Permaculture Is the Wellness-Garden Trend You Need to Know About

Landscape design studio Viola Gardens is known for its regenerative, whole-system solutions and artistic landscapes. This philosophy is expressed at its new Malibu wellness wonderland called The Art & Ecology Studio. Owner Jessica Viola has created something truly unexpected when it comes to the world of horticulture. Part materials showroom, part plant explorative nursery, the space is also operating as a community-focused compound within the experimental artist colony Surf Canyon. 

With a goal of fostering a deeper awareness of the ecological function and vital roles that plants and species play within our natural habitats, Jessica has created this studio space to help people recognize their interconnectedness with nature. In addition to being an award-winning landscape designer, she taps into the local community through purpose-driven events and regenerative design services to nurture a sense of stewardship—hoping that others will learn to care for the land and each other along the way. Here, she shares Viola Gardens’ signature style, the vision for The Art & Ecology Studio, and how you can practice permaculture in your own restorative refuge.

Ecological Escape

Amy Smyth

The space hosts monthly open-air gatherings celebrating nature’s bounty through permaculture talks, biodynamic wine tastings, live music, and comedy, in addition to being a creative playspace and a wellspring for exploring fresh ideas as they relate to landscape design and ecological restoration. 

The showroom itself serves as a living example of how innovative and creative solutions can merge indoor and outdoor spaces, with nearly every material repurposed and recycled. The layout consists of three shipping containers, outfitted with carefully placed rolling doors and skylights. Artistic touches are dotted throughout, with pavers hand-poured with custom paint tints, a stately stained-glass window, and a shou sugi ban pergola, exemplifying innovative design and permaculture practices. 

The front container houses the “library,” inviting guests into the space through a cozy room filled with garden design literature, as well as a piano and a little desk for writing. The second container is a plant-filled workspace for Jessica and her team, while the back container houses building samples, where clients come to review different types of wood, tile, and pebbles alongside plants. This makes for a completely unique landscape planning experience, where inspired designs take on an interactive and collaborative process in the form of color, shape, and texture.

Cultivating Community

Suzanne Strong

A big believer in the “theater-in-the-round concept,” Jessica designed the studio space like a courtyard with a central stage, allowing people to sit and engage from all angles without the formality of a traditional stage setup. She admits there is something powerful about circles—sitting in a non-linear arrangement fosters a sense of connection and belonging, rather than a feeling of presentation or hierarchy. In addition to intentional layout, incorporating creative plant combinations and integrating nature into the design helps people feel like they’re gathering in nature, not just near it— ultimately bringing openness and joy to the space, encouraging natural conversation. 

In permaculture design, Jessica emphasizes the importance of creating systems that serve multiple functions. For example, a bocce ball court doubles as a driveway when access is needed for material deliveries. She is an advocate of “permaculture not being something we ‘do’ but rather a lens through which we make design choices based on natural patterns and relationships.” With any landscape design project, she urges one to go in with a mindset of cultivating relationships between plants, animals, and people, which helps establish a meaningful connection with the garden, creating a sense of affection, belonging, and place.

Harmony in Horticulture

Suzanne Strong

When it comes to self-care through garden design and plant selection, Jessica’s approach is deeply personal and client-centered. She dedicates time to discovering the plants that resonate with each person, considering factors like color, blossom, scent, edibility, function, and architectural beauty. She confesses it’s about listening to both what’s said and unsaid, curating a plant list that mirrors the landscape while reflecting the individual’s personal desires. 

The garden’s restorative qualities are often defined by the senses, and Jessica always encourages clients to engage with their gardens through touching, smelling, and interacting with the plants. When it comes to healing through horticulture, the more functions a plant can serve—whether for shade, beauty, ecological support, food, or medicine—the more beneficial it becomes. Curating plants in relation to each other enhances the healing potential and abundance of space, and depending on the kind of healing one seeks, a sanctuary can be achieved in a cut flower garden, an edible herb garden, a Zen retreat, or a meadow for artistic inspiration. By introducing yourself to a variety of plant options, you can ensure a garden will not only fulfill its purpose but become a deeply embodied, restorative experience that blends elements to evoke a sense of calm, wonder, and connection, with nature and within ourselves.

Restorative Retreats

Suzanne Strong

There are a few key considerations Jessica always makes when designing a space to take care of both the client and the natural habitat. Balancing human needs and the needs of nature is a crucial starting point, as is working with clients to identify meaningful destinations within the landscape—whether it’s a seating area, a garden, or a wildlife sanctuary—and then mapping out access paths and connections between these key areas. By prioritizing the use of 60% native plants, which not only support the local ecosystem but also help create a sense of place and connection to the land, Jessica carefully weaves them into the design, creating a harmonious balance between form and function. 

Balance can also be achieved with focal points that invite mindfulness—whether that’s through a carefully placed boulder, a water feature, or an architectural plant specimen. Whether you’re looking to create a Zen garden, meditation space, walking labyrinth, bird sanctuary, or food forest, the key is to layer in elements—like plants, materials, and structures—one by one, much like a painting.

Sustainability Self-Care

Suzanne Strong

In permaculture, the Viola Gardens team uses the concept of zones to prioritize function and proximity, putting things we frequently interact with, like herbs, close to the kitchen, while placing less demanding elements, like fruit trees, farther away. To apply this principle in your own life, Jessica suggests thinking of “zone zero” as yourself—your body, mind, and spirit—and recognizing that cultivating balance within yourself allows for greater compassion and empowerment, which ripples outward into the world. 

Designing and working in gardens for over 18 years has revealed many self-care practices for Jessica, one of the most valuable being learning how to truly observe and pay attention to the nuances of gardening. Acts of pruning, weeding, and nurturing root growth allow nature to take the lead. This practice of working with, rather than against, the natural system has deepened her understanding of our place within it, revealing the importance of patience, balance, and respect. She shares that “working with hands in the soil, with my head below my heart, has been a powerful reminder of humility and generosity. It’s taught me the importance of listening—both to the land and to others.” Just as diverse landscapes can create meaningful, functional ecosystems, Jessica has come to realize that healing and connection are always possible, even amidst differences, and this philosophy is not only apparent in the landscapes but in the creative community she continues to nurture and build.