A selection of gardens from around the World
Kenroku-en Garden - Kanazawa, Japan
Kanazawa’s Kenroku-en Garden is considered one of the Three Great Gardens of Japan (along with Kairaku-en and Korakuen).
Founded in the Edo period (1603- 1868), the name Kenroku-en means ‘Six Attributes Garden’ - the attributes being space, seclusion, artifice, antiquity, water-courses and panoramas.
Shaped over a period of more than 100 years through several generations of the Kaga domain’s lords, this enchanting space comprises of large ponds, hills, cottages, winding streams, trees, tea houses and stunning flowers.
Botanical Gardens - around the globe
There are an abundance of Botanical Gardens around the globe.
The Botanical Gardens are located in countries such as Australia, USA, Singapore, Sri Lanka, United Kingdom, numerous European countries and many more.
They originated in the 16th and 17th century and were mainly used for medicinal purposes.
Over time the gardens were developed to display their outstanding beauty and obscure plants. Scientists and travellers would bring back plant species as a form of trophy.
More recently some of the gardens have been developed for conservation projects and provide areas with plants on the verge of extinction with seeds or the knowledge to re-populate them.
Butchart Gardens - Victoria, Canada
Once owned by the Butchart family, the Butchart Gardens are now a National Historic Site of Canada.
The area was an abandoned limestone quarry which Jennie Butchart transformed into an array of magnificent gardens which reflect the 20th century beautification movement.
With a wide range of plant species there is always something to see in every season, from the fragrant winter shrubs through to the spring and summer flowers ending with the stunning autumn colours.
Keukenhof Gardens - Amsterdam, Netherlands
Labelled as one of the most beautiful spring gardens in the world, the Keukenhof Gardens consist of over 1600 different tulips, daffodils and hyacinths using more than 7 million planted bulbs.
It is one spectacularly colourful spring floral arrangement that must not be missed!
Yu Garden - Shanghai, China
Also known as the Yuyuan Garden, the Yu Garden is located in the old city of Shanghai.
The name means 'Garden of Happiness/Peace'.
Yu Garden was first conceived in 1559 during the Ming Dynasty by the Pan family.
It fell to wreck and ruin when the family ran out of money and throughout the various wars and rebellions, such as the First Opium War that occurred in later years.
The garden was eventually renovated by the Shanghai Government and in 1961 it was open to the public.
The garden is divided up into 6 main areas - Sansui Hall, Wanhua Chamber, Dianchun Hall, Huijing Hall Yuhua Hall, Inner Garden.