What flowers grow in Provence. Landscape design in Provence style. Style accessories: simple wooden benches or wrought iron, cast iron grates, simple terracotta pots, rocking chair, garden figurines - gnomes, animal images
Gardens in Provence are not just plots of land, but a way of life with its own philosophy and thousand-year history. Picturesque countryside Provence is a famous example of the development of the Mediterranean European culture, where productive and ornamental gardening, practicality and pleasure have never been separated.
Mediterranean gardening is the art of living in harmony with the conditions of the place: soil, materials, flora - everything that nature provides. Any plant in the Provence garden has properties that can be used in everyday life. But each of them also gives its own beauty, an intoxicating aroma, a refreshing shade, a leisurely pleasure from observing the seasons... Gardeners and designers around the world admire Provence as a source of inspiration for landscape art, where you can find the perfect balance between the earthly and the sophisticated. A Provence style garden is a place where a person can feel as free and peaceful as possible.
Recreating the Provence style in middle lane For Russia, unfortunately, this is not a very practical idea, since our climate simply does not correspond to the Mediterranean. However, bringing elements of Provençal style to own garden a new plot is very possible. Shouldn’t a Russian know what simplicity and naturalness are in a dacha! All that remains is to add, redo and refine a few things to create a landscape in the spirit of a Provençal garden. You can choose how many elements are enough for you.
ELEMENTS OF PROVENCE STYLE IN LANDSCAPE DESIGN
Gravel
Twisty gravel paths and a gravel dining area are the most traditional elements of a Provençal garden. The gravel mixture is poured onto the insulating material and serves as an environmentally friendly coating for any selected areas.
Terracotta
Burnt terracotta clay is an indispensable element of everyday culture, because it is the most ancient and the most accessible material. And the paths or walls are laid out with terracotta tiles. The shape and installation method are different, but without tiles provencal garden will not be traditional.
Flower pots and flowerpots
Not only pots, but tubs, boxes, hanging flowerpots - in Provence, plants are grown in any container. This is an integral part of the atmosphere of the courtyard. Ideal option For planting plants that do not tolerate cold well, use a flowerpot. With the onset of winter, the flowerpots can be moved indoors.
Masonry
Earlier natural stone used to lay the foundation of any building in Provence. Instead of a wall of natural stone You can use large stones as borders and backgrounds for planting. An excellent option is stonework around the flower bed.
Abundance of aromatic herbs
Fragrance plays an important role in the atmosphere of the garden, and the colors of the forbs are very soft and muted, with a large number shades of silver, blue, yellow, lilac, violet. Number one is lavender. In addition to it, rosemary, savory, mint, marjoram, and sage are popular. It is better to plant them in a place protected from the winds by a wall.
Evergreens
Provencal trees are designed for well-drained soil and long, hot summers. Columnar cypress trees are a luxurious and recognizable architectural element; they are also an excellent company for another must-have that characterizes the Provence style in landscape design - the olive tree. But cypresses and olives can be found with analogues more suitable for our climate. Evergreens can also be grown in pots, keeping them warm for the winter.
Vertical gardening
Walls, pergolas and arches covered with ivy or grapes are another element characteristic of private houses in Provence. And it’s not at all difficult to fit it into your own garden.
Vintage style garden furniture
Even if the furniture was purchased from IKEA, it can be stylishly “aged” so that it resembles a family piece. Another option is openwork wrought iron furniture in a retro style. And we can also rethink our dacha tradition: do not throw away used room furniture. Old chairs and even a sofa, after appropriate treatment, will still serve in the patio. It is enough to place them inside the reinforcement frame, and place a waterproof coating on top.
Man-made household items
Tablecloths, seat covers and cushions, blankets, decorative elements– all this should look as if it was made by craftswomen in the south of France or by family members. No stiffness, but only comfort and eye-catching details, which, in fact, remain in the memory of the house...
The article will discuss how to decorate a garden in the Provence style, what conceptual techniques should be used, what plants to select, what decor can best emphasize the described thematic direction. Photo and video ready-made examples will clearly demonstrate the principles of implementing the concept of romance of the French countryside.
