I admit I am a little fascinated by past generations of beautiful socialites (I find these slightly historical characters far more salacious and interesting than the more boring celebs that fill People Magazine). They were beautiful, worldly, rich, beautiful (did I say that already?), political, influential, literary, and incestuous as hell (amongst their elite group). And many were not only gardeners and supporters of the industry but garden writers. C.Z. Guest and Marella Agnelli are two of the most prominent (are their others?).
This is Marella’s Garden in Marrakech, and it was designed by Madison Cox (who I am also ohh-so-curious about after this recent WSJ article).
Who is Marella Agnelli?
Marella is the author of The Agnelli Gardens at Villar Perosa: Two Centuries of a Family Retreat
Her famous neck also was very swanlike.
I love the perfectly placed clusters of lily pads — that I am sure are highly cultivated to be so evenly spaced. I’d like to see a picture of the gardener maintaining this feature….What do you love about this garden?
In addition to Madison Cox, Agnelli also employed Russell Page to help her create the garden around he home in Turin Italy.
Ain Kassimou in Marrakech- home of 5000 roses
Then Marella retired to the riad Ain Kassimou in Marrakech. In a silk blouse and sneakers, she strolled in the immense garden where she had planted 5,000 rose bushes. Indeed, Marella Agnelli is a woman with an eye for detail and, above all, a garden enthusiast. Not only did she design the majority of her gardens, but she also published a line of elegant outdoor furniture. Moreover, she liked to place this wicker furniture inside the house, to show it off to its fullest. Marella wrote two books on gardens, for which she took the photographs: The Garden of Ninfa (1999) and The Agnelli Gardens at Villar Perosa (1998).
“With gardens, it’s different. Gardens breathe and live, just like people. With a garden, you’re never really done. Just like you’re never really done with life.”Marella Agnelli – in The Last Swan published by Rizzoli in October 2014.
This is a post that I am adding to as I find more images and learn amore of Agnelli’s projects and writings. Check back for more.
images wall street journal, love is speed, Eric Boman for Vogue.
What I like about it is there are no flamboyant roses or cube-shaped metal pots. He found a graceful way to make it beautiful without the flamboyancy.
Louis – are their such thing as non-flamboyant roses? I’ve been pondering… 😉
A wide ranging, international, and exciting plant choice complement a modern interpretation of Moroccan vernacular gardens and architecture. A beautiful gem indeed! The fan palms are questionable, it being Africa- but fast growers until the dates- gently rising above the olive canopy- can take their place above the classical pavillion. Im gaga for the papyrus in the first picture…
Art – papyrus makes me gaga too– when I see it growing outside, I know I am not in New England anymore (and usually am in someplace much more exotic).