2026 edition - The garden star of the show

Le paysage microcosmique

Garden by James Basson

Cour de la ferme

“The original lawn, framed by the Idyl of the farmyard, was a space free of movement and complexity. As one approaches the courtyard, one does not notice the plants, they describe a space and tone that does not compete. On getting closer, three or four species appear, demonstrating their tone and texture. The nearer you get, the more diversity is revealed, the microcosm takes shape; A landscape that can be overlooked or immersed in.

The model for the planting is the European steppe landscapes like that of the Larzac Plateau. They are very poor; there is little soil, water is scarce and there is little protection from the wind. The temperatures are extreme, freezing cold in winter and scorching hot in summer. Here the plants are stress tolerators rather than competitors. It is in the environment of little that there is the greatest diversity.

The next generation of designers and gardeners have an exciting time ahead as we face climate change. What will replace our playing fields and the lawns we hold so dear. What do we do with the roses that for years have been so rewarding. Landscapes that focus on resilience rather than exuberance. An aesthetic that brings us closer to nature in its natural state. A new phase of romanticism where we see nature as a loved one that we want to care for and learn from before it passes.

Le paysage microcosmique (The microcosmic landscape) is a nod to this debate. It may be missed, but if you stop to look down, there is much to see.” James Basson

DesignerS

James BASSON, landscaper

With support from Helena COATES

MONACO

James Basson has been living in the south of France for 20 years and manages Scape Design. He has earned a solid reputation as a creator of dry gardens requiring little upkeep, sustainable gardens that respect the natural landscape. He draws inspiration from his walks in the Maritime Alps, their evergreen foliage and the golden hues of summer landscapes, as well as from the coastal landscapes of Corsica, Sardinia and Greece.

His first experiments in recreating this type of landscape in a garden were mostly based on varieties of lavender, rosemary and thyme, with drip irrigation. His hero, the nurseryman and botanist Olivier Filippi, gradually showed him that he could work with such plants without need of irrigation, by maintaining good soil drainage.

In 2016, when he was participating in London’s Chelsea Flower Show for the second time, James Basson heard someone call his garden a “simple goat path”. He took it as a compliment. Another visitor recognised the living conditions that prevailed in his own environment and hired him on the spot. The result was a magnificent garden in the Gordes region in France, known for its sparse rainfall and long summers.

In such difficult conditions, James chooses his projects with care: “Our customers are people who love gardens and plants, not just pretty photos”. Results are stunning, lessons in how to work in collaboration with nature rather than at odds with it.

He likes dry stone walls and “bories”, those old rounded shelters that once accommodated and protected sheep in the fields of Provence. In order to avoid waste, he keeps his gardens on a human scale, and ensures that the manmade is immersed in the landscape.

In his projects, James Basson’s plant palette is often limited to three dominant species. Evergreen plants alternate with graminae and such colourful plants as Lomelosia for groundcover, golden-flowered Jerusalem sage, and tree spurge. These plants are particularly resilient. He also likes the mastic trees that grow in the scrublands and maquis. All these plants attract pollinators and fauna.

When it rains, the garden is nourished by springs, but the water soon disappears into the rocky substrate. Plants must survive 4 to 6 months of drought every year. Water is scarce. This is why he plants in 8 to 10 cm of gravel or crushed stone mulch, supplying himself with robust, long-rooted plants from Olivier Filippi. A long-term vision is required, working together for a beautiful, sustainable future.

A rock garden is a good way of mitigating the effects of hot dry summers and wet winters, as it protects the soil, retaining carbon and keeping plant bases dry. The soil must be decompacted and reshaped in order to create higher areas for plants and lower areas for pathways, so that water drains naturally. This also enables creation of a variety of features, so that the various plants can face the sun all day long.