Patio Gardens in Spain
PRACTICAL, INTERESTING PATIOS FOR SPANISH HOMES
By Clodagh and Dick Handscombe
Introduction
In our first article we looked at what made a good garden, one in which one enjoy an enviable outdoor lifestyle except on freezing winter days. But of course not everyone purchases a house with a large plot so many expatriates develop small patio style gardens. Indeed these are what existed two millenniums ago when the first expatriates raided Spain. So in this second article we look at what you could aim for and hopefully achieve.
THE TRADITION OF SPANISH PATIOS
Patio gardens have been popular in Spain for two millennium. They continue to be so to this day. They are all what many persons living in the centre of towns, villages and new golf urbanisations have and for those with large gardens a sheltered patio may be one of several secreted mini gardens arranged around a property. Many expatriates are therefore following in the footsteps of a long heritage that includes the following.
1. The patio gardens developed by the Romans and Arabs within the walled defensive houses they built.
2 .The cloister gardens designed for serenity, meditation and exercise within monasteries and convents.
3. The inner courtyard gardens of the palaces of the royalty and aristocrats both in the cities and in the country. The best example perhaps being the Alcazar in Seville.
4. The square courtyard gardens of large farmhouses or cortijos.
5. The courtyard/cloister gardens of the many monasteries that existed in Spain until most were closed by the state in 1836.
6. The walled kitchen gardens designed to produce the fruit and vegetables for the adjacent castle, palace or estate house.
7. The inner courtyard gardens developed behind village terraced houses , in what was originally the corral for the animals and poultry. Wonderful plants growing in the well fertilized soil or in pots on newly tiled floors.
TODAY’S PATIOS
Today’s patios can be of the open courtyard type often kept generally bare except for a few potted plants and a central palm as there is a colourful garden beyond the house, or the plant and artefact packed patios where the patio is the only open space the dwelling has. Somewhere to really ‘live Spain in’. In some cases residents are using the ideas included in our books Growing healthy fruit in Spain and Growing healthy vegetables in Spain to grow fruit and vegetables in containers. Patios can have four, three or two enclosing walls or hedges. Some are even better than larger gardens in which to relax, exercise and dine.
IMPORTANT INGREDIENTS OF PATIO DESIGN
So what are the key ingredients for a patio which will make your dreams of sensuous and sensual Spain a reality? We suggest the following.
NATURAL SHADE
Trees in the centre or one or more corners. Popular trees being palms, ficus, fig, olives, jacaranda, citrus, judas tree, galan de noche, and or vines such as grapes or passion flowers.
THE SOUND OF WATER
Fountains in the middle of small ponds, fountains against a wall, stand alone fountains in the centre or at side of a terrace or a mini water feature.
COLOURFUL AND PERFUMED WALLS
Firstly from window boxes and climbers such as bougainvillea, bignonias, jasmine, roses, honey suckles, passion flower, clematis and plumbago and with wall pots of geraniums. Secondly from tasteful displays of decorated plates, plaques , murals and memorabilia.
COOL EVERGREEN PLANTS
Ferns, aspidistras, spider plants, spathiphyllum, pothos, bread plants, mother-in-laws tongue, succulents, cacti, bamboos and bonsais of various types.
COLLECTIONS OF FLOWERING PLANTS IN POTS
Bulbs such as clivias, cyclamen, freesias, irises, lilies and agapanthus. Plants such as kalanchoa, begonias, fuchsias, pansies, busy lizzies, azaleas , some spectacular hydrangeas and a water lily in the pond.
A SMALL RAISED BED OR CONTAINERS
To start to grow vegetables and/or fruit on a small scale.
INTERESTING AND AESTHETIC ARTIFACTS
Collections of interesting old or new pots, agricultural and city artefacts.
COMFORTABLE AND AESTHETIC FURNITURE
For relaxing or dining alone or with company. Perhaps a canopied swing chair and trellis screens to create private corners.
SOFT MUSIC
Light music of your choice for relaxing. For effect why not guitar and flamenco music played quietly for effect.
SUBTLE LIGHTING
A mix of spot lights, wall lights and standard lamps suitable for outside use when it rains down into the patio.
A SUN BLIND
If your patio is an oven in July and August a motorised screen could provide shade from the mid day sun or storms.
SOMETIMES THE FAMILY PET
A cat, budgerigar, fish or turtle in a pond or a colourful old breed bantam hen for daily laid organic eggs.
So if you have a house with a central patio, an area alongside the house or within the emergent garden for a patio style garden or terrace there are many creative possibilities.
If you have the chance visit the Cordoba Patio Festival that opens up some 70 private patios to the public for two weeks each May.
You can buy Dick & Clodagh Handscombe's book 'Your Garden in Spain' and other books on gardening in Spain and the Mediterranean by visiting our Mediterranean Gardening Books page.
