Wellbeing and Water

Whenever I hear the sound of water in a garden I stop and breathe, the effect this has on me is instant.  Whether it be a fountain, stream, waterfall, rippling pond or tiny table top water feature, the sense of restfulness is the same.  In Tuscany water is an issue it most likely will remain so, therefore the use of water in the garden has to be carefully considered.  However with a little bit of wizardry water can be channeled and reused in the garden and need not become a drain on precious resources.  I always try and incorporate an element of water within a garden, classic Tuscan gardens often include a grand statuesque fountain whereas simple more contemporary gardens take a modern twist with simple metal or stone water features. Water connects spaces in the garden and can also act as a focal point or resting space.  Sitting alongside a flowing stream or cascade of water will naturally calm and refresh bringing a sense of well-being to the space.

I recently stumbled upon this amazing artist and am in love with his work.  I will be asking for his input on any larger garden designs as his sculptures are truly breathtaking.  http://www.gilesrayner.com/sculpture-portfolio.php

The Ripple Effect - swimming pools in Tuscany

A reviving dip in the pool after a long day under the Tuscan sun, a few refreshing laps before heading off to the office or simply time spent splashing around with the kids whilst on holiday in Italy.  Whatever your lifestyle or personal requirements a private pool will undoubtedly bring you a great deal of pleasure and also increase the desirability of your home or holiday property.

Pool design in Tuscany has become so advanced that almost any type of property can accommodate an indoor or outdoor pool of some description.  Many unassuming traditional looking properties contain state of the art fitness suites and contemporary underground pools skilfully designed to make the very best use of the space available.  The options are impressive, whether you have the space to enjoy a large landscaped pool in your grounds or a simple indoor plunge pool, the benefits are endless.

Modern swimming pools are becoming ever more sophisticated and the systems that support them increasingly intelligent.  Italian designed pools have evolved greatly in recent years and can add an artistic dimension to a landscape or garden.  The infinity pool for example is perfect for those homeowners whose Tuscan property enjoys an elevated position and gives the user the ability to enjoy undisturbed views whilst relaxing or socialising in the pool.  This style of pool works particularly well in Tuscany or on hilltop settings and is a perfect choice for holiday home environments and can also be found onboard luxury yachts.

Tuscan based pool designers such as Big Blu are now able to pretty much deal with most kinds of terrain and if you have your heart set on an outdoor pool then taking an organic approach is often the most successful way of introducing a pool into a natural setting.  Interestingly, some of the most striking outdoor pools blend seamlessly with the surroundings, and the natural swimming pool is an idea that is being adopted by luxury hotels and adventurous homeowners worldwide.  Michael Littlewood of EcoDesign Scape explains “The initial concept was conceived in Austria more than 20 years ago, the natural pool is an inspiring and healthier alternative to a conventional swimming pool and a beautiful addition to a garden – even in winter. It stays clean without any chemical treatment, its natural cleaning system mimicking the regeneration process of a healthy lake. The result is a serene swimming environment which is also a working aquatic garden. This seamless blending of environments makes a natural pool unique; being surrounded by plants as you swim creates a very special kind of mood.  A typical private pool is a minimum of 50 square metres and features one body of water separated into two zones, one for swimming and one for cleaning. The regeneration zone, in which all the biological cleaning takes place, contains marsh and water plants in a bed of gravel, minerals and loamy sand. The plants create a habitat for the micro-organisms which keep the water clean and break down potential pollutants, while the gravel bed acts as a natural filter. 

During the summer months the water temperature is usually a few degrees warmer than in a conventional pool. This benefits wildlife as well as people, and amphibians arrive to enjoy the warm water in the shallow regeneration zone. Dragonflies and other pond creatures add to the diversity, and the whole area becomes a very valuable habitat, especially for endangered species.”   

For those preferring a simple setting or a classical period style design there are also many ways in which an outdoor pool can be created to complement existing architecture or features such as exterior walls.  Pools of course bring many health benefits to the homeowner and allow the opportunity for occupants and guests to switch off and take time out whenever they feel the need.  A pool is also an excellent focal point for socialising with friends and family and has the added value of offering the opportunity to indulge in some instant fitness and wellbeing.

Indoor Pools are very popular within city developments and larger apartments and townhouses will increase in value substantially if the home includes a pool.  Technology now allows for pools to be constructed with a moveable floor above thus allowing for the room to be used in a more creative way, either as a pool room or an additional space in which to entertain.  Movable swimming pool floors have made it possible to maximise the use of your swimming pool with variable depth and also use the space taken up by the swimming pool for other purposes.   With the touch of a button, an entire pool floor is fully adjusted to any water depth or becomes level to pool surround thus serving as a dry deck or dance floor. It's no longer an imagination but a reality.  Movable swimming pool floors can have multiple programming capabilities and can offer flexible uses of the same space.

