Insert What is a Mediterranean garden? The Italian Peninsula is as long as a long boot and the Mediterranean encompasses parts of North Africa, Israel, Palestine, Turkey and southern Europe this we all know. Therefore it's clear that there must have developed a wide plant diversity and gardening style in this region. The Mediterranean garden style encompasses large swathes of history, climate and tradition. So, by it's very nature, should have it's arms wide open to ,many cultural influences and styles. This cultural diversity has influenced the origins of civilization in Southern Europe and has shaped the development of many gardening styles across the globe from Italy, France to England and the States. Therefore to try to standardize Mediterranean garden style is rather like attempting to eradicate around 3,000 years of world history. Therefore to ignore and misinterpret the rich soup of styles and influences is almost a sin against humanity itself. The whole concept of gardening, as we know it today, originated in Arabia and continued through Greek and Latin styles, only to be donated an identity in Renaissance Italy and later transformed in the 17th and 18th centuries by the Northern Europeans- mainly England and France and thus, to 'landscaping' - into the garden style that we know and embrace today. Based upon extremities of rationality and upon a culmination of styles, gathered and adapted from all corners, of various empires- the modern garden style has its roots firmly lodged in parts of the Mediterranean, Persia and Arabia... Mesopotamia to be correct. Therefore when we set about designing a modern version of a Mediterranean garden we can draw upon many gardening styles from a Sicilian beach garden to a Persian oasis and no-one can really criticise, if components of all of these glorious garden interpretations are present. We should, however, at least try to understand and respect their origins as garden designers. By Jonathan Radford Contact Jonathan for help with your garden design