History of creation
Landscape design in the Provence style, originally from French province under the same name. She got it from the Rissky conquerors. Until the thirteenth century, Provence was part of the Roman Empire, then passed into the hands of the French Kingdom. The territory of the province has a unique geographical location: from the south it is washed by the waves of the Mediterranean Sea, from the north it is reliably protected from winds and cold by the Alps. Therefore, a special microclimate has formed inside Provence, which provides large number sunny days. There are very hot summers, mild winters, and it rains only in April and October.
Provence changed its owners several times, so here you can simultaneously see ancient Roman aqueducts and medieval castles, ancient monasteries and small estates, small villages and blue bays. Piercingly clear sky, turquoise sea, lilac fields lavenders, golden sunflower plantations, cork oaks, olives, pyramidal poplars, spherical eucalyptus trees, thickets of hard-leaved shrubs and drought-resistant grasses - all this is the nature of Provence.
The local landscapes are so picturesque that many artists took them as the basis for their works. The spirit of lavender, roses, the taste of good wine and the smell of sea air could inspire and landscape designers. The desire to create an atmosphere of French Provence on your site became the basis for the birth of a new style. Its main attribute is naturalness and simplicity. The formula for creating the described direction assumes the presence of eight main points.
Point 1 – availability of open terraces
Most of Provence is located in hilly areas. Local residents are forced to build stone supports to strengthen the hillsides. They allow you to get a base on which you can lay out a summer terrace. Grapes are often planted on it or olive trees. The terrace can have a flat area, it can consist of several steps: it all depends on the height and steepness of the slope. The method of organizing such a space is the fundamental principle of the formation and implementation of the described concept.
In Provence itself there are retaining structures that were assembled in ancient times from stones that were stacked on top of each other without mortar. They are monuments of local architecture. The method of creating retaining walls is still used today, but today the walls need to be strengthened with mortars. This allows you to increase their strength. Creeping plants are planted on top of the walls, in this way the main symbol of landscape design is formed. Stones and plants in it are equal elements.
Point 2 – characteristic vegetation
A garden in the style described is easily recognizable by its trees, shrubs and herbs. Olives and cypresses, aromatic herbs (lavender and rosemary), and drought-resistant shrubs (laurel viburnum and cistus) are sure to grow here. The garden looks like an abandoned corner of nature, where you can, tired of walking, sit down and relax in the shade of branchy trees and enjoy the aroma of herbs.
Another attribute of Provence gardens is planting peach trees along the outer fence wall. Trees are pruned as they grow and palmettes are formed using them. So they borrow less space, give bountiful harvest. Each fruit receives a lot of sun and light. There is no shade from the peaches, leaving room for planting herbs and flowers. If you achieve simultaneous flowering of the garden and vegetable garden, you will be able to create a very picturesque corner. The combination of beauty and benefit is another characteristic feature garden "Provence".
Where the climate is harsh, peaches grow poorly. They can be replaced with apple trees or pears. If decorative varieties are chosen, they do not need to be planted in a row: one tree will be enough to decorate the area with its blooms in the spring and attract pollinators for the entire garden.
On our website you can find contacts of construction companies that provide. You can communicate directly with representatives by visiting the “Low-Rise Country” exhibition of houses.
Item 3 – terracotta tiles
It is used to create tracks. This is a traditional material that is chosen for paving open areas. The style is characterized by a combination of wide stone paths and narrow paths decorated with cut wood. With the help of large and small round timbers, winding paths are formed. They are laid on a sand and gravel bed, which reliably protects the paving from weed germination.
Point 4 – pergolas, arched frames and trellises
The first ones are installed right in front of the house and decorate the facade. They serve as a support for branchy, beautifully flowering plants, which, as they grow, create shade near the front entrance. Garden furniture is often displayed under the pergola. It is used for morning and evening tea drinking.
Arches are installed along flat paths along which you can walk and enjoy nature. They help create very picturesque vertical gardening, which also serves to create a shadow. In the summer, the air temperature often warms up to +35 degrees, so there is a need to create large shady corners in which you can hide from the midday heat.
