Tuscan and Mediterranean-style garden design has long been a popular theme, especially in arid climates. What makes a landscape design Tuscan or Mediterranean? If it has several of these features:
- Cypress trees
- Walled enclosures; courtyard patios
- a fountain
- The use of terracotta in rooftops, pottery, tile, etc.
- Topiaries (simple, classic forms; not puppies and bunnies)
- Wrought iron
- Glazed ceramic tiles and pottery
- Aged stucco
- Statuary
- Earthy colors
- Arbors and trellises
- Vines, climbing and "spilling" plants
- Olive trees
- Drought-tolerant landscaping
- Formal hedges
- Rustic stone and rock
- Natural fibers
This small patio garden in Southern California captures the essence of a Tuscan garden, on a much smaller scale.
