Charles Deering (along with Paul Chalfin) chose the Italian style for his Miami estate, Vizcaya. The mediterranean style is well matched to the southern Florida climate but many of the plants had to be replaced with heartier stock.
The use of local plants in a
foreign Italian manner fit the house itself, which was a mixture of styles from different time periods. This all was very zeitgeist as the grand estates of the time mixed styles with abandon (an affect I personally love).
The garden just south of the house was used as the main garden, seen to the right of the house in the map above. Florida, as a general rule, is incredibly flat and this site was no exception.
To counteract that, Suarez had an artificial terraced hill created at the end of a long pool of water that also would create some shade so one could view the garden from the house without glare (so smart!).
The garden is walled in and on either side of the house, the walls hide service spaces (to the left of the house, where one enters the garden today) and a 'secret' garden meant for the display of Orchids seen above (on the right of the house labled as #18 on the map)
The long pool has an island (#8 on the map) which is really spectacular -imagine having a party there!
Fountains in the pool keep it from getting stagnant and attracting pests. Notice the spanish moss in the surrounding trees.
Urns of the local coral limestone surround the pool and are filled with decorative native plantings.
Boxwoods, seen below, also do well in the climate and are used to create green walls.
The mix of colors is so gorgeous, my photographs don't capture it quite well enough as in person; The blue sky, the pink house, the red roof, the yellow garden walls and the lush greenery are almost sensory overload at the same time as feeling incredibly tranquil.
The walls surrounding the Semi-Circular pools (#9 on the map) must have been rebuilt at some point as the construction looks much more modern, and in the dark pink color we saw earlier.
They also house some gazebos with iron railings of dubious construction which don't exactly match the quality of the other work, seen above. Yes, thats the same photoshoot that we saw in the
entry garden!
Green and yellow -one of my favorite color combinations.
The walls surrounding the artificial mound are covered in statuary and are of deep coral pink stucco.
Notice the party lights hanging in the oaks around the pool!
The central staircase has terracotta pots, similar to the ones in Deering's time.
The stairs are flanked by grottos in the Italian manner.
A caryatid and telamon support the archway. What a great spot to take shelter from the rain or to relax.
Each has a fountain and long bench along the wall.
Notice the shells which decorate the ceiling, a great detail!
The terracing up to the mound is really beautiful; I love the combination of materials and stucco colors.
I could have sat here all day long, the most incredible gardens.
The terracing continues behind the mound as well, where there are also some obelisks.
I'd be smiling too if this was where I lived, like this happy bust.
The stairs on the sides of the mound have tracks up the center for the gardener's wheelbarrows.
Gates seperate the garden from the other areas of the estate. Across the street was the whole farm village (like many of the golden age estates, this was a somewhat self-sustaining estate) which now house administrative offices and we were unable to see.
More of the gardens tomorrow, you won't want to miss it!
DC had its first taste of summer today, with highs in the 80s. It reminded me of the time Heather and I spent recently exploring the Miami Design District.
Outdoor restaurants abound. While we didn't eat at Martinez, seen above, it definitely seemed popular and a beautiful place to enjoy the weather!
Christian Louboutin, rather than fill the store with orchids, decided to decorate the exterior with a living wall.
Oh to live in a semi-tropical climate; this took our breathe away!
Another outdoor restaurant; Modernism seems to fit this warm climate much better than in the North, don't you think?
I loved this one group of buildings which appeared to be painted concrete. Early modernism inspired by neoclassicsm; one of my architectural weaknesses!
Surrounded by tall, shaded arcades, the buildings provide the perfect place to window shop out of the sun's glare.
While in Miami, definitely take the time to check out this revitalized area: remember to bring your wallets for all of the great shopping!
Interior access to the pool is through these spaces at the base of the stair from the ground floor. I love this turquoise doorframe color! 
The bowling alley lies right inside the doors and will house the cafe. Bright, clean and simple, this space won't show up any of the 'historic' interiors and will be highly functional. Due to past renovations and the flooding, I don't believe there were any remnants of the bowling lanes or any other details left to preserve.
More stylish, but no less utilitarian, is Deering's smoking room, located in the northwest corner. I loved these colorful marble floors. The fireplace is a European antique and the ceilings are original to the space.
The main facade of Vizcaya is really the 'back', facing Biscayne Bay. The first time Deering ever saw his completed winter house was actually arriving by boat.
This construction photo shows the first floor as well as gives you an idea of what the house looked like when the center was an entirely open courtyard. You can see right through the house to the 
The terrace steps right down to the water. Deering actually chose the location for the house, unusually close to the water, against the advice of the design team members. This relationship is so important in person that it was an ingenius decision.
Just to the right is the tea house, built prominently out into the bay.
Probably the most charming space on the entire estate, I can see breakfasts and afternoon tea being served here. Besides the view back at the house seen below, an excellent view of downtown Miami is also visible.
The use of interior trellis was big at the time, popularized by Elsie de Wolfe, who had recommended Paul Chalfin to assist Deering.
The most well known aspect of the garden is probably the stone barge, built out in the bay from the terrace.
Originally, the barge was heavily planted, covered with statues and had a small pavilion as well. 
This design obviously doesn't weather hurricane season very well and is a bit high maintenance for a house museum! Below you see the barge in 1934, a simplified version after the 1926 hurricane.
Just around the corner from the terrace was the swimming pool.
The swimming pool, in Roman fashion, is submerged half into the house and half in the open air, so that entry can be gained without going outside in your bathing costume (this was prior to the bikini being the official dress code of Miami). 
