GUDIOLO

Umbria, Italy

Set in the heart of Umbria, Italy, this estate rests atop a steep slope with a complex terracing system to hold the land. We kept the planting simple to complement the grandeur of the house and ancient cypresses. Hedges of rosemary, lavender, and cistus roses match the aesthetic strength of the stone terracing. Water can be scarce in the region, so we used fine gravel in lieu of lawn and drought-resistant poppies to cover the hillside in early summer. It’s a rugged and resilient landscape, so the gardens had to be equally so.

Large clay pots filled with roses were placed poolside for added greenery on the terracotta tiling. Jasmine and grapevines provide shelter and fragrance in the loggia high on the hill. It’s not a fussy, decorative garden. It’s a garden that simply provides scent, food, and shade, and overflowing beauty.