Spring has arrived—the azaleas and camellias are blooming, and pollen is all over my car. It’s the time of year when everything in our community seems to be in full color. I must confess that I am not a gardener. In fact, most flowering plants under my care don’t survive, but I love a beautiful garden. So, whenever I have a chance to visit a world class one, I make that stop a priority. I don’t have a favorite type of garden—Japanese, renaissance, medieval, tropical, formal, botanical, or butterfly. They can have tulips, roses, bonsai, or sculpture. I appreciate each for their simplicity, tranquility, and thoughtful design. Here are a few I would highly recommend seeing:
- Royal Botanic Gardens in Kew, England
- Giverny gardens in Giverny, France
- Chateau de Villandry in Indre-et-Loire, France
- Butchart Gardens in Vancouver Island, British Columbia
- Portland Japanese Garden in Portland, Oregon
- Villa d’Este in Tivoli, Italy
- Garden of the Villa Ephrussi de Rothschild in Saint- Jean-Cap-Ferrat, France
- Kroller-Muller Sculpture Garden, Otterlo, the Netherlands
- Chiran samurai gardens in Kagoshima, Japan
However, having lived for several years in the Netherlands, my favorite garden is Keukenhof in Lisse. Known as the Garden of Europe, it is a 7 million tulip flower masterpiece covering almost 80 acres. I highly recommend that you put this one on your bucket list!
