A garden of Ukrainian herbs with a Mediterranean atmosphere

The landscape project of the garden near Kyiv was created even before the large-scale invasion and was oriented towards the lifestyle of a large and hospitable family.

"This garden was supposed to be not only a place of strength for three generations, but also to receive many guests," he explains landscape designer Anna Galagan, — that is why there is a house, a summer kitchen with a terrace and a grill area, a yoga terrace, a garden, a vegetable garden, lawns and a sea of ​​flowers.

Some of the plants were bought before the invasion, planted with the team online, that is, I managed from Prague. The second row of perennials was dropped off to the sound of air alarms and explosions, but already with my personal participation when I returned to Kyiv. All our partners from Ukrainian nurseries worked flawlessly, despite the difficulties."

At the request of the client, the garden has a very developed network of paths. Therefore, one of the tasks of the landscape designer was to remove the accent from the paths.

"I developed a scheme of plantings based on flows of colors and volumes that are completely different from the directions of the paths. I use smooth, natural lines for the plantings, which also matches the Mediterranean style of the garden."

It was not necessary to integrate exotic plants into the plantings, which would require supervision and shelter for the winter. The assortment of perennials and shrubs grown in Ukrainian nurseries is already diverse enough for designers to have a rich choice. Plants that are natural for Ukraine not only take root easily and quickly adapt, but also have a positive effect on the environment. Most of the flowering perennials are honeydews—supporting insects and fauna.

Despite the fact that the implementation of the project was divided into several stages due to the war, the garden has a complete appearance and, despite its young age, already demonstrates its unique character.

Basic project decisions

The existing network of paths divides the territory into many small areas:

the landings are planned in such a way as to remove the emphasis from the tracks and create a feeling of lightness;

small areas are united into a single whole by a common idea.

Features of the lighting of each area:

an appropriate assortment of plants is selected for each zone.

Features of the soil on the site:

sandy soil at the base, a layer of fertile light soil of about 40 cm on top, the soil does not retain water;

the main share of plantations is occupied by drought-resistant plants of southern latitudes, which do not require intensive abundant watering.

Techniques that allow you to convey the atmosphere of the south, the Mediterranean:

pines and other conifers, tamarisks, bright flower beds and grasses were used in the plantings.

Winter look:

the structure of the garden from shrubs and cereals will decorate the garden in winter.

Minimizing garden maintenance:

a minimum of lawn (exactly as much as is necessary for recreation), shrubs and perennials prevail in the plantings.

Placement of the pergola and grill area:

a place near the terrace of the summer kitchen facilitates communication;

the location of the pergola is the most comfortable in terms of lighting and the absence of direct sunlight.