“New home. New garden.” Madalena Brandão moved into her new home and turned to Horto do Campo Grande’s services to build the garden. So that Madalena’s family could feel in constant contact with nature—a passion shared by everyone—Horto do Campo Grande’s mission was to create the perfect setting so it could be both a functional space and a place to relax. In love with her new garden, Madalena Brandão shares her experience with Horto do Campo Grande’s Garden Design and Construction services.
“It was a dream come true.” What role did Horto do Campo Grande play in making that life project happen?
This whole house was a dream come true. We bought this house three years ago and now we can finally see this dream realised. One of the main reasons we moved was the idea of having an outdoor space, and we didn’t hesitate to use Horto do Campo Grande’s services. And that help exceeded all our expectations! They made the most of a small garden and turned it into something incredible!
How important is this garden in the project for your new home?
We split our time between Alentejo and Lisbon. In Alentejo we have a large outdoor space, and it’s where we recharge and switch off from the rush of the city. Having a small outdoor space in Lisbon has always been one of our big goals. Now we can get our hands in the soil, be in touch with nature, and enjoy sunny days in the city too. My children are kids who grew up outdoors, so it was really important to have a garden where they could play.
What ideas did you share with Horto to make this project happen?
We actually shared the house’s architectural project and trusted them. We asked them to make us a proposal, and then we’d adjust it, if needed, to our taste. The project Horto do Campo Grande proposed was so perfect that we accepted all the suggestions. I was surprised—it felt like they guessed our preferences. From choosing jasmine and lavender to everything they picked for our mini vegetable garden… it was all things we love. We even have stevia in the vegetable garden, which is what I use to sweeten my coffee… It really felt like they’d known us forever.
What was it like working with Horto do Campo Grande?
It was an incredible experience—one I’d do again and recommend. From the design to the execution, everything went really well. The team was wonderful—they were extremely careful, protected the house so nothing got dirty, and they were absolute “machines”. They made a garden and a vegetable patch appear in a single day… everything!
How important is contact with nature in your day-to-day life?
I’ve always been lucky enough to grow up close to nature—I always “escaped” to the countryside a lot, and that’s probably why I feel the need to give the same to my children. I really want them to grow up climbing trees and know how to entertain themselves with “nothing”—going for walks, playing with the soil, planting… It’s important they’re not always glued to screens, which is a big trend these days.
How do you see yourself and your family enjoying the new garden?
I’ve been enjoying it a lot. Both for relaxing in the sun and for sharing amazing moments with friends and family. It’s a luxury to have this outdoor space. The kids love it—they play football outside to their heart’s content and also have loads of fun in the pool. We’ve really been making the most of the warm weather, but I’m also curious to experience the garden in winter—I’m sure it’ll be great too.
Did your passion for cooking also influence the choice of plants you included in your garden?
I like cooking, and being able to go and pick aromatic herbs and produce from the vegetable garden is truly amazing. I’ve made lots of pesto sauces with basil, drunk lots of herbal teas, and used chives, piri-piri, sage, etc. for cooking. We eat the strawberries, peppers and tomatoes straight from the vegetable garden… It’s wonderful.
Besides the garden, do plants and flowers also play a part in your home’s interior décor? What are your preferences?
I was planning to have some indoor plants, but I’ll admit we’re so fascinated by the garden—it has such a strong presence, and since the living-room wall is all glass, the garden becomes an extension of the living room—so for now, we won’t have plants indoors. We’ll see with time. I love having plants inside the house, but for now we’re going to let the garden be the main focus and stand out in this home we love so much.
Horto do Campo Grande mission:
Build a Dream Garden
The garden at Madalena Brandão’s new home was designed “to be a lounge and play area for the children, easy to maintain, but always beautiful and well cared for throughout the year, since it will be the living room’s main ‘picture’, as the wall is entirely glass,” explains architect Vera Clara, from Horto do Campo Grande’s landscaping team, who designed this space. With that purpose, in the back area we designed a lawn, “mainly because nowadays, with quality natural turf rolls and a well-designed irrigation system, we can achieve a pleasant, multi-purpose space almost immediately,” explains the architect. In addition, between the front wall and the pool there was an empty bed, “which we used to plant herbaceous plants and flowering climbers to decorate the garden walls. The visual combination of plants with a water surface and its reflection in the pool is always very interesting, and we tried to make the most of that,” highlights Horto do Campo Grande’s landscape designer.
How it was designed:
Madalena Brandão’s family dream home has two gardens: a small landscaped area at the front of the house and a space at the back that includes the pool.
The plants chosen for the small bed next to the pool in the “Madalena Garden” were jasmine and lavender. “The idea here was not only to meet the decorative goal, but also to add another sensory element to the garden: scent. Both jasmine and lavender, when in bloom, give off very pleasant fragrances that contribute to balance and wellbeing in a green space for leisure and relaxation,” explains the project lead. Concerned about the planet, the Horto do Campo Grande team chose to install irrigation systems suited to the location and the plants in all planting areas, always ensuring water savings and good water management, completing the sustainable harmony of this garden.
At the main entrance of the house, where landscaped areas usually have only an aesthetic function of framing the façade and entrance, Horto do Campo Grande wanted to make the most of it and enhance this function of the space. So a vegetable garden was created in wooden sleepers and a fruit tree was planted, which complements and contrasts with the paving and cladding, beautifying the entrance to the house while also ensuring a useful function, taking advantage of the excellent sun exposure—essential for the development of vegetables, aromatic herbs and fruit trees.
The choice of plant species for the vegetable garden focused mainly on vegetables and aromatic herbs. Plants that prefer good sun exposure and frequent watering, so they can grow and produce quality fruit and vegetables. Maintenance here is moderate: weeds and pests should be controlled, watering, pruning and harvesting carried out—something Madalena really wanted: to be able to care for the plants and encourage the children to do the same.
© Horto do Campo Grande
