Landscape Terrace Ideas
Lavender is the secret weapon of gardeners around the world. In warm, dry climates, the herb’s 39 evergreen species can fill problem spots in the garden with year-round foliage and with flowers in lovely shades of purple, blue, violet, and gray. From Albuquerque to Athens, we’ve rounded up 11 of our favorite examples.
Give lavender full sun and from 2 to 3 square feet of space to spread. For growing tips (and growing zones), see Field Guide: Lavender.
1. England
Above: Lavender in bloom in the Hinton Ampner gardens in Hampshire. Photograph by Leimenide via Flickr.
2. Italy
Above: In the Piedmontese hills, Turin-based landscape architect Cristiana Ruspa unified discrete outdoor spaces–a circular driveway, a shaded terrace, and an inner courtyard with a bleached wood pergola–with a colorful palette of low-water perennials. For more, see Rehab Diaries: The Resurrection of an Italian Nobleman’s Garden.
3. Australia
Above: Drifts of pink Sedum ‘Autumn Joy’ add romance to a garden by designer Paul Bangay. Photograph by Simon Griffiths, courtesy of Paul Bangay. For more, see 11 Ideas to Steal from Drought Tolerant Gardens.
For a romantic combination (as shown above), combine Sedum ‘Autumn Joy’ (pink) with lavender (purple), and a silvery perennial grass (foreground)
4. Northern California
Above: Two olive trees, underplanted with lavender, draw the eye to the horizon. “Our goal was to make this garden evocative of the surrounding landscape, which is just stunning, ” said SF-based landscape architect Scott Lewis, who came up with a garden design for the one-acre property that takes advantage of the agrarian nature of the Napa Valley. Photograph by Mathew Millman courtesy of Scott Lewis.
8. Spain
Above: A low hedge of lavender edges a pathway in the southwest Mallorcan garden of a home Danish fashion designer Malene Birger sold recently for €1.295 million. Photograph via Lucas Fox International Properties.
9. Los Angeles
Above: LA-based garden designer Naomi Sanders created a water-wise courtyard garden with a plant list that includes lavender, native California irises, agaves, Iceberg roses and silvery Santolina. For more, see LA Confidential: A Private Courtyard Goes Luxe on a Budget.
10. Albuquerque
Above: Lavender mingles with Queen Anne’s Lace at Los Poblanos Inn, where guests can volunteer to work in the 25-acre garden–a farm, really–which produces much of the food on the menu. For more, see From Farm to Table at Los Poblanos Inn.
