Little compares to the beauty and tranquillity of a garden. In the UK, the average garden is 50ft. long with ten different kinds of flowers, a barbecue and a water feature — according to a report by Foxtons, an estate agent.
Although this sounds great for the homeowner, it doesn’t pique our interest as a voyeur of remarkable outdoor spaces.
So, if you love natural landscapes infused with the unusual and eccentric, browse our list of the most extravagant and beautiful gardens from around the world compiled by Arbordeck — a leading provider and specialist of composite decking boards…
The Gardens of the Palace of Versailles
King Louis XIV of France adored the grand and the magnificent. Designed and renovated by André Le Nôtre in 1661, the monarch’s gardens surrounding the Palace of Versailles in France today offer some of the most striking landscapes in the world.
It took around four decades for Le Nôtre — who collaborated with artists and architects to design the gardens — to complete his project. Although, everything was under the watchful eye of the king. The renovation was a mammoth task consisting of creating canals, shifting soil and transporting trees from various regions in the country at a time when the logistics and construction industries were obviously nowhere near as advanced as today.
In 2018, you can wander by orange, lemon, oleander, pomegranate, and palm trees in the orangery, or simply choose to amble around towering marble sculptures, beautiful parterres and peaceful waterfalls.
Kew Gardens
Apparently, Brits have a love for pretty outdoor spaces, with a third of Brits becoming competitive in their gardening pursuits, according to the Foxtons garden study we mentioned before.
If beautiful gardens are what you’re after, then try Kew Gardens in London, where you can enjoy a spectrum of colour and ornamental structures. The iconic glasshouse is surrounded by a collection of rare plants and immaculately kept lawns. In the evening, the area is illuminated spectacularly and during the day, you can wander around a maze of water features, buildings — such as the 18th-century pagoda — and wildlife — from peacocks and robins to ducks and Chinese water dragons.
Did you know that Kew Gardens attracted a fifth more visitors than the previous year, according to its most recent report? Clearly, it’s worth seeing. If you visit, makes sure to see The Hive — a 17-metre, multi-sensory construction that changes depending on bee activity.
Keukenhof Gardens
UK gardeners reportedly spend £1.5 billion on plants per year, according to the Horticultural Trades Association. At the Keukenhof Gardens in the Netherlands, you have 32 hectares of land scattered with seven million flowers — including 800 varieties of the iconic Dutch tulip in hues and shapes you’ve never seen anywhere else.
But be careful when you go, if you’re planning to visit — the 161-year-old gardens are only open for two months every year. However, the visit is worth it. You’re treated to a blend of English and French horticultural designs filled with old beech trees and pretty ponds, and there’s also a petting zoo home to miniature pigs, giant rabbits and alpacas! The theme at Keukenhof Gardens this year is ‘Romance in Flowers’, which will end with a classic music festival.
Bookworm Garden
According to the creator of everyone’s favourite fictional bear, Winnie the Pooh: “weeds are flowers too, once you get to know them.” Bookworm Gardens is a quirky, botanic environment found in Wisconsin, USA, and inspired by our favourite childhood stories!
Using a combination of the great outdoors and beloved literature, Bookworm Gardens helps to enhance learning and a love for natural environments. Opened in 2010, this is a non-profit organisation and now features fun buildings and characters from books such as The Tale of Peter Rabbit. With turkeys, owls, chipmunks and butterflies calling Bookworm Gardens home, it’s no surprise that the venue is a top place for families and schools.
Garden of Cosmic Speculation
Brain-teaser and puzzle fans will love the quirkiness of the Garden of Cosmic Speculation. Found in Dumfries, Scotland, it’s 30 acres in size and was created by the revered architect, Charles Jencks.
You won’t get bored ambling through this scenery. There are terraces, sculptures, lakes, bridges, and a labyrinth of witty architectural works at Garden of Cosmic Speculation, as well as a section that was designed to reference black holes and oriental landscaping! Designed to detail the story of the universe and complexities of space and time, you can spend hours working out what Jencks meant by checked terraces, snail-formed mounds and zigzagging staircases.
Gardens by the Bay
Into sci-fi films or love wondering what the future will be like? Then, Gardens by the Bay is for you. A 250-acre nature park in central Singapore, Gardens by the Bay is made up of three waterfront areas containing more than a million plants.
This destination looks almost out of this world — like a grown-over city, with huge towers, glassed domes, immaculate walkways, and immense water features surrounded by exotic trees and vivid plants. Visit Flower Dome — the largest glass greenhouse in the world — or head to Supertree Grove, which is a network of illuminated, tree-shaped vertical gardens. The Cloud Forest section is a great place to learn about rare flowers and endangered plants, and you can experience memorable views from the 22-metre high aerial walkway of the entire area.
Gardens by the Bay is even one of the top-20 checked-in places on Earth by Facebook users.
