When the weather is good, we want to be outside, enjoying the fresh air.  First we told you about the latest trends in landscaping, and today we are showing you some of our favourite gardens.  Get your suitcase ready for a trip around the world to discover the beauty and diversity of nature.

The gardens of Versailles: royal splendour

Designed by André Le Nôtre, architect and landscaper for Louis XIV, the gardens of the Palace of Versailles are the second most visited place in France after the Louvre and the Eiffel Tower.  Their 800 hectares are the inspiration for the French garden, which is characterised by symmetry and order.

Kew Gardens: the English Garden

It’s no surprise that the Royal Botanic Gardens in London are some of the most important in the world, as they are home to the world’s largest collection of live plants.  Here you can find interesting constructions such as Palm House, which was the first large cast iron structure in London, as well as Temperate House, the largest Victorian structure made from iron and glass.

The gardens of Generalife: the Arab garden

A vestige of Al-Andalus, the Gerneralife Palace is part of the Alhambra.  Once a place of rest for the royals, it has several courtyards and ornamental gardens with water being a constant feature.  A highlight is the Acequia Courtyard.

Kenroku-en and the three great gardens of Japan

Japanese people love to makes lists of three, and they also love nature.  The country that invented forest bathing has gardens of every type, but the standouts are the three Great Gardens: Kenroku-en in Kanazawa, Koraku-en in Okayama, and Kairaku-en in Mito.  If you go to Japan, they are must-sees.

Keukenhof: the tulip paradise

Spring in Keukenhof is a feast for the senses.  When millions of tulip bulbs open at the same time, giving life to the designs that make up the biggest flower garden in the world, one can feel the power of colour.

 

Desert Botanical Garden: the charm of the cactus

This botanical garden located in Phoenix, Arizona, has more than 20,000 desert plants, some of which are in danger of extinction.

The Monet Garden: straight out of a film

Claude Monet was often inspired by the gardens of his house in Giverny, where he lived for more than 40 years.  It was here that two of the impressionist master’s passions were established: colour and gardening.  Today we can visit these gardens thanks to conversation work of the Claude Monet Foundation.