The maintenance of a private pool is now very simple and easily controlled with automatic systems and advanced filtration techniques all of which can be overseen by a designated team of engineers if required. 

Lighting is another key element to successful pool design as most residential pools are used both in the day and in the evening.  There is nothing better than enjoying a swim before dinner or watching the sun go down whilst sitting alongside a glimmering pool.  Mood lighting is key and automatic sensors mean that the lighting can self adjust according the time of day, coloured lights also change the atmosphere depending on your mood or occasion.  Pool lighting can be divided into three main types. General lighting that illuminates the pool deck and paths so you can wander safely after dark. Then there is underwater lighting that is useful for swimming after dark as well as creating cool night time lighting effects. Finally, there is accent lighting that is generally used to add atmosphere to the poolside setting.

At Bella Terra most of our clients own or wish to install a swimming pool of some kind and we can ensure that the overall garden design and landscaping works in harmony with the pool construction.

Contact Sharon Kilby of Bella Terra Garden Design for more information on natural swimming pool design cel: 334 599 5702

For inspiration on natural pools check out… www.piscinenatura.itall images courtesy of piscine natura, Grazie

 

Little By Little

Gardens in Tuscany have never been so beautiful, in my eyes at least.  With the cooler air and the changing of the seasons the landscapes take on a whole new vibrancy.  Lately at Bella Terra we have been dividing our time between serious ground moving and hands on gardening.  Fences have been crafted from Chestnut poles in the traditional Tuscan style.  Hillside gardens have been shored up and secured using a no cement environmentally friendly system and a monastic inspired culinary herb garden designed and planted.

Over the Autumn our to-do lists are positively overflowing but all with good stuff.  Our sheds are full to the brim with 1000s of bulbs and corms and we are chomping at the bit to start on an adventure playground and tree-house fort for a family near Pescia.

For now though we are continuing our work on two wonderful gardens near Arezzo and Montespertoli both of which will in time grow to be truly beautiful.  We have planted climbing roses, aromatic herbs, lavender beds, Russian sage borders, banks and banks of iris, Box Hedging and now we are working on wild flower meadows.

Whilst I truly love working outside I am also looking forward to getting back to the drawing board this Autumn.  I have been inspired by a good friend to work on a collection of 'one stop pots' where we can provide 'instant' garden solutions for rooftop and patio gardens.  Lightweight, low maintenance and hassle free, so watch this space.

Below are a few in progress shots of projects on the go...

This garden was sliding down the hill

Chestnut uprights and horizontal metal supports secure the bank

This Eco method uses 'zero' cement

Terraces are manageable and ready for planting

Classic Tuscan fencing

The timber fence sits gently amongst the woodland setting

3 months old, the early stages of a formal kitchen garden

Dry Stone Walls, Herbs, Lemons, Apples and a quiet space to relax

Natural Swimming Pools

Experienced garden and swimming pool designers are now able to pretty much deal with most kinds of terrain and if you have your heart set on an outdoor pool then taking an organic approach is often the most successful way of introducing a pool into a natural setting.  Interestingly, some of the most striking outdoor pools blend seamlessly with the surroundings, and the natural swimming pool is an idea that is being adopted by luxury hotels and adventurous homeowners worldwide.   

Michael Littlewood of EcoDesign Scape explains “The initial concept was conceived in Austria more than 20 years ago, the natural pool is an inspiring and healthier alternative to a conventional swimming pool and a beautiful addition to a garden – even in winter. It stays clean without any chemical treatment, its natural cleaning system mimicking the regeneration process of a healthy lake. The result is a serene swimming environment which is also a working aquatic garden. This seamless blending of environments makes a natural pool unique; being surrounded by plants as you swim creates a very special kind of mood.  A typical private pool is a minimum of 50 square metres and features one body of water separated into two zones, one for swimming and one for cleaning. The regeneration zone, in which all the biological cleaning takes place, contains marsh and water plants in a bed of gravel, minerals and loamy sand. The plants create a habitat for the micro-organisms which keep the water clean and break down potential pollutants, while the gravel bed acts as a natural filter.

During the summer months the water temperature is usually a few degrees warmer than in a conventional pool. This benefits wildlife as well as people, and amphibians arrive to enjoy the warm water in the shallow regeneration zone. Dragonflies and other pond creatures add to the diversity, and the whole area becomes a very valuable habitat, especially for endangered species.”   

