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Garden name

A Monaco Garden

Designer

Sarah Eberle

Awards

Gold

Video tour of garden

Description of garden

Sarah Eberle has created a majestic roof garden for the spectacular, yet space-starved, Principality of Monaco. Using materials and plants known to the people of Monaco, the design also reflects the country's flora, geography and topology.

The structures at the rear of the garden evoke the architecture of Monaco and it's high-rise living. From these buildings a cantilevered green roof floats, filled with lavender, its the perfect place to escape the Mediterranean sun. A space-saving green wall reminds us that Monaco is framed by huge cliffs cloaked in plants like Carpobrotus and Osteospermums.

Within the 'apartment' everything is minimal, a wooden staircase leads up to a balcony and glass panels allow a view out into the garden. The panels have their own Monaco signature; orange rose petals, a favourite of the Prince Albert's mother Princess Grace, are laminated into the glass so they appear suspended like magic.

Towards the front of the garden is the harbour area, the harbour itself is represented by the lap pool. Behind the pool is a large entertaining space with pines which are typical to the harbour front. Further height and structure in the garden comes from specimen trees like tree aloes, mandarins and carob.

Photo

A Monaco Garden

Inspiration / influences

Sarah Eberle has had a three year lead on this garden and has had many visits to Monaco to research the city. Whilst being inspired by the plants of Monaco Sarah is aware that the colour combinations which work in hot Mediterranean sun might not work so well on cloudy days in the UK. She has used lots of orange and blue to "hedge her bets"; orange to look great in hot sun and blue to sing out on cloudy days.

List of plants in the garden

Pinus nigra - Austrian pine

Carpobrotus edulis - Hottentot fig

Lampranthus - different varieties

Osteospermum - different varieties

Caratonia siliqua - Carob tree, the only plant indigenous to Monaco

Chorisia speciosa - Floss silk tree

Aloe barberae (Syn.Aloe bainesii) - Tree aloe

Citrus reticulata - Mandarin Orange

Also

Not only is Sarah Eberle a double Gold medal and Best in Show winner at Chelsea, she's also a prize winning breeder of show ponies.

Links

List of 2011 show gardens - Chelsea Flower Show

Chelsea Flower Show photographs

TV schedule - Chelsea Flower Show

List of 2011 show gardens - Chelsea Flower Show

Archive: Meet the 2010 garden designers