For the past several years, I've had the good fortune of traveling with a group of like-minded friends from The Cultural Landscape Foundation. This fall, our travels took us to Barcelona and Valencia, Spain, where we explored remarkable gardens and art collections, with a special detour to see Salvador Dalí's fantastical garden.
One thing that particularly struck me was the use of site-specific sculpture throughout many of the gardens we visited. It's a mystery to me why we in the South don't incorporate more sculpture as points of interest in our own gardens!
Dalí's small garden, perched along a little cove on the Mediterranean Sea, is a perfect example. The stone and ironwork throughout the space are unmistakably reflective of the artist himself. Regardless of how you feel about his Surrealist art, this garden is a must-see.
Another highlight was a small, L-shaped town garden designed by Louis Benech. Trees were planted in blocks and underplanted with Aspidistra, a plant we know well in the South as Cast Iron Plant. It was a wonderful reminder of how ordinary plants can be used in extraordinary ways, something of a Louis Benech trademark.
In another garden, perennials were planted in a wedge-shaped arrangement to cleverly disguise the slope of the site. Such a simple yet effective design solution, using tough, everyday plants in a thoughtful way. A great idea worth bringing home!
Of course, garden design isn't just about beauty. It's also about adapting to the environment.
Southern Spain experienced temperatures reaching 114 degrees this summer, yet I saw very few signs of heat stress in the gardens we visited. Designers and landscape architects there have embraced the reality of a changing climate, moving away from plants that simply cannot tolerate the increasingly brutal heat.
It's a lesson we must take to heart here in Atlanta, even if it means our gardens begin to look a little different.
Right plant, right place. A simple principle, but one that has never been more important.
And one final observation: The marvelous gardens we visited had none of the deer problems we face here in Atlanta. Instead, just outside the cities, wild boar are a major pest.
I suppose we all have our cross to bear!
Traveling always offers a fresh perspective, and this trip was no exception. From the creative use of familiar plants to the thoughtful integration of art and climate-conscious design, I returned home with plenty of inspiration and a few ideas I'm eager to bring into our own gardens.