I love natural pools and try and encourage people to consider this option when planning a Tuscan garden, for more inspiration check out.  

www.ecodesignscape.co.uk

www.clear-water-revival.com

Summer storms

My last post seems particularly premature as we have now had 8 days of rain, the new herb spiral survived, thankfully, and every other area of the gardens we work with are growing like crazy.  We are currently creating a garden for reflection including lots of medicinal and healing herbs, aromatics and traditional plants usually found in ancient Monastic gardens.  This week I am really in love with Greek Basil which can be grown in pots and trimmed into lovely curves and flowing shapes, the perfect pot to have on the garden table, it smells lovely when you brush the leaves.

Just lately I have seen some real garden disasters, all of which could have been avoided if better planning had been implemented early on.  Following the heavy rain so many pools have been filled with Mud as fast flowing streams of rain wash away soil badly placed around the pool.

Creating rolling banks may seem an answer to utlising the huge amount of excavated earth created when digging out a pool, but it is not, also this is not generally good to grow plants in.  Yesterday I saw a very very sad 'New' garden with mounds of stony earthy piled high and levelled off around the pool and bathing area of a Tuscan house near Poggibonsi.  The hedging plants were dying as there was not top soil or mulch and the swimming pool had been the recipent of streams of muddy water from the banks...tragedy.  Expensive and avoidable. 

However learning from our mistakes arms us with knowledge for the future.  when it has not been raining I have been taking a look around a few Tuscan gardens.

Grand Designs

Well at one of our busiest times of the year in terms of gardening work we have also been invited to write for the Tuscan Magazine which is really lovely and we are delighted to be putting together a feature on Tuscan Gardens for the next issue of the magazine.  Tuscany is a wide and varied region with differing climates and plants that grow perfectly well in the rolling hills of Siena may suffer in the more alpine areas such as the Garfagnana and Radda, therefore it is crucial to take note of your surroundings and draw inspiration from other gardens around you.  A classic rustic Mediterranean garden may not be possible and checking out the essentials such as water supply, protection from the wind, frost and heat will save you energy and money in the longer term.  Take some time to explore gardens and the landscape near your property and take notes and pictures of plants and architectural features you like, then put together a large scale board with images and plant names on.  Move items around and mix and match colours, textures and shapes, try to understand how you want your own garden to work, live with you plans for a while and research costs involved and labour.  The more research you do the better the approach you will have to creating a garden that will thrive and grow ever more beautiful with time.

Magical Mulch

As per my previous post, I am totally overwhelmed by the effects mulching can have.  The gardens we work on have been transformed by careful and ongoing mulching.  Baron patches of dry earth are now fertile and accommodating beds, weed strewn gardens have evolved into rich healthy and pleasant environments.  So please, please take note, if you want your garden to thrive then consider a permaculture inspired route, simple, practical with outsanding results.

And lastly, our weeping cherry has given birth overnight to huddled masses of white blossom, beautiful, we have been watching the tree daily and she has literally burst into flower overnight, maybe the rather impressive full moon has had some effect?

Get down and dirty in Tuscany

Wow - yes I truly believe spring is here. The Cherry Tree is positively a burst with rosy glowing buds, spring bulbs are pushing their way into the fresh air with gladiator like vigour and every hour of the day our passionflower is twirling its way onwards and upwards over its new arbour.

As spring arrives here in Tuscany life gets busy in the garden both in the veg patch and in amongst the flower beds. This season our garden has a wholly more healthy appearance every single plant has a sheen, a strength and an urgency to thrive. Romantic as I may be even I know that the reason the fruit, vegetable and flowers are so bursting with life is not simply because they are alive in Tuscany, the reason goes deeper, much deeper, literally.

Pots brimming with homemade compost / mulch

Mulch, the magic word. One often reserved for allotment holders in the UK but in all seriousness mulch is without a doubt the answer to many Tuscan gardeners dreams. Tuscany is so varied, from rolling hills to glass sided mountains, from the arid beaches to alpine pastures, Tuscany has no 'standard' climate. To grow things we love and enjoy in every sense here in Italy requires patience and hard work. In high summer we need to give water and provide shade, in winter we have to protect from the freezing mountain winds and sudden dramatic ice storms. However, there are some very simple steps that can be taken to give our gardens here in Tuscany a helping hand and which will bring joy to those who simply love to grow things.