Trellis also serve as the basis for shading paths and terraces; they are most often used to support vineyards. If you plant plane trees near the trellis, over time their crown will intertwine the base and form a very beautiful canopy from the sun.
Point 4 – fountains
Provence often experiences prolonged droughts, so any source of water is precious resource. In every garden local residents There must be a large or small fountain. They simultaneously supply water and cool the air during the hot season. Most often, fountains are built into stone supports. This decorative element always looks impressive.
On our website you can find contacts of construction companies that own and offer. You can communicate directly with representatives by visiting the “Low-Rise Country” exhibition of houses.
Point 5 – pools and stone wells
Once upon a time, such water sources were necessary to meet the water needs of local residents. Nowadays, wells are rarely built: main water supply has long been installed everywhere. But such a decorative element will be able to tie together many disparate design objects. It will also highlight the charm of a romantic garden.
Point 6 – flower pots and flowerpots
They act as the main decoration of the garden. Made from clay or stone, flowerpots are found in every garden in Provence. But there they are used very sparingly. This is done in order not to overload the overall composition. Plants that cannot tolerate winter are often planted in such containers. With the onset of cold weather, the pots are simply brought into warm room. A flowerbed in Provence style is small vegetable garden with spicy herbs.
When choosing flowering plants, it is important to consider the combination of colors. In Provence there are no bright and catchy flowers, color dominates here clear skies and azure surface. It can be created using carpet plantings of sage, hyssop and catnip.
Sky blue and azure go well with silver tints. You can create them by planting oleaster and wormwood. You can't do without lavender. It does not grow well in cold climates. It can be replaced there by fireweed or mountain mint, the variety of which is called “flaming sunset”. Her color is not lavender, but rather light purple. But the Provence style allows such deviations.
Point 7 – traces of wear and age
Many villages in Provence have a shabby appearance. But it in no way spoils the overall charm of the natural landscape; on the contrary, it gives it some charm. Therefore, when recreating the concept, it is necessary to use traces of antiquity. They can be recreated by choosing pieces of furniture or garden decor With great history. So, for example, you can put an old cart wheel near flower pots. Let it be completely overgrown with herbs, then the wheel will turn into an original decorative object.
Anything you can find in the attic will do: old wooden table, shabby chairs from different collections. And even a clay mug covered with cracks or chips will be appropriate as a napkin stand. If all these items are thoroughly cleaned and the wood is sanded, the old items will turn into cool, fashionable decor.
It is good to have an openwork gazebo in the garden, entwined with climbing roses. You can put a dining group in it or place a comfortable sofa with plenty of pillows. There should be a slight negligence and neglect in everything, but they should not disturb the atmosphere of comfort and warmth.
It is clear that many designers are reworking the French style to suit national traditions. Therefore, a large number of proposals make it possible to choose one style direction or another.
Video description
For example, in this video, the architects proposed a gazebo in the “Provence à la Roux” style:
Point 8 – design of the facade of the house
Correctly designing the exterior of a residential building is the most difficult task. It must comply with the landscape design concept. For many owners, this is the most painful moment. If you do nothing, all the work on gardening will be meaningless. The house will turn into an alien object, which will be very different from the general landscape. This will definitely spoil the overall impression of the site. Therefore, you need to try to remove such dissonance.
The house should not give the impression of a modern home. Its decoration should not contain artificial finishing materials(plastic, for example, or artificial stone). It would be good if the structure was built of brick or wood.
If there is no desire to stylize the façade of the building to match the chosen concept, you just need to cover it with green climbing plants. Before entrance doors arrange pots with herbs, build in front of the house open terrace and decorate it hanging planters with flowers.
Video description
The video shows a house decorated in the Provence style:
How to put all this into practice
A characteristic feature of the Provence style is a combination of practicality, art and comfort. It is difficult to recreate a beautiful picture in reality. But if you follow certain rules, everything will work out very successfully.
