The 10 Best Gardens For a Stroll

The closest I�ve ever come to having a garden was purchasing a ticket to the annual flower show that rolled through town last year. Hundreds of florists and horticulturalists came together in one place to show off their skills when it comes to laying out both creative and relaxing gardens.

Come with me on this journey through some of the most magnificent gardens in the world.

Located in Versailles, France, the Chateau De Versailles is open to the public on a daily basis and features a number of incredible sights, including four distinct palace buildings. The most incredible vision, however, is that of the 250 acre garden where you�ll find miles of meticulously laid flower beds. The landscape includes ornamental lakes, dozens of classical statues, and even a small canal!

The Singapore Botanic Gardens was founded in 1859 and is as rich with history as it is with beauty. The garden has evolved from a simple leisure garden to one wrought with scientific research blended with visual creativity. Ownership of the park has changed hands several times as its mission has evolved. The gardens housed some of the country�s first orchard breeding experiments, focused on projects dedicated to helping Singapore stay as green as possible, and still aims to be a leader in botanical research and conservation.

Located in La Canada Flintridge, California, Descanso Gardens is an incredible destination for horticultural aficionados and families alike. Plant lovers from all over will enjoy strolling through over a dozen different gardens and buildings. The 160-acre facility features not only gardens, but hosts a variety of school programs, weddings, and more. Children will especially enjoy a ride on the Enchanted Railroad which will give them a private tour of a small area of the Descanso Garden estate.

The Villa D�Este is found in Tivoli, Italy. The site was originally a Benedictine monastery which was later converted to a villa, at which point the incredible garden was added. The garden is lined with dozens of fountains designed to depict Roman scenes, animal heads, and more. There are dozens of great places to stay in Tivoli, so this is an excellent addition to any Italian vacation.

In Washington, D.C., amidst the concrete capital of the United States, you�ll find Dumbarton Oaks. The Georgetown site is known as a research library, but originally started out as a home on rather uncared for property. The property was purchased by Mildred and Robert Woods Bliss who later landscaped the entire property to include a series of gardens, terraces, and walkways. Parts of the garden acreage have been given to various learning institutions, but most remains intact.

In St. Jean-Cap-Ferrat, France you�ll come across the Gardens of the Villa Ephrussi de Rothschild. The meticulously landscaped gardens feature pools, fountains, and incredible themes. Walk amongst the olive and lavender trees, marvel at the incredibly planned Japanese and Florentine gardens, or explore the massive sculptures banished to the outdoor gardens due to their sheer size.

In Warminster England, you�ll find yourself amazed by the gardens at Stourhead. Owned by Henry Hoare II, the focus of the entire estate was on remaining as classical as possible. Throughout the gardens you�ll find recreations of Greek and Roman ruins as well as incredibly landscaped horticultural displays.

The Garden of the Master of Nets can be found in Suzhoa, China. One of the smallest gardens in the area, it is considered one of the most impressive because of the way it was designed to appear larger than it actually is. The garden has three sections, including a residential garden, main central garden, and inner garden. The beautiful gardens include a small pavilion at the center of a pond. You�re welcome to visit the pavilion if you don�t mind crossing a footbridge that is less than 1-foot wide!

Located in Potsdam, Germany, Sanssouci was originally designed as the summer palace for Frederick the Great, King of Prussia. He designed the entire estate, especially the gardens, as a place where he could relax without the stress of power. After his death, Frederick the Great was buried in a tomb overlooking his gardens, which are now considered a World Heritage Site and are maintained by the Foundation for Prussian Palaces and Gardens. Make Sanssouci part of your tour of Germany.

On Vancouver Island in British Columbia you�ll find Butchart Gardens. The 55-acre garden used to be the site of a quarry, but was later filled in with dirt and turned into a garden. The garden has grown to include almost 1,000 different plant varieties and has now been in operation for over 100 years. Stroll the gardens by day, enjoy a meal either via picnic or in one of the garden restaurants, and enjoy an evening of fireworks. You�ll never have to search for something to see next.

Each of these gardens is the result of hours and hours of work by dedicated gardeners, landscapers, and horticulturalists from around the globe. Don�t miss out!