In Merja and Hannu’s Mediterranean style garden, a turquoise pool shimmers and citrus trees perfume the air

Palm leaves sway on the terrace, potted citrus trees are ripening their fruit, and a shimmering turquoise pool beckons invitingly. On a sweltering July afternoon, you might think you’re in southern Europe, yet we’ve only just arrived at Merja Heinonen’s garden in Turku, Finland.

“It’s as hot here as in Italy, and even our scorched lawn fits right in,” Merja jokes.

The seed for a Mediterranean-inspired yard was planted in 2016, when Merja and her husband Hannu Hynninen went hiking in Italy. During the trip, Merja mused in her Puutarhatontun päiväkirja (“A garden gnome's diary”) blog: “Abundantly blooming shrubs, fragrant herbs, exotic fruit-bearing trees. Lavish flower beds and meticulously tended gardens. In Mediterranean countries, a garden gnome’s mind fills with longing and desire. If only I could bring a piece of this loveliness home to my own garden!”

A small fountain pump tinkles soothingly. During a heat wave, the pool water warms to about 25°C (77°F). The unheated pool is used for dips all year.

The yard’s only perennial bed is found in the lounge area. The narrow leaves belong to daylilies.

And indeed, she made it happen. The starting point was the 1960s-built swimming pool in the garden, which had seen better days. Its look was refreshed to match the style by adding wooden slats around the outer edge.

“The turquoise-tinted water provides a good backdrop for the plants and fits the Mediterranean vibe,” Merja explains.

An old oak barrel originally purchased for water for the plants was placed beside the pool, along with potted lavender, an olive tree, and rosemary. Over the years, the garden has been enhanced with other Mediterranean species: thyme, myrtle, bay laurel, and citrus plants, calamondin and kumquat.

“Citrus blossoms and herb leaves smell wonderful, but I also love just looking at them. I often pick bay leaves, rosemary, and lemon thyme for cooking.”

Spike lavender blooms between the kumquat and the dwarf calamondin.

“Fairy land” was created in a broken clay pot.

The poolside potted plants stay outdoors until the end of September, and the hemp palm on the terrace lasts about a month longer. The plants spend winter in a cool garage under grow lights.

The Mediterranean style carries over into the kitchen garden, where Merja enjoys her homegrown produce. Protected from deer, the vegetable patch grows lettuce and cucumbers, but especially Italian heirloom varieties like ‘Nero di Toscana’ kale and striped ‘Lungo di Firenze’ zucchini. In the greenhouse and in outdoor pots, Merja grows several varieties of chilies and tomatoes.

Chili “Sugar Rush Stripey” (Capsicum baccatum) tastes sweet and fruity.

Zucchini ‘Lungo di Firenze’ is a delicious, reliable variety.

The super-sweet cherry tomato ‘Tomatoberry’ F1 thrives in the greenhouse each summer.

The vegetable patch is protected from deer.

Perennials don’t interest Merja much, and she even calls them her weak spot.

“I’m quite good at picking perennials that do poorly or simply don’t fit,” she says, showing off her latest experiments: coral bells and daylilies.

The yard’s lush greenness mostly comes from conifers and shrubs able to fend for themselves. A new planting area between the pool and the terrace is brought to life by low-growing but lively shrubs like the ‘Little Lime’ hydrangea, the ‘Tiny Gold’ dwarf barberry, and the ‘Crispa’ bridal wreath spirea. Merja explains that she wanted a clear, open space near the pool so it wouldn’t block the view from the terrace. At the same time, the clay lawn—muddy for much of the year—was replaced with gravel.

To break up the space, Merja added concrete slabs treated with a dark stone glaze. They warm up in the sun, so walking across them to the pool is pleasant even after sunset.

The gravel-covered area lies between the terrace and the pool. Alongside the plantings, wicker screens and other light structures provide shelter and privacy.

The greenhouse floor is adorned with a patterned tile from the Turku-based company Terraviiva. The tile reads “Remember to ground yourself”.

A weeping pea tree stands among the arborvitae.

They can enjoy evening sun and warmth on their 1,300-square-meter property until late, as the seating area is on the west side of the house. Merja and Hannu spend almost all warm summer evenings in their lush, sheltered oasis. Inspired by their Italian trip, this special spot has greatly eased their longing for travel.

“I can’t imagine a better place to spend the summer. We have every convenience here, services are nearby, and we have a spot to swim. The pool is a joy on hot days—I sometimes take several dips a day,” Merja says.

Warm colors glow in the sultry July evening light. This easy-care, hardy hemp palm can handle a few degrees of frost for a short time.

This Siberian larch is decades old.