Mediterranean Garden Design in Connecticut - Cold-Hardy Mediterranean Style

Emphasize stone, gravel, and structural elements that work year-round in Connecticut climate. Use generous gravel courtyards, stone walls, and terraces as permanent Mediterranean character. Minimize plant-dependent design. Create garden rooms with architectural bones visible in all seasons.

Select zone 6-hardy alternatives: English lavender varieties, catmint instead of tender lavenders, hardy Russian sage, cold-tolerant thymes and oreganos. Use dwarf conifers for evergreen structure. Treat tender herbs like basil as annuals. Focus on plants surviving Connecticut winters.

Design symmetrical, formal herb gardens with geometric beds edged in stone or boxwood. This structured approach maintains Mediterranean character even when plants die back in winter. Use cold-hardy perennial herbs as foundation, filling with tender annuals each summer.

Build south-facing courtyards and walls that capture and radiate heat, extending growing season and protecting marginally hardy plants. Use stone and gravel thermal mass to moderate temperature. Create protected pockets for tender Mediterranean plants.

Use warm terracotta, ochre, and white in hardscaping and structures to evoke Mediterranean feeling. Incorporate imported tile, terra cotta planters, and stucco-effect finishes. Let material choices create atmosphere where plant palette is limited.

Feature Mediterranean herbs and tender plants in terracotta containers that can be moved to protection or indoors in winter. This allows authentic plant material during growing season while protecting investments from Connecticut cold.