Once you have settled into your Turkish villa you can turn your attentions to your garden. One theme that works very well here in Turkey is the Mediterranean garden because the plants native to the Turkish coast along with the Mediterranean climate creates a vibrant and scented feast for the senses. Mediterranean gardens are also soothing relaxing places to sunbathe and dine al fresco, whilst you watch some of the spectacular sunsets common to this part of the world.
Architectural Features
The ideal Mediterranean garden is a veritable sun trap surrounded on all sides by tall walls with climbing plants like roses, grape vines or Star Jasmine, which likes full sun or partial shade. You can train the tendrils of this plant to creep up the walls or frame windows. Use old terracotta bricks to create a winding pathway, which leads you slowly through the garden to a focal point like an old stone bird bath or sun dial in the centre. Make your borders gently curve in line with the pathways and around the stone feature and construct quadrants using terracotta tiles or bricks and plant each one with a different herb or seasonal vegetables.
Seating Areas
Think of your garden as a set of rooms with each area linking naturally to the next yet providing privacy and intrigue within each section. You can use hedges of clipped leylandii to create natural screens separating the ‘rooms’ of your garden, but remember to trim them regularly; dip your sheers in a solution of household bleach to stop any disease spreading between the trees. African Box can also separate planting areas. To one side of the garden, add a secluded seating area with benches painted in shades of blue, purple or fuchsia pink, this will make a pleasant, quiet area where you can go to read. You should choose another part of the garden to create a patio area with terracotta tiles, wooden seating and a pergola covered in succulent grape vines; you can use a strong linen cloth as shade until the vines are established. This area will be invaluable because it will be the place you spend most of your time during hot Turkish summers.Containers and Water Features
Use plenty of terracotta pots and containers to accent areas like steps and patios. If you have steps leading to your front door, choose a vibrant colour like a red geranium and plant it in a pot that sits on each step, but remember to keep them well watered and cut off dead heads to keep them flowering longer. Steer away from any modern materials like ceramic plant pots and metal; a Mediterranean garden is the epitome of nature and this should be reflected in the natural products used like stone, wood and terracotta. Remember to rest your pots on terracotta legs (available from garden centres and DIY stores) so that the water drains properly from the pot – but most of all remember to keep them well watered! The musical tinkling of water flowing softly from an old fashioned water feature will add an air of coolness to the area. Try and look for salvage pieces to use for your water feature rather than choosing something too modern.
Herbs and Flowers
A Mediterranean climate such as that on the Turkish coast is characterised by hot, dry summers and for this reason it’s important to choose plants, which can survive well in these conditions. Therefore, lawns are out – they require too much water and attention. Choose to fill your garden with fragrant herbs like sage, cat mint, thyme, rosemary, bay and oregano. Use citrus, olives, oleander, pomegranates and cypress trees to add height, but if you are creating this scheme back in the UK, plant them in pots and bring them in during the harsh winter. In terms of plants create an abundance of blue and purple to match the colour of the skies and sea, plants like grape hyacinth, Tuscan blue, purple princess and lavender and accents of silver grey foliage and evergreens like, juniper and box. Stick with low growing plants and ground covering shrubs at the front of the beds and taller plants at the back. Grow climbing roses up the walls to create a wall of colour, choose contrasting shades of pink and scarlet red. The contrast of these vibrant colours with the earth tones of the path and terracotta pots makes the garden more appealing. Pink works well if you add flowering cherry trees and large bushes of pink rose like flowering cistus. You can cover the beds with gravel in natural earthy tones – avoid white it is too stark for this type of scheme. If you are making your front garden into a Mediterranean outdoor space line your driveway on either side with Italian cypress to add height and drama.