Homemade compost or for use as mulch

 Muching is easy, it is simple and it is utterly miraculous. Most areas of land in this part of Italy require attention in terms of creating an environment where plants can thrive. Although a firm believer in planting plants that are native or suitable to there natural surroundings, the effect that feeding the soil can have is literally and physically ground breaking. Although the dictionary term mulching means “to provide a protective covering of organic material laid over the soil around plants to prevent erosion, retain moisture, and sometimes enrich the soil” it is a whole lot simpler than that. Mulching is a slow but utterly efficient way of enriching and enlivening the ground.


Let’s not complicate the issue, most organic waste will feed your garden, it can aerate, feed and add nutrients to your chosen patch. Mulching can strengthen flowering plants helping them fight disease, it will give your vegetables, herbs and fruit the kind of growing power only seen in the likes of books and ultimately give you the encouragement needed to continue growing in what can be challenging terrain.


Whether you have a small terrace and are growing a few herbs in pots or are fortunate enough to have space to grow a variety of plants the benefits of mulching are the same. 
Once you have decided to embark on this wonderful and addictive path you must first get used to collecting large cardboard boxes. Yes that is right, you want to collect as many large sheets of cardboard as possible, Bakers and Supermarkets will all discard these and just before bin day you will find lots of lovely cardboard near recycling bins. Scoop these up as quick as you can and take them home.

Secondly you need to clear the soon to be mulched area of weeds and plants the very best you can, you do not need to break your back doing this but the clearer the area the better.

Now lay the cardboard across the soil covering every area you can, do not leave any space for light to get through. Weight down the cardboard with stones or logs, OK it will look rather untidy, but not for long. Once the garden, pots, allotment or veg patch are covered with cardboard the weeds underneath will be starved of light and start to die. In the meantime you will be getting to grips with collecting all organic waste, better known as composting.

Having a large comport bin close to your kitchen will mean you are able to really give your garden the best support you can. Everything from eggshells to potato peelings, teabags and coffee granules can all be disposed of in the compost bin, combine this will ample grass cuttings and brown stuff such as chopped up twigs and leaves (not pine however) and you will start to have a rather stunning compost. Really get into a routine of saving your organic waste and using your composting bin and, if you are really feeling brave feed it when you can with a bit of pee which helps the breakdown the waste. After a while you will notice how the compost is starting to turn into just that ‘compost’ a rich fertile and life giving mulch. As soon as your beds, or patch are covered in your cannily collected cardboard you can start layering grassing cuttings and dried leaves on top, the layers of mulch start to feed the ground beneath and act as protective layer, storing moisture. Once your compost bin is starting to contain broken down organic matter this too can be placed on top of the cardboard, and so the rhythm continues, the more mulch you apply to the garden the more rich the soil beneath becomes, you also now have beds that you no longer need to dig, a miracle in itself. You then simply plant through the mulch, dig small holes for you plants and then watch them thrive, yes you will find the odd renegade weed appearing but mostly you will not need to dig or weed heavily and your young plants will be given the very best environment in which to thrive.



In brief, mulching will become a way of life one that saves you hours of watering, digging and weeding. Mulching your Tuscan garden will mean that you are able to grow wider varieties of plants, ones you love to eat, enjoy the summer scents of and ones that simply enhance your environment. Working with nature and supporting it is what Tuscans have done for centuries, with a little lateral thinking we can all enjoy the romanticism of Italian gardens with allot less of the toil and struggle.

High Summer

We are now in the throws of high summer or Ferragosto here in Italy and the 15th of August traditionally marks the end of the hardest work in the fields.  All good Italians have headed off to the beach or the mountains and days are filled with picnics - aggh not so here though.  We have a whole host of pressing jobs on our 'orto' or vegetable garden and many smaller jobs to do for clients and the issue of hydration is crucial in the heat.  Formal vegetable gardens require daily maintenance in order to retain their neatness and clearing away dry leaves from paths, corners etc also keeps the risk of fire down in hot climates.  We are already planning winter planting and are now putting pen to paper in the form of a rose garden designed for contemplation, we will be taking inspiration from traditional monastic and sacred roman gardens.  Below are a few pictures of some stunning plants thriving in the Tuscan summer.

 

 

The Magic of Tuscany

Welcome to Bella Terra Garden Design, the Italian Gardener's blog and country diary. A space to gather ideas, gain inspiration and enjoy a shared passion for creating and enjoying Tuscan gardens. Here I hope to give you a real flavour for life in Tuscany, growing plants that nourish the body, feed the senses and restore the soul. Gardens that bear fruit, offer rejuvenation, heal the mind or simply enrich your life. The tranquil and uplifting scent of lavender, the heady aroma of sweet jasmine, the vibrant colours of the oleanders and the distant shadows of the cypress trees all go to make up the palette of this magical land.