ENGLISH GARDENS
English gardens are characterised by spaces with free and soft forms, based upon the combination and alternation of natural elements (plants and lawns) and artificial elements (grottos, streams, arbours...) Nature is not ordered by geometry but is, instead, guided and indulged with careful control, even when the place deliberately assumes a wild character. A typical element of the English garden is the mixed border, composed of a wealth of seasonal or perennial flowering plants which are sometimes mixed with small shrubs to obtain a beautiful seasonal variability. The plants are arranged to have a first level of low plants in the foreground, followed by a band of herbs and flowers of medium height and tall species in the rear so as always to offer a composition which is clearly visible from every angle. The natural garden also features mixed hedges, with shrubs, bushes and small trees which are different from one another to obtain a rich biodiversity.
NATURAL GARDENS
English gardens combine natural and artificial elements with a resulting aesthetic and natural lush green that may seem wild but is never overgrown or neglected: the discreet guidance offered by the design scheme and maintenance plan are perceptible in the overall result, which is an expression of perfectly natural, chromatic and structural harmony. It can include rolling lawns in light hillocks surrounded by groves of trees and picturesque architectural elements, such as Gothic ruins, ancient gates and dry stone walls. This naturalness is the delicate and complex landscaping aspect to which we devote our expertise.
DESIGN PHILOSOPHY
English gardens are an expression of the seemingly unguided natural disorder in wild nature: it is an interpretation which excites deep emotions and feelings. The landscaping goal is to design spaces which do not affect natural structural elements, but rather simply amplify their aesthetic value, form and characteristic colours over the course of the seasons. This philosophy stems from an ethic of respect for the environment; it is a vision of a garden that enriches, completes and embellishes the house, enveloping it in a sensual and wild atmosphere.
SPECIES USED
THE IMPORTANCE OF DETAIL
STYLE
FEATURES
01 / INFO
Nature must prevail over the architectural elements. Design is smooth and seemingly effortless. The landscape vision is modelled on the environment and provides, where necessary, changes in level relative to the ground to offer a more varied and harmonious result, so as to accommodate a variety of plants in a multisensory mosaic of emotions which follow the rhythm of the seasons. It is a vision which is both natural and technical at the same time, which Dellavalle Gardens expresses at its best through the inclusion of areas of water with an aesthetically pleasing natural look: streams, ponds and waterfalls. The naturalistic style can also include the pleasure of bathing biopools and biolakes with vegetation which grows freely and spontaneously in a controlled manner.
PLANTING
SELECTION
02 / INFO
Plants and flowers are planted by following a very accurate and complex design, which allows them to grow luxuriantly and freely to express themselves in all their splendour, whilst at the same time respecting their development needs. In order to get this natural balance just right, Dellavalle Gardens devotes great attention to the selection of plants, suitable for their beauty, form, colour and growth rhythms, which are placed in an ideal position in relation to solar radiation, soil moisture and other important factors. The design therefore allows the perfect integration of natural elements with artificial ones.
GRASS &
GRASS
03 / INFO
The charm of a green and lush English lawn can improve the appearance not only of the garden, but also of the surrounding buildings. In an English garden, the grass is grown in free and smooth forms. The cut of the lawn can be classic to create well-manicured areas which enhance the free-growing vegetation, or be left for a “natural” effect or in the naturalistic version of the flower-filled meadow, which is ideal for areas which are not subject to high traffic and usage. The choice of a flower-filled meadow area is also useful to attract butterflies and precious bees.
CARE &
MAINTENANCE
04 / INFO
The naturalistic garden has a delicate and complex balance. Being absolutely “free” should not distract from the commitment to attentive and skilled control which preserves the health of the plants and prevents them from becoming impoverished over seasons and years and periodically replaces those that have a briefer or seasonal life cycle. The maintenance plan offered by Dellavalle Gardens provides expert control of the plants throughout the seasons and attentive care for the environment to preserve not only the garden’s free and enchanting appearance, but also the health of the planting and the perfect use of the space by the client.
