How to create a French garden in Provence style - ideas and recommendations. Garden in Provence style Garden plot in Provence style

Provence is an exquisite style of lovely French villages, who stood for recent years incredibly popular all over the world. It is always associated with special sophistication, delicate shades of purple and an abundance of white in decoration, a light touch of antiquity on objects and the subtle smell of lavender fields. A garden in the Provence style is ideal for delicate romantic natures who love to while away summer evenings, wrapped in a blanket on a bench and inhaling the fragrant aroma of herbs.

Conceptual features of the design of French gardens

A French garden in the Provence style has a number of distinct distinctive features, which will not allow it to be confused with any other style direction in landscape design.

Delicate plant colors are characteristic of Provence

The most important ones, setting the tone and mood, are following features:

the predominance of fruit trees (apple, cherry, peach), often formed in the form of palmettes;
abundance flowering plants with flowers predominantly in delicate shades of lilac and pink;
flower beds with herbs and spices;
use of antique or artificially aged items in garden decoration;
the presence of gazebos, gazebos or simply places to relax with cozy garden furniture (preferably antique or antique-style).

To create a garden in the Provence style with your own hands, just select plants in a characteristic color scheme, acquire several beds with herbs and, in search of garden decor, take a good look at the things around you or rummage around in the attic.

The highlight of garden decor in the Provence style is a touch of antiquity

Broken ceramic dishes lying around in the kitchen, grandma's chairs that have long been wanted to be thrown into a landfill, old buckets and watering cans can easily find a second life and turn into exclusive decorative items in the style of the French countryside.

The French garden is, first of all, orchard. So, if it is possible to start landscape design from scratch, then preference should be given to fruitful plants. fruit trees.

They are usually planted along the painted white fence As it grows, the crown is systematically pruned, ensuring that the branches grow in width rather than in height.

Fragrant lavender is an essential attribute of a Provençal garden.

When it comes to flowers and spices, in the Provençal garden the focus in most cases is lavender and geranium.

Ivy, petunia, rosemary, and roses are also planted in flower beds. When purchasing seeds and seedlings, be sure to pay attention to the photo indicating color range inflorescences, because a feature of the style is the presence purple and such pastel shades as lilac, pink, beige. Bright colors are acceptable as small accents or framing elements.

The flower beds themselves, as a rule, have a round shape. They are laid out along the perimeter with stones or bricks. Flowers and herbs do not have to be planted in flower beds - they will look great in wooden boxes, tubs, hanging flowerpots, baskets and old dishes, while creating a unique atmosphere of a French rural courtyard.

Herbs and spices can be planted in any suitable container

Garden decor in French country style

Another mandatory requirement for a real garden in the Provence style is that there should be comfort here, almost the same as in the house. For this reason, a variety of trinkets, furniture and textiles are widely used in its design. Moreover, this is not always special garden furniture. Very often in such a garden, right under a tree, you can find an ordinary home chair with a blanket and pillows or a small sofa that just yesterday decorated the living room.

Often used to decorate the garden ordinary furniture

Quite often the landscape is decorated with wooden or wrought iron gazebos. They are most often painted white and artificially aged. In other words, in a Provencal garden there cannot be a perfectly painted fence or copper accessories shining in the sun. Painted elements must show through with light abrasions, as if a painter’s brush touched them last time many years ago, and it is better to cover polished copper figures or parts with a noble greenish patina, as if they had been passed down from generation to generation for centuries.

Create true provencal garden it is possible only by putting a piece of your soul into the creative process, otherwise you won’t get an atmosphere home comfort, characteristic of this style of landscape design.

Landscape design has many styles with which you can plunge into various countries and feel like the owner of large estates or colorful villas. The most common style currently is Provence style. In this style, even tall two or three-story houses look restrained and elegant.

The walls of a Provence-style house deliberately age the house with uneven whitewashing. The facades of such buildings are most often decorated with limestone or plaster. Another feature of this style is the large number decorative elements, they are usually replaced with variegated tiles on the roof.

The main decorative element of this style are fountains or ponds in front of the house. When planning a garden, you should strictly follow the shape. In the center of the garden there must be a large flower bed with various bright plants, the combination of which creates a colorful pattern. Site near this landscape element it is covered with soil and generally not formalized in any way.

Since the Provence style came to us from France, its peculiarity is the creation of a romantic mood in the garden. Here you can find various figurines, fountains and high hedges made of climbing plants. The combination of plants and shrubs, fountains and flower beds - all this is an extraordinary Provence style. Walking through such a garden, you can find new elements for yourself every time. It seems that plants in this style are planted chaotically, however, this is not the case; all plants and their planting locations are strictly planned.

