Source: Rosehill Gardens.
Italian-themed gardens have created some of the most beautiful landscapes since the Roman Empire. The casual elegance of the Mediterranean coasts mixes beautiful plants with fascinating formal accents and designs.
The gardens of Tuscany can be reproduced in Kansas City to a great extent, despite the differences in climate. Boxwood hedges, topiary trees, crushed gravel pathways, statues, and trickling fountains can be combined with traditional Tuscan garden plants. These include grape vines, herbs like sage and lavender, bay and olive trees, and for a modern touch, ornamental grasses.
Edible plants are important to the Italian theme, including fruits, herbs, and tomatoes. Stone structures and patios should be of warm colors, such as terra cotta and decomposed or golden granite. The warm tones are more important than the types of material, so it pays to select local stone to avoid high transport costs.
Choose native plants that will prosper. Drought-tolerant Tuscan flowers and herbs require a two-inch bed of compost and regular watering for a good start. Drip irrigation is greener and more economical than sprinklers, and can be placed where they do the most good.
Rosehill Gardens won the Best Themed Landscape award for 2013 with an elegant Italian creation by Steve Heichel. You can see for yourself by visiting our Plant Care Guide or by contacting us for more information at 816-941-4777.
