Summer is only a few months away, which is exactly why you might have started thinking about your next travel destination. And, among all the museums, monuments, galleries, and attractions that you could see, you might also want to visit some attractions that are often overlooked by tourists – flower gardens.
Flower or as they’re also commonly referred to as botanical gardens feature mesmerizing collections of plants, flowers, bushes, and trees that are taken care of by master landscapers, as well as other botanical specialists. Most of these locations exist for conservation and research, and some of the best ones have lush greenery, gorgeous views, and some really vivid colors.
If you’re thinking about heading to such a place with your family members or friends, you might be wondering – what are some of the best and most beautiful flower gardens that we could see? Fortunately, the article below will answer your question, so without further ado, let’s take a closer look at the list of some amazing places you can choose to go to:
“Gardens of Versailles”
Location: Versailles, France
You could say that this particular garden is suitable for a king, and when you consider the fact that it was commissioned by Louis XIV – the king known for his need for luxury – it makes perfect sense why it’s one of the most beautiful locations in the world. When you take a look at some pictures, you’ll see there was no detail that was overlooked.
It spreads across 250 acres – don’t forget your hiking boots if you’re planning on visit it – and it’s completely filled with winding paths leading to a wide range of flower beds, there are some ornamental lakes that you could enjoy seeing, and don’t forget your camera, you’ll need to for photographing all the fountains, plants, and states.
“Keukenhof”
Location: Lisse, The Netherlands
This vivid and extremely colorful place is also known as The Garden in Europe and you should know that this particular floral oasis is the largest one the world has to offer. There are more than seven tulip species, as well as various hyacinths and daffodils that grace the land of this 80-acre park.
Keep in mind, it’s open from March to the end of May, hence, if you’re seriously thinking about touring this mesmerizing and breathtaking place, you should know that the best time for seeing it is April, mostly because all of the flowers will be in bloom. Once there, you could also enjoy some food or coffee at various restaurants and coffee shops, all of which have amazing views.
“Powerscourt”
Location: Enniskerry, Ireland
If Dublin is where you’re headed for your next vacation, you should know that you could take a 40-minute drive through the Wicklow Mountains, where you’ll discover one of the most amazing terraces in the world, as well as the Palladian Villa, which was established in the 18th century.
It’s 47-acres large and once there, you’ll be able to see some amazing parklands, ponds, flowers, trees, waterfalls, and ornamental lakes, all of which are carefully situated in the hollows of the mountain. There are various shops that you could visit there, including The Acova Cafe that offers people a chance to try some real Irish home-prepared fare.
“The Butchart”
Location: Victoria, Canada
By touring this place, it’s safe to say that you’ll be mesmerized by the natural beauty of these incredibly designed fields. Also known as the “City of Garden”, it’s open throughout the entire year and occupies 135-acres. You’ll be able to see some amazing flower displays that’ll simply take your breath away.
It’s was commissioned by Jennie Butchart whose vision was to completely transform and expand into the land she had. Keep in mind, it features more than 650 species of plants, all of which bloom from March to October, hence, you could plan your vacation during any month.
“Desert Botanical Gardens”
Location: Phoenix, Arizona
Not all flowers need to be colorful and vibrant, hence, if you’re interested in seeing cacti and succulents such as the ones featured on Succulent Market, you should definitely visit this amazing place. And, when you consider the fact that these fields are filled will with over 16.500 species of desert plants, you’ll definitely want to see it.
This ‘oasis’ spreads over 140-acres, however, 55-acres are cultivated, meaning that you’ll need a guide to take you to see different types of cacti, succulents, and agave. It also has a 2-acre wildflower exhibit, which means that you could get a glimpse of some colors after all.
“Claude Monet’s Gardens”
Location: Giverny, France
You might know some information about the well-known painter Claude Monet, however, did you know that he had a floral garden? In fact, a lot of people believe that this was one of his best legacies to the world. The mesmerizing ponds filled with Lillies were said to have given the painter the inspiration he needed for many of his works.
The painter spent his last years in this world, building, arranging, and cultivating his grounds, and if you look at his painting, you’ll discover that there are a lot of vivid colors and messy, yet amazing patches of land. If you’re a fan of art, you should definitely head to this place, especially since it’ll bring you closer to the artist himself.
“Chicago Botanical Garden”
Location: Chicago, Illinois
Although most people forget about this magical place, you should know that it has been built more than 100 years ago. It covers an amazing 385-acres, while at the same time, it features multiple islands, 6 miles of shore, as well as more than 200 miniature evergreens, maples, magnolias, as well as bonsai trees!
Besides the aforementioned things, it also has a separate field that is mostly used for growing vegetables and fruits, and next to it, you’ll see a vast oak woodland. Currently, it’s one of the leading scientific research centers in the world, and it’s the second-most toured attraction, mostly because it is visited by thousands of tourists each year.
Conclusion
If you’re planning on changing your vacations a bit, you should choose to see some botanical gardens from around the world. Besides allowing you to see some plants that you never knew existed, these places will also provide you with sights of incredible natural beauty, meaning that you’ll be able to create long-lasting memories of the place you tour.
So, now that you’re aware of all the botanical gardens that you could choose to see, you might not want to lose any more of your time. Instead, you might want to do some digging, and determine whether or not there is such a place in the country you’re planning on visiting during your next holiday.
