World tour

This combination of Agave attenuata ‘Nova’ ( 1) from Mexico, the grass-like restio, Thamnochortus insignis ( 2) and Aloe maculata ( 3) from South Africa, and Aeonium arboreum ‘Atropurpureum’ ( 4) from the Canary Islands is typical of the experimental schemes in Bernard’s garden, where he mixes plants from all five Mediterranean climate regions. His aim is to create complex plantings with cultivars that wouldn’t usually be seen together, in a visually pleasing, cohesive design. “From this garden, I feel I have learned a lot about using very different groups of plants together in very effective ways,” he says.