I took this photo, which was published in my recent book 'A Room of Her Own', in a private garden in Capri, that belonged to Anna Maria Coronato. When designing and restoring the garden, she was inspired by literary gardens of the 17th and 18th centuries, where plants and flowers were used as symbols and metaphors.⁠ ⁠ On the uppermost tier of the property’s sloping block, Anna installed a garden of cacti and succulents along with a small orchard of apricot, cherry and lemon trees. Nearby, in handy proximity to the kitchen, a herb garden was established to ensure a steady supply of garnishes for her favourite Neapolitan dishes. The remaining areas were planted with olive and pomegranate trees along with a rainbow assortment of flowering plants, including African and calla lilies, climbing bougainvillea and jasmine, begonia and oleander, hydrangea, peony and hibiscus. ⁠ ⁠ There is a long tradition of curated private gardens on the island. In the early twentieth century French poet and Capri émigré Jacques d’Adelswärd-Fersen fuelled interest in garden design and local flora by wrapping his clifftop home, Villa Lysis, in a sumptuous skirt of cypress, myrtle and laurel trees. He also installed an orchid house along with pavilions, terraces and loggias around the property to frame the views of the Marina Grande. ⁠ ⁠ In 1939, similarly inspired, Capri-born botanist, linguist, engineer and one-time mayor of the island Edwin Cerio released a book, 'Flora privata di Capri', that documented the island’s indigenous flora. His friend, the controversial writer Norman Douglas, was also a keen botanist, establishing on the grounds of his Anacapri home, Villa Daphne, a vast garden of oak and olive trees, cypress and Mediterranean pines. ⁠ ⁠ ⁠ ⁠ ⁠ ⁠ @thamesandhudsonau @thamesandhudson ⁠@kirsten_abbott @robynleaphotography @kalarara_collections #womenartists #aroomofherown #thamesandhudsonau #newrenaissance #creativewomen #creativity #artists #designers #design #interiordesign #interiors #robynlea #robynleaphotography ⁠#italiandesign #capri ⁠#anacapri #annamariacoronato #gardens #italiangardens #gardendesign #literarygardens #artistshome #artist ⁠ ⁠ Photo © Robyn Lea