The main color in the garden is green. There is a play of light and shadow here, which is quite difficult to achieve on your own. In France, a garden is an extension of the house; it is believed that this large, green room is designed to welcome and see off guests. Therefore, it is created especially carefully.

In the backyard of such a house there are usually small beds in which vegetables and fruits grow, this allows the French to cook food directly from the garden, so their food always seems to be filled with a special taste.

Stages of creating a garden in Provence style
As in all styles, the first stage of creating a garden in the Provence style is its planning, then the plants are selected, mainly climbing plants and fruit trees. After this, small plants and flowers are selected for the flower beds. Another innovation in this style are plants planted in pots; they are usually located in the recreation area, where the owner retires after a hard day.

Creating a garden in the Provence style like in the photo is not an easy task, but if you decide, be sure to adhere to the features of this style and remember, even though it contains a riot of various shrubs and plants, the garden should look well-groomed.

French romance seduces many of us, but not everyone has the opportunity to travel to the Mediterranean. Try to recreate the Provence style in the garden with your own hands, and we will show you how to do it.

The famous area in the south of France has been a source of inspiration for romantic people for decades. Provence attracts sensitive people with its delicate range of shades and airy forms. It is not surprising that many gardeners strive to recreate the atmosphere of French villages on their site. We offer several simple tips, which will help you get your own Provence garden. Decorating a garden in Provence style is not at all difficult!

1. Place flowerpots and hanging planters in the garden

Decorate even small area you can use cute hanging pots and flowerpots placed around the garden. Such mini-flower beds fit organically into the design of a Provence garden. About what flowers to plant in a flowerpot so that they look harmonious in your unusual garden, read at the end of the article (hint: the list is not limited to lavender!).

2. Use natural stones

Garden elements from natural stone(for example, retaining walls or terrace finishing) are indispensable attributes of the Provencal style in landscape design. Stones, especially those entwined with greenery, give the garden a naturalness and some mystery: “old” stones keep their own, not for anyone famous story. A haze of mystery is one of the components of French charm, including in the design of the site. Try to build a natural stone wall on your property yourself and see how the garden will be transformed.

3. Install a gazebo or pergola

A place for privacy is what any garden must have. We just need to “hide” from the hustle and bustle from time to time, spending time in thought and contemplation of beauty, or with a cup of aromatic tea and a good book. A cozy gazebo is perfect for this. In a Provencal garden, a gazebo or pergola made of natural material, for example, made of wood. When choosing a color to paint a building, give preference to white. This classic version will fit perfectly into the overall mood of the garden and serve as an ideal backdrop for climbing plants.

4. Decorate the facade of the house

One hundred percent fits into the Provence style - “blooming” walls. There is nothing difficult about planting unpretentious perennials near the walls of the house. climbing plants. They will beautifully weave around the walls and create the desired effect of carefreeness, evoking associations with the sunny French coast. They look especially atmospheric entrance doors and windows framed with decorative vines.

5. Install a fountain

The south of France is characterized by dry weather. To have a source of constant coolness at their disposal, residents of Provence often install fountains in their gardens. Why don't you use this idea too? In our latitudes, the fountain will serve more as a decoration than as an important functional addition to the site. So, the main thing you will need to take care of when thinking about the concept and planning the installation is: appearance fountain.

6. Make narrow paths

Garden paths are called "arteries of the garden." In the case of provencal style paths must meet two conditions: they must be winding and narrow. Don't be afraid, you don't have to make all the paths in the garden like this and balance on them like a tightrope walker, just lay a few narrow branches from the main garden path.

7. Arrange wicker furniture

This style feature arose because in the south of France there are a large number of vineyards whose vines are suitable for weaving. This does not mean that you urgently need to plant a vineyard and master wicker weaving. Just pay attention to wicker furniture from various materials(for example, rattan), presented in numerous stores.

8. Decorate your garden with antique items

One of the main components of the Provence style is the “worn” effect. Since garden decor items must be present in a Provençal garden, make sure that they bear the “stamp of time.” Some things can be artificially aged by erasing the paint from them in places. Surely you have some nice old chairs, tables or flowerpots - their finest hour has come! The main thing is that items should not look bulky or too modern.

