The garden’s boundaries are blurred  to create the impression of extra space. Rambler roses have been planted on the fence line just beyond the pool edge, with pines and olives beyond.

In the lower part of the garden, at the foot of the terraces, the components of James’s carefully balanced planting scheme – all set in a gravel mulch – can be appreciated. Pink-flowered Cistus x purpureus  has a dominant presence in early summer, though James notes that “then they dissolve back into the landscape to provide a muted tone to other plants, and are ever present on the air in the summer as the heat releases the oils on their leaves”. The architectural quality of the evergreen leaves of Iris unguicularis   is also valued. A line of rosemary, now known as Salvia rosmarinus, forms a long, snaking ‘hedge’ across the garden, creating a subtle sense of structure. It also provides the darkest leaf tone, against which lighter colours, such as the pale-toned Ballota pseudodictamnus, can be placed. This sub-shrub says James is “a brilliant plant, quick to establish and relatively long lived – a useful plant to create a quick dominant vegetation, though in wetter climates it may not live as long or grow as quickly”. It also stands out against the crinkly leaves of clary sage, Salvia sclarea, that presage its flowers, and which are especially appreciated when dried and backlit by the sun. Hidden away next to this is Origanum majorana var. tenuifolium, which is useful for its late flowers. Soft yellow tones are contributed by Salvia greggii ‘Alba’, while there is dusty purple from Lavandula x heterophylla ‘African Pride’, a resilient cultivar in James’s experience.

The terrace walls follow the natural contours and lead the eye on to the coastal vista. The upper terraces are dominated by the acid tones of Euphorbia rigida with clumps of Iris unguicularis. Lower down, a hedge of rosemary creates structure among mound-forming plants, such as Lavandula x heterophylla ‘African Pride’ and Salvia sclarea.

An olive tree provides welcome shade in the lower part of the garden, with stepping stones carving a path through plantings that include Cistus salvifolius (lower right), Anisodontea malvastroides (the shrub with small, pink mallow flowers to the left of the path) and (background, right) the tree spurge, Euphorbia dendroides.

Find out more about Scape Design’s work at scapedesign.com/en

Don’t miss our piece on the best drought tolerant plants from James’ garden designs.