What is your favourite kind of garden?

[Foxy]

Giardino all'Italiana (Italian Gardens)

The Italian Garden is the evolution developed in Italy during the XVII century of the Renaissance Garden. It cares very much the scenographic effects, using suptuous steps, terraces, sculptures of trees, sculptures, fountains, geometric flower beds, maizes...





Giardino alla Francese (French Gardens)

It is the French evolution of the Renaissance gardens. It differs from the Italian Gardens in the lack of terraces and in the presence of "parterres de broderies" (embroideries made on flower beds using coloured sands). It also includes big alleis and big water courses.



Giardino all'Inglese (English Gardens)

The English Gardens, developed during the XVIII century, follows a romantic view of the function of the gardens. There is less rigidity than in the Italian/French gardens and more attention to the landscapes. Little temples and ruines are created near artifical lakes. A very good example of English Garden is the English Garden in Reggia di Caserta.



Giardino giapponese (Japanese Gardens)

Developed from the Chinese Gardens, the Japanese Gardens stresses the importance of water and of small bridges. A bridge or stones usually allow the crossing of a small lake. Other important scenographic effects are: lanters and landscape stones.



Spanish Gardens

Developed in the Moorish period, it has evolved the Roman, the Persian and the Arabic type of gardens. Traditionally the paradise garden is interpreted with a central cross axis, in the four cardinal directions, with long ponds or water channels . The remaining quadrants often had fruit trees and fragrant plants.



You can provide examples.

[Loddfafner]

My favorite garden is English in spirit, located in France, and incorporates Japanese elements.

[PetiteParisienne]

I love English gardens. They are little Romantic microcosms, like fairytale settings; perfect for outdoor theatre. These are pictures that I took in one of my favourite English gardens. It's in Norfolk.

[gold_fenix]

British + Japanese , it is a good combination English have famous of to be the best gardeners and the elengancy and the art of japaneses in gardens it is a present for the eyes

[Foxy]

I like very much also Alhambra's Porch of the Lions (Spain)




I know that it is not really a garden but more a courtyard, it kind remembers me (and probably is) the Moorish evolution of the Roman courtyards (impluvia). But the Alhambra realobaration is simply stunning. Those broideries in the archs and the archs themselves, for colour and shape, make me think of the inside of a cave.
If I had a megavilla in the Mediterraneum I would definitely take it as inspiration for an internal courtyard and would make all the bedrooms overlooking on it.
Dammit I didn't study architecture...

[Albion]

English followed by Japanese. The Japanese plants don't appeal to me so much but I think some English gardens could do with smaller lawns.
A few of the English gardens at country houses here tend to have vast lawns besides lakes and I think the space would be better filled with a few more shrubs and trees.

[ficuscarica]

English style but without a big pond, but with mediterranean plants and many fruit trees, vegetables, cupressus sempervirens and herbs.

[Albion]

English style but without a big pond, but with mediterranean plants and many fruit trees, vegetables, cupressus sempervirens and herbs.

I can't stand Mediterranean plants, they just don't fit into the landscape very well here.
Temperate trees and shrubs are nice. I kind of like gardens to be productive whilst looking good. Although they're introduced here (and widely naturalised), I just love horse chestnut trees in the landscape, particularly when they're in flower.





I also like old elm trees (they used to be very common but now are rare due to Dutch Elm disease). Trees like this used to cover the English landscape, especially in East Anglia.


Then I also like Sycamore and Field Maple. Sycamore receives a lot of criticise here because it grows like a weed, but they can grow up into very majestic trees. There is some debate as to whether it is native, most people say it isn't but it may be have been native in the hills (the "Celtic Maple").
It will often grow where nothing else does, a great tree for reforesting abandoned ground.

[ficuscarica]

Temperate trees and shrubs certainly are nice and fit well in England and also most parts of Germany. In fact I love the landscapes you posted. And indeed mediterranean plants would look out of place in most parts of Central Europe.

But a mix of temperate trees and some mediterranean plants does fit into our submediterranean influenced landscape like we have it here:









Some mediterranean plants just complete the picture and the unique vibe of Central Europe with a hint of the "South":
Almond trees:


Cupressus sempervirens:

018-300x200.jpg

Palms

[ficuscarica]

So what I have to say is: If I´d live in a very temperate region I´d prefer to have a more "Northern garden", too. I like a garden to fit in the surrounding landscape.