This Renaissance fortress on the Island of Capraia, Tuscany, required three separate gardens. Spectacular views, but very poor soil over rock, minimal water supply, no shade, and dominated by strong winds. Plants had be to drought tolerant and wind-resistant, and everything had to be brought over by ferry.  Below the massive fortress walls a flagstone path winds round boulders seemingly fallen from the adjacent rock face, through sweeps of shrubs, succulents including different Agave and Aloe, large grasses and Restionacee. This naturalistic garden is designed to blend into the surrounding landscape, a natural reserve.  Two lawns are planted with Philla nodiflora, a drought tolerant ground cover which requires minimal mowing.  In the herb garden a year-round structure of perennial herbs is enlivened by grasses and decorative perennials, with annual herbs in the summer. The visionary client understood that in this particularly harsh environment we must serve rather than dominate nature.