You need to start by painting the fence. It is important to paint it in white, plant a large fruit tree (ornamental apple tree) near it and form it into a palmette. Plant a pear tree nearby with the same crown formation. If you don’t want to see it on your site fruit trees, they can be replaced with pyramidal yew.
At the feet of trees, experts advise planting roses that bloom profusely with pale pink inflorescences. To make it look beautiful, you need to plant bushes using a special method: in one landing hole immerse on long distance seedlings from each other.
It is better to plant overgrown sage at the feet of the rose. With its small flowers it will successfully contrast with the lush buds of the princess. After flowering, herb bushes will remain.
Below the growth of the sage, a gray-blue carnation with bluish leaves is planted. Open places and the base of the apple tree should be covered with plantings of wormwood; the base of the pear tree can be covered with pink cherry. As it grows, it will completely cover the lower part of the tree trunk.
In the presented scheme of a flowerbed in the Provence style, you can add a zucchini, which has beautiful decorative leaves(they are appropriate for decorating the edge of a flower bed). The other edge of the zucchini can be filled with bushes of the famous lavender. Geranium with its carved leaves resonates well with it. The final finishing touch will be provided by kale, the variety of which has the unusual name “Kai and Gerda”. It is better to plant it at the very edge. A paved path should lead to such a flowerbed.
The compositions of the described style are characterized by natural compositions that bear the imprint of landscape. A relatively regular layout is used. It assumes the presence of open sunny spaces. Pergolas and arches are decorated decorative varieties wine grapes, varieties of clematis and climbing roses. It is important to remember that the gardens of Provence are not just beautiful picture, but also the smell herbs. Therefore, among the plantings there must be basil, anise and mint, thyme and oregano, as well as green arugula.
Video description
The video will tell you what other techniques can be used to create a garden with beautiful appearance French province:
Generalization on the topic
Garden in style French Provence created using certain elements. It must definitely contain fruit trees or pyramidal cypress trees, herbs, flowering plants, whose inflorescences represent all shades of pink and blue. It is imperative to plant fragrant roses, lay stone paths, paint the walls in calm pastel colors. As garden furniture It is better to use items on which the imprint of antiquity is easily read.
One of the most complex tasks even for experienced gardener– arrange all summer cottage plot in the same style. This requires not only a creative approach, but also pedantry, diligence and a responsible approach to business.
The garden, made in Provence style, will become not an easy task for a home designer, but with the right approach to design and knowledge of the style features, sooner or later the site will become completely recognizable look French province, charming, incomparable, evoking aching nostalgic feelings.
Photo example:
What should be in a French garden?
Provence has its own characteristic, well-recognized features:
- Spicy herbs;
- Orchard;
- Plants of pink and blue flowers and shades;
- Natural stone masonry;
- Antique Country Style Outdoor Furniture;
- Paths and paths paved with stone;
- Wall or walls painted in light colors;
- Antique gazebos;
- The exterior of the house or garden house should correspond to a simple, rustic style.
What plants to choose for a garden a la Provence?
A garden properly decorated in the Province style can be easily recognized by its smell. This is facilitated by flower beds planted with Provencal herbs, which emit a characteristic, so well recognizable aroma. Unusual for us, but quite standard for France, will be a combination of herbs and vegetables.
Rosemary, thyme, zucchini, pumpkin, sage and lavender can coexist perfectly in one flowerbed. You can't do without lavender at all. The fact is that the smell of lavender and its flowers should prevail in such a garden.
The main colors of France are pink and blue, the cultures themselves are not of paramount importance, the main preference is given to the color palette. It is advisable to enclose flower beds in the Provence style with natural stone; it is better if the border is made of stone masonry. Photo:
What to pave paths near Provence with?
And here preference is given to natural stone. Provence involves crooked and winding, deliberately rough paths and paths. Best result An ordinary river stone will allow you to achieve this.
The main thing is to mark it thoughtfully complex shape paths or paths, prepare the base and carefully fasten the prepared stone cement mortar. Such a French path will look appropriate in the overall style and will last for many years. You see an example in the photo.
Fruit trees: apple, plum and cherry trees
The trees in the garden should be predominantly fruit trees. These do not have to be French plants, ours climatic conditions much harsher. Quite suitable and apple trees, cherries, and plums.
