International Polo Club — Cool Elegance in a Native Florida Landscape

Wellington, FL

Landscape Architect: Bell Design, Inc.
Landscape Contractor: Lopez Group, Inc.

This landscape renovation for a client at the International Polo Club in Wellington, Florida was guided by a single ambition: cool elegance. The design leans into a restrained palette of silvers and whites, prioritizing exquisite detailing and comfortable proportions over bold colors or dramatic forms. The result is a garden that feels serene, airy, and effortlessly refined and a counterpoint to the intensity of the polo grounds beyond.

A key early move was editing an overabundance of paving. By inserting bands of lawn to break up the pool deck, we softened the hardscape and re‑established long, clean sightlines that draw the eye toward the borrowed landscape of the lake and surrounding natural areas. This simple intervention restored balance and brought a sense of calm to the property.

The planting design underwent a similar transformation. We removed visually heavy, high‑maintenance species and shifted to a 99% native palette, creating a landscape that is both wildlife‑friendly and grandchild‑friendly, with dramatically reduced reliance on pesticides and ongoing care. The new plantings include Paurotis Palm, Sabal Palm, Palmetto, Monarch Ferns, Key West Morning Glory, Sword Fern, and Blue‑Eyed Grass—all chosen for their resilience, ecological value, and subtle beauty.

One of the project’s most memorable design challenges came when the clients requested a seven‑hole putting green beside the pool. Robert Bell was, in his own words, “dead set against” the idea, envisioning a kitschy putt‑putt course disrupting the otherwise elegant grounds. His solution was both strategic and poetic as quoted in the Wall Street Journal’s writeup on the garden:

“I designed it to be a native‑plant butterfly garden that just happens to also be a putting‑green area,” he said. The result is a playful, unexpected landscape moment—lush, ecological, and entirely in keeping with the project’s refined aesthetic.

Together, these moves create a landscape that is cool, quiet, and deeply Floridian—a modern interpretation of elegance rooted in native ecology, thoughtful editing, and a commitment to long‑term sustainability.