French Style Gardens – Natural Refinement

by Paul Ciocoiu · March 28, 2016

France is par excellence a land of exquisite refinement and elegance. This reality is reflected not only in the fashion or wine industry, but also in the lifestyle of the French people who appreciate nature and reproduce it in small oases full of energy arranged around the houses. We see several examples of French style gardens in various combinations of accessories, patterns and flowers that you can also easily put into practice if you follow some basic guidelines.

Before we let the images speak for themselves, let’s see which these guidelines and defining features of a garden in French style are. First, the French decorate their gardens so that they are visible from inside the house. If it is an apartment, they choose to install window boxes outside so that flowers make a pleasant transit space to the outside.

The garden is designed to be an integral part of that whole residential complex. Specifically, the house is in the heart of a French-style garden, the two not being separated in terms of space. As a consequence, one can see everywhere in France climbing plants that cover house walls or trellis against walls with stretching vines or other exotic plants on them, especially in the south.

You’ve probably seen the gardens of Versailles and have noticed the geometric plans and patterns they are laid out. Even in a much smaller space, this symmetry can be reproduced by elements with a strong visual impact, such as borders and shrubs lines. And speaking of shrubs, grow topiaries since ornamental horticulture goes hand in hand with French style gardens, bringing elegant shapes in the landscape. At the same time, add metal elements as a foil.
The cold, unyielding discipline of an iron bench or pergola will make the surrounding greenery feel all the more lush. Zinc tabletops, corrugated planters, or a rusty watering can draws attention to the texture and softness of leaves and flowers. Miniature statues of stone or other accessories also mold perfectly to these beautiful natural design.

Last but not least, French gardens mirror the sky. In your garden, you can create a similar effect with a fountain, pool, or bowl of water. In the right light, the surface of the water will connect the sky to the landscape and create a sense of limitless space. Let’s now let several images to visually support what has been said so far. Here is more information on Mediterranean style gardens.