Artist Hanna Rion once said, “The greatest gift of the garden is the restoration of the five senses.” However, there is more to a garden than just the sensual.
Gardens — created by and tended to by gifted, nurturing and nature-respectful hands — are capable of inciting wonder and awe to a jaded heart, of providing inspiration, of uplifting troubled souls, and of restoring faith. After all, hadn’t writer George Bernard Shaw said, “The best place to seek God is in a garden. You can dig for him there.”
Here are some amazing gardens that have done all these and more. While this list is woefully incomplete, these are the gardens that come highly recommended by nature lovers, and you’ll be remiss not to check out one of these amazing flower gardens should you be in the area during your next trip or tour.
Kew Gardens in London
Although it is properly known as The Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew Gardens has come to be named after the tiny village that once existed in the location in 1313.Indeed, when you enter Kew, it’s like you’re transported back to the 19th century. In fact, two (out of six) of its most famous glasshouses — the Palm House and the Temperate House — were built during this period. At present, Kew is home to 1 out of 8 known plant species in the world.
Orto Botanico of Padua, Italy
Built in 1545, the Orto Botanico of Padua is the oldest botanical garden in the world. Up to the present time, the gardens are of special interest to botanists all over the world with its collection of 6,000 plants, which includes a number of historic specimens, such as Goethe’s Palm (a dwarf palm, the oldest plant in the collection having been planted in 1585 and which the famous writer had studied in detail, hence it was named for him), a gingkgo (planted in 1750), and a southern magnolia (planted in 1786). One interesting part of the collection consists of insectivorous plants, most notably the pitcher plant and the Venus Flytrap.
The allure of Orto Botanico is not limited to “normal” visitors. The gardens has special tours for the visually-impaired, which include a visit to the collection of aromatic and poisonous plants, each of which are tagged with labels in Braille.
Chateau De Versailles in Versailles, France
Considered the world’s most famous garden, the gardens of the Chateau de Versailles continue to pull in visitors with its meticulously maintained lawns landscaped in swirling designs, small, well-trimmed potted trees, and lavish parterres of colorful flowers. Designed in the French Garden style by André Le Nôtre for Louis XIV, one could envision the great Sun King walking through the gardens and overseeing its creation. Definitely awesome.
Le Roseraie Du Val De Marne in L’Hay les Roses, France
Built in 1894, La Roseraie du Val de Marne is the world’s oldest rose garden. It was architect Eduard André who created the garden’s charming landscape while rose specialist Jules Graveraux collected every rose species that grew during the period. Presently, La Roseraie is lovingly nurtured by the municipality of Val du Marne, who have also added new rose varieties to the collection. Because of its rustic charm, La Roseraie is definitely one of the most romantic places to visit on this list.
Tivoli Gardens in Copenhagen, Denmark
What happens when you combine gardens of delicate but colorful blossoms with the joy and excitement of an amusement park? The result is Denmark’s famous Tivoli Gardens. The second oldest amusement park in the world (having opened in August 15, 1843), Tivoli Gardens is a dreamy, whimsical place for the young and the young-at-heart. After enjoying the rides and taking in the great views, you can simply relax and enjoy a picnic with the family amidst the fragrant flowers that adorn the park. It’s smack in the middle of Copenhagen, so its hard to miss.
Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens in Cape Town, South Africa
Regarded as one of the most picturesque botanic gardens in the world, Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens is situated right along the slopes of the Table Mountain, and, indeed, the gardens and the excellent views of Cape Town make it well worth the steep climb. Kirstenbosch is home to indigenous South African plants which are divided into themed areas, namely the Sculpture Garden, the Useful Plants Garden, the Protea Garden, and the Camphor Trees Avenue.
Harold Porter Botanical Garden in Betty’s Bay, South Africa
Situated in one of the most secluded regions in South Africa, the Harold Porter Botanical Garden is definitely worth the trip. It is a veritable Eden surrounded by mountains and the sea, which only serves to complement the beauty of the indigenous flower and plant species that could be found in the garden, which include the rare Disa uniflora and the King Protea. As far as amazing flower gardens go, this is hard to beat.