What furniture to furnish the garden in French style?
Most likely, this moment will be the easiest for those who have private house, inherited from parents. In such a house there will definitely be a corner with old furniture, quite suitable for design purposes.
If there is furniture, but it doesn’t quite fit the style of an archaic French village, then it can be aged with improvised means and given the rough appearance of untreated wood.
In addition to the furniture itself, it would be logical to use various antique or artificially aged wooden items. Various barrels, tubs, and garden carts are perfect.
How to decorate a country house in a provincial style?
One of the most traumatic moments for a person who built garden house with your own hands - fit it into the Provence style, which means radically change the exterior of the building.
This point is fundamental, because if the entire site is decorated in the same style, and the house does not undergo corresponding changes, then all the work will be meaningless. The house will take on the appearance of an alien spot against the background of the changed landscape and will simply spoil the overall impression.
In order to fit the building into the general style, it is necessary to remember that the French outback is mainly an unpainted rough board, and if painted, then in light colors and certainly with a brush, leaving specific marks.
Clay utensils and accessories
If there is such an opportunity, then it is worth using clay pots in the design. different shapes and sizes, a variety of flower pots. It will be visually very cool to combine huge and tiny pots in one place in a deliberately cluttered cluster.
It is worth planting in such containers some of the plants and herbs that have a characteristic spicy smell, because pots are usually used to decorate the most visited places, which means that the smell of the French province will intensify.
More stone
Rough natural stone, massive and possessing irregular shape, will fit perfectly into the exterior of any corner of the garden in the Provence style.
A wall made of such stone would be very appropriate. It can be unfinished or half-destroyed, entwined with plants and its shade covering flowers and herbs from the hot rays of the sun and wind.
A gazebo that will decorate any cottage
A gazebo or pergola is an integral part of a garden decorated in the style of provincial France. The only condition is a rough, almost brutal style, light colors. Wooden gazebo in French it represents only temporary shelter from the scorching rays of the sun and nothing more.
A special feature of a Provence style garden is the mixing of plants and colors. Fragrant climbing plants, the sound of trickling water from a fountain and flowers in clay pots create an indescribable atmosphere of the French province.
Color harmony
A Provence style garden is a harmonious combination of green shrubs, purple, pink, yellow and white shades of flowers. The plants in such a garden are unpretentious and sun-loving: lavender, sage, bushy rose - an integral part of the Provence style.
Flower beds and flower beds
In French gardens No clear lines and borders: flower beds smoothly flow into one another. Flowerbeds are mainly built from stones with beige, pink or purple shades. The unspoken rule is the order of planting: plants in pink tones are placed in the center, then white shades, along the edges - bright accents.
climbing plants
One of the most popular options for creating shade in the French provinces are all kinds of arched forms entwined with creeping plants. climbing roses, vineyards and wisteria twine around gazebos, pergolas and trellises.
Narrow paths
Winding narrow paths are characteristic of the entire Mediterranean. Thin romantic paths connect and complement the wide paths and captivate with their views. Natural or artificial stones ideal for creating paths in Provence style.
Pots and flowerpots
A special feature of the garden are its antique decorative elements: snow-white benches, wooden fences and time-worn pots create a light romantic mood. Natural materials and natural natural shades are characteristic of a provincial garden: on each French section There are many clay and wicker pots, which are located not only on the terrace, but throughout the garden.
From July 1 to July 10, at the Moscow Flower Show in Muzeon, GARDENA will present a garden in french style Provence Miniature garden GARDENA will become a unique corner of peace and comfort. A garden space that is not overloaded with plants will help you immerse yourself in the atmosphere of enchanting France, and bushes of fragrant lavender, hydrangeas and roses will create a gentle romantic atmosphere.
A blooming corner of GARDENA will allow you to relax, relieve the burden of problems, and with great pleasure put tired plants in order, trim with my own hands hedge from ornamental shrub. Such a garden, using garden tools GARDENA is easy to implement without much effort on any site by selecting your favorite plants.
