further highlighting the influence of the Italian renaissance on this garden style, as man progressed out of the dark ages to an age of new enlightenment.

Ornamentation in Tuscan gardens accentuates the style. In Rachel’s garden we enter her front garden through a beautifully scrolled wrought iron Archway. The archway carries one’s eye across the well balanced space, creating a vista leading it to rest on the far side at a Lutchens bench. Timeless and classical in its own right, the bench allows for the interaction into the garden of the human element. Not only can this Tuscan garden be enjoyed visually, but one can also interact with it. The Lutchen’s bench is further framed by two wrought iron mini domes under which two amusing yet charming cherubs play musical instruments, adding the sense of fun to the garden. Elegant cast iron pots and urns are repeated along the perimeter of the garden and it’s this regularity that highlights the rigidness and form associated with Tuscan gardens. As water is an essential part of any garden, the Abacus design studio chose a rust coloured urn water cascade as focal point, thus adding both drama and entertainment to this luxurious garden display. The gleam and sound of a water feature would add a fresh and vital dimension to the garden, cooling and calming.

Once the Abacus design team established the major axis through the garden, we were able to achieve balance and it was a simple task as the rest of the garden design fell into place. Even though many Tuscan gardens involve strict symmetry, Rachel’s garden was already irregular and thus balance and equilibrium was more important than symmetry, and yet a visual symmetry was the result as apposed to literal symmetry.

Skilfully orchestrated planting would result in a relaxed and yet not lax garden. Formal box hedges would dominate borders with heavy scented lavender filling the air. All in all 6 other box hedges were also included in Rachel’s garden, including Cupphia, rosemary, Duranta Golmine, Duranta Sheenas gold and Abelia. These ribbons of low hedges soften the interface between beds, lawn and home. Large twisted Olive trees were planted along the perimeter of Rachel’s garden providing privacy creation from neighbours. Topiaries were chosen to further emphasise the Tuscan theme, creating unity by repeating patterns. Plants were selected carefully in order to both horizontally and vertically endorse the garden. Beyond the lavender and olive trees, the Abacus design team chose several other typical Tuscan plants as finishing touches including rosemary, lemons and cypress.

Undoubtedly the appeal of Tuscan gardens lies in its subtle colours that balance geometric shapes, emphasising aesthetic order and regularity, while remaining pleasing and interesting visually.

Click here if you would like to FAST TRACK an enquiry to have a Verge garden designed and installed especially for your home.

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