Hillside garden in the Tuscan countryside, with colourful mixed borders, a small vegetable garden and a garden shed with living green roof. The garden shed was reinforced to support the load of the green roof, a 7 cm gravel-topped container planted with very drought tolerant species including several Sedum and Sempervivum. Over time, with no irrigation, vegetation has completely covered the roof, blending it into the countryside, adding insulation to the structure which became an office. Companion planting kept the vegetable garden healthy and productive year-round. This was my own garden in which I tested drought-tolerant planting in deep borders, mixing shrubs, herbaceous perennials and grasses, a decade of experience in discovering plants that can suit the arid summers and heavy clay of the area. I’ve grown – and killed – enough plants, that my planting plans for clients are always based on personal experience.