area - Home Couture

seasonal living
MEDItErranEan cHIc…
WItH a cLaSSIc toUcH
Owner Ali Warren-Gash gives
us an insight into The Garden
Company: Mallorca-based
specialists in garden design for
high-end properties, and providers
of a professional garden
and pool maintenance service.
How important are gardens to the overall design of a home?
I am particularly passionate about the design aspect of gardens.
In my mind, outdoor living is a huge part of what being
and living in Mallorca is all about. They are the first impression
that a visitor gets and, thanks to the local climate, folks
often spend just as much time outdoors as inside.
What are the main factors you take into consideration when
designing a garden?
We are lucky here in Mallorca as we have a fantastic canvas
of dramatic topography and a rich palate of wonderful
and often aromatic
plants to work
with. However, designing
a garden
is not just about
which flower
looks pretty next
to another, how to
best contrast textures
or creating
flow and rhythm.
These elements
are of course very important, but practicalities should be the
designer’s largest consideration. Plants are living creatures
and all have distinct likes and dislikes, whether its soil quality,
water supply or any of the other long list of variables. On top
of that, you have the logistical pain of converting the often
rocky or rubbly ground into something that plants might consider
habitable. And of course irrigation, terracing, drainage,
maintenance levels… and, most importantly, personal taste.
During these times when many people will have a more limited
budget than before, are there ways to keep costs down without
unduly affecting the final result?
Proper ground preparation is the key to a beautiful and
healthy garden, and no short cuts should be taken. Costs
can be cut in plant size, finishing details or the size of the area
to be landscaped, but not in preparing the ground.
How would you describe your design style?
I tailor all my gardens to best suit the architecture and local
topography, as well as all of the above listed practicalities;
however, if I were to best describe my design style, I would
have to call it a kind of “Mediterranean chic”. I work a lot with
many of the Med classics – lavenders, cypresses, olives and
such. But I have to admit I also like a nice lawn with a colourful
herbaceous border.
Presumably, ongoing maintenance is just as important as design
and preparation…
Yes, I also have a maintenance side to my company. I see this
as a necessity as no matter how beautifully designed your
garden is, if you neglect it, it will start looking neglected pretty
quickly. I like my gardens to develop the way that I intended
them to, and I have trained up a team of good people to
make sure they do just that.
The Garden Company
Tel. 661 634 127
gardens@mallorcagardencompany.com
70 mallorcagardencompany.com
| Home couture magazine
Galan de la noche
All the herbs listed here can be used for
home remedies, in cooking, as natural
cosmetics or as household cleaning preparations,
and most can be used in their
raw state as leaves and flowers in essential
oils. It is not really practical to produce
essential (or aromatherapy) oils at home
as a long distilling process is required.
However, as a short cut one can steep
the herbs in a base oil available from the
chemist, and use the aromatic result as
a basis for natural cosmetics or in the kitchen.
This oil is not as potent as a distilled
essence, but is still worthwhile and fun to
make with little effort.
With a little research it is easy and cheap
to make home-made herbal ointments,
infusions, floral “waters”, sachets, potpourris,
bath essences, air fresheners and
“burning” or massage oils. Perhaps in these
times of recession we should go back
to basics, and start “making our own” as
our grandmothers used to do.
energising Summer drink
Pour boiling water onto a sprig or two of
mint leaves, add a small sprig of rosemary
and steep for five or 10 minutes before
straining. The resulting “tea” will give an instant
and lasting energy boost much better
for you than a caffeinated drink.
Finally…
Cut and spread herbs such as bay,
thyme, rosemary, sage and lavender in
the sun to dry. When dry store them in a
sealed container for use in winter, or place
dried lavender heads in a pretty dish and
use to scent your bedrooms. A drop of essential
oil from time to time will revive the
scent as it fades.