8 GARDENS YOU CAN VIRTUALLY TOUR FROM THE COMFORT OF YOUR OF SOFA
House Beautiful 20 April 2020 - by Ruth Doherty
Spring is finally here, and while we may not be able to enjoy public spaces right now, there's no better time to take a virtual tour of some of the world's most beautiful gardens.
Make the most of your sofa-surfing time and take a visual journey through some of the most impressive gardens with your feet up and a cup of tea in hand.
Soak up the beauty of the plants and historic architecture at Kew Gardens, wander with awe through the colour explosion at the flower-filled Keukenhof Gardens in Amsterdam, and jet off to the paradisiacal palm-fringed jungle canopy of the Hawaiian Tropical Botanic Garden.
Surely the UK's crowning garden jewel, Kew Gardens is a UNESCO World Heritage Site boasting 37 acres of woodland, 14,000 trees and over 50,000 living plants. Kew Palace is where its rich history, spanning nearly 400 years, began; the Arboretum is a living library of trees; and the Marianne North Gallery boasts over 800 paintings of plants and flowers. There are also several beautiful historic follies scattered throughout the gardens, including the Pagoda, built in 1762 for Princess Augusta. Take a virtual tour
2) Claude Monet’s Garden, Giverny, France
Monet's Water Lilies, a series of 250 paintings, were all inspired by his beautiful garden in Giverny, Normandy. There are in fact two parts in Monet's garden: a flower garden called Clos Normand which sits in front of the house, and the Japanese-inspired