Butchart Gardens in Victoria, British Columbia, Canada
Located at Todd Inlet on more than 55 acres of land on the 130-acre Butchart Estate, Butchart Gardens has one of the largest collections of flowering plants and trees. Because it is landscaped in the Wilderness Garden style, the season of spring is a particular great time for visitors because the garden is transformed into a dizzying canvas of every color imaginable. It’s just one of our many recommendations for Victoria sightseeing.
Majorelle Garden in Marrakech, Morocco
When one thinks of the desert, what immediately comes to mind is a dry, scorching expanse of sand totally devoid of life. But French expatriate Jacques Majorelle saw life where there seems to be none, which led to his creation of the Majorelle Garden. The garden, already distinct for its wide collection of cacti and other desert flora, is famous for its special cobalt blue motif. The buildings in the garden are painted white and cobalt blue, complementing the greenish and grayish blue of the cacti, which in turn are punctuated by tiny red and yellow blossoms. Majorelle Garden is also home to more than 15 bird species that are indigenous to this region of Northern Africa.
Rikugien Garden in Tokyo, Japan
Located in Bunkyō-ku, Tokyo, Rikugien Garden is the physical embodiment of the six elements in Japanese waka poetry. Every section of the garden is a faithful reproduction of famous scenes from poems. Indeed, the gardens — with its cherry trees, small flowers, pond and hill — evoke a feeling of peace and tranquility that could calm any troubled soul or inspire even the most weary traveller.
Himeji Castle Garden in Himeji, Japan
A visit to Himeji Koko-en is like being brought back in time to the Edo Period when samurai, armed with their sharp katana, walked proudly through the land. While many of the flowers in the garden belong to contemporary times, Himeji Koko-en has been meticulously landscaped to conform to the traditional Japanese garden design of the period. With the castle as the backdrop, the garden is a spectacular place to visit during the cherry blossom season, when light pink flower petals gently rain down from the trees’ branches.
Singapore Botanic Gardens in Singapore
Singapore Botanic Gardens located along Cluny Road has one of the largest collections of tropical flowers and plants in the world. Many of the flowers on display had been obtained from neighboring Asian countries and are being carefully nurtured. A particular favorite among visitors is the National Orchid Garden with its exquisite collection of orchid hybrids. It’s not all shopping in Singapore!
Washington Park International Rose Test Garden in Portland, Oregon
Established in 1926, the International Rose Test Garden is home to more than 7,500 plants, with 550 of these being varieties of roses, with even more rose hybrids being cultivated or being brought in for testing from other parts of the world. While the roses are truly feasts for the eyes, their fragrances fill the air too. In fact, each rose smells different. To be able to appreciate the various rose scents, visitors are advised to sip a little coffee after taking two sniffs of a bloom to clear up the nasal passages.
Keukenhof Gardens in Lisse, The Netherlands
No trip to Europe is complete without visiting the breathtaking tulip fields in the west of The Netherlands. For those with a tight itinerary, however, one of the best places to see these beautiful flowers is at Keukenhof Gardens. The world’s largest flower garden, Keukenhof is home to 7 million tulips, which includes special hybrids that have been or are being developed. In fact, Keukenhof’s pride and joy is the truly awe-inspiring Russian black tulip Baba Yaga.
Poppy Fields of Flanders in Belgium
The blood red poppies of the fields of Flanders never fail to evoke a feeling of somber contemplation and remembrance akin to the barren, misty fields of Culloden, Scotland. This is because these pretty flowers especially bloomed in the disturbed earth of battlefields. The poppies have served as the inspiration for “In Flanders Field”, the stirring poem by Lieutenant Colonel John McCrae, M.D. for his best friend who died in battle. An honored bloom during Remembrance Day, each poppy has come to represent every brave man or woman who had given up their live sin the brutal blood-soaked fields of war.
Photo credit: heatheronhertravels, trinchetto, uggboy, Wikimedia Commons, Francesco, Randy OHC, ralph pina, Mary, uglix, nomo123, tizianoj, Wikimedia Commons, kevincrumbs, patrick mayon, martin
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