Calm and nature, but also the direct proximity to the village. The sweet privacy of a slightly secret place without the inconveniences of isolation. The authenticity of an old garden but half of the plants were dying...

What to offer these city dwellers full of paradoxes?

From my first visit, things were clear: their ideal garden was there, still invisible to them but as obvious to me.

Everything had to be reviewed: redefining the spaces, reorienting the garden in relation to the farmhouse and making it legible.

Then compose based on what was already there: maintaining as many existing plants as possible, relying on mineral structures, characteristic of the region, controlling the altitude difference, both for the movement of people and for the flow of water, creating a succession of dedicated spaces where you can stand depending on the time of day, the sunshine, the activities but that you can also take in at one glance to take advantage of the space. Finally, plant new plants, adapted to the climate, requiring very little watering and which revive the original luxuriance...

The land has been recomposed into several zones, on several levels and enclosed by a gabion wall that is both contemporary and consistent with local minerality. The trees were moved, the walls dismantled, their stones preserved and reused in a new location in the tradition of dry stone.

The choice of plant species was essential: the plants and the beds were arranged so as to intermingle, run over the walls and climb the arbors. Even the old, tired acacia has been converted into a giant tug for a generous wisteria.

In order to limit watering and maintenance, the dry garden option was chosen. To preserve large areas of greenery, a ground cover, Lippia nodiflora, is an excellent substitute for grass.

In this area where euphorbias are king as they are also in the surrounding hills, Bru and San benefit from a wide range of local trees, plants and flowers but also exceptional botanical species: Trachelium caeruleum, Helichrysum Orientales or Kniphofia tritoma, which offer them great surprises throughout the year.

Gradually, the garden closes in on itself to create a feeling of great privacy. By receiving their children and friends or meeting up together, watercolor notebook in hand, Bru and San are peacefully enjoying the revival of their forgotten garden.