We are drawn to design things that surprise, which are hidden away, waiting to be discovered.  In the UK our house is hidden away behind trees, on the side of a valley, off a narrow country road.  It is only when you pull in through the gateway that it opens up and you can see it.  It was the same in Mexico, our house there was in the middle of the jungle, off a sandy lane that crosses the island, surrounded by flowering jungle and hidden from the tourist trails.

In Turkey we were drawn to the narrow streets of the old koy’s (villages), here houses are hidden behind tall walls and thick gates.  Secret gardens flower behind the walls and private oasis of calm and shade and fragrant flowers beckon with glimpses seen through door grills.  Our first project here had two lovely courtyards and was completely hidden away.  Our current project is again a surprising discovery and when it is complete only the exterior walls and two windows will be seen from the street, all the rest is hidden away behind the walls, private and dreaming in the sun.

I think with this project I began planning the garden before the house.  I wanted a real enchanted garden, private and overflowing with colour, sounds of running water and scents of creeping thyme crushed underfoot between pathways of old brick. I wanted a pool, a cool place to lie in and watch the sky.  I wanted an eclectic mix of planters, old terracotta pots and French enamel jugs, oil amphora and wicker baskets of geraniums.  I wanted candles in the evenings, flickering in niches built into the stonework, glowing in glass tealight holders around the pool, a single hurricane lamp on a white cast iron table.  I wanted wisteria and honeysuckle, flowering verbena and bougainvillea, rosemary and thyme growing in pots, lemon trees and roses.

Turkey loves secret places.  “The Secret Garden” is probably the most common name for a restaurant here.  I know of at least five “secret gardens” between here and Yalikavak!  I can’t wait to plant this newest garden.  So far I have verbena and creeping thyme shyly showing their heads above the compost in the seed trays and one bold blue geranium is racing ahead of the others.  The wisteria has germinated and I have my eye on a lovely dwarf lemon tree that will be joining us shortly.  All I need now is for the stoneworkers to finish so I can really see what I have to work with!
posted 07-02-2007