9. Plant ornamental plants for the Provence garden

The main rule here is to use the traditional range typical of Provence: shades of blue, purple, pink and white. Here are some ornamental plants suitable for creating a flower garden in a Provencal garden: sweet pea, sedum, delphinium, clematis, catnip, Japanese anemone, roses with petals of delicate shades, self-seeded poppy. A wonderful addition are cereal herbs in silver, pinkish and delicate golden shades.

10. Place vegetables and herbs in the flower garden

Combination ornamental plants, herbs, herbs and vegetables in one flower garden - an unusual for us, but quite typical feature of a garden in the Provence style. Plant nearby plants such as sage, thyme, rosemary, lavender, pumpkin, zucchini, etc. Decorative vegetable garden- not only an original, but also an ergonomic solution for owners of small plots.

11. Select trees and shrubs for a French garden

Trees in the gardens of the southern coast of France, like fountains, perform not so much an aesthetic as a practical function. In the shade of a spreading crown you can always hide from the scorching sun rays. For French country Characterized by a combination of fruit and ornamental crops. Here are some shrubs and trees that look natural in a Provençal garden: mock orange, boxwood, forsythia, hydrangea, hairy willow, apple tree, cherry, apricot, virginian juniper, oleaster, grapes.

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 with terracotta tiles. The shape and installation method are different, but without tiles, a Provencal garden will not be traditional.

Flower pots and flowerpots

Not only pots, but tubs, boxes, hanging planters– 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 natural stone wall, 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

Provençal 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 - 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 typical 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...

French gardens in the Provence style embody the romantic and passionate notes that characterize the French. These are fragrant plants climbing along the trellises, and the sound of murmuring water in a small fountain, and figurines evoking pleasant emotions. All these nuances reflect a penchant for expression and beauty.

Most famous french garden The one that comes to mind is Claude Monet's lavish estate, at Giverny, near Paris. It surprisingly succinctly reflects the past, present and future, in a way that only the French can do. Everything in it is clearly balanced and harmonious.

The French garden is, first of all, a mixture, and such that upon a quick inspection it may seem that all this riot of plants has simply gotten out of control. But this is far from true. The gardener vigilantly watches every flower. And the only way to convey the pressure and power of rich colors is by giving free rein to the plantings. At the same time, however, this is not a chaotic execution, but a verified plan.

The garden of Provence is very green, built on accents of light and shadow, and bright and lush flower buds breaking through the foliage. In essence, it is an extension of the house. Its largest and brightest room, welcoming guests and seeing them off after visiting the estate.

The back door from the kitchen opens onto a small vegetable garden where various vegetables and herbs grow. This allows you to cook straight from the garden. The taste of the dishes is incredibly aromatic and rich.

Let us now move on to the stages of creating a French garden.

Layout

Before installing flower beds, organize the placement of various accessories around the perimeter of the future garden. These can be pergolas, sculptures, trellises for climbing plants, fountains. Immediately plan where you will put the gazebo.

Create winding paths through your garden using gravel or stone for future romantic walks. The more twisty they are, the better. After all, you need to walk around the garden slowly, contemplating the beauty of the flowers.

climbing plants

Plant grapes near arbors, pergolas, trellises, etc. Consider planting wisteria, climbing roses, fragrant jasmine.

Plant the same grapes or ivy near walls and fences. If your house has a porch, then you can also plant grapes on it.

Fruit trees

If your plot allows, then plant some fruit trees. Such as apple trees, plums, cherries. In the southern regions you can also plant nuts.

Flower beds and flower beds

Create flower beds and flower beds, plant lawn grass between flowerbeds. Also, if you wish, you can plant ornamental vegetables. Don't be afraid to push and mix up flower beds. Let them go one into another.

Let the rows of roses, lavender, petunias, peonies, and irises merge into a serpentine dance. There shouldn't be any in a French garden clear lines and boundaries. Everything is by nature. The most important thing is the presence of green foliage and bright accents flower buds. Everything on your site should smell fragrant and explode with emotions of joy and color.

Fill all the free space from the house to the property line. Give free rein to expression and emotions.

container garden

Use geraniums in tubs and pots. This will greatly enliven the garden orchestra. Geranium is very popular in France. It flashes with bright spots, and in containers, rearranging geraniums around the garden, you can always find new patterns of rich shades of red.

A place for privacy

A French garden would not be complete without one or two secluded corners where you can sit with a book or a glass of wine. Place a bench made of stone or wrought iron in such a place, an arch or pergola above the bench and let in climbing plants. In such a place you can be alone with yourself and enjoy the aromas of the garden.

Please note that despite the abundance of plants and their lush growth, the garden should not become wild and unkempt. Monitor the growth of flowers and trim them in time.