Slovenian Garden Romance: A Lakeside Retreat Near Ljubljana

When you discover a place you love, you wonder: share it or keep it secret? That's how I feel about Slovenia—surrounded by Italy, Austria, Croatia, Hungary—especially Lake Bled. Seeing this home and garden outside Ljubljana, I decided to share. Though I'm not moving to Slovenia soon, there are garden ideas I might steal.

Though the house is new, white walls and a steeply gabled roof give a traditional Slovenian farmhouse look. Shade cloth over the eating area provides shelter without distraction. In this climate, in the Julian Alps' shadow, afternoon showers keep the garden green and lush.

Snow blankets the home in winter; flowers take over in summer. This stand of coneflowers—white flowers against a white wall surprisingly stand out.

Outbuildings based on original farm structures. Between them, open meadow and flowering plants combine natural landscape and traditional garden border elements for a relaxing outdoor space.

The contemporary house section fronts a slightly more formal garden. Bright hydrangeas against wooden walls are unexpected but work well. Gravel simplifies maintenance.

Love how hydrangeas shade the seating area. Mine may not be as tall, but I have hopes.

I might never leave this spot. From a distance, chairs sit amid the meadow; up close, they're on a circular gravel pad providing stability. These pads surround all old apple trees—magnificent blossoms in spring.

Cool, green, filled with plants—a look I'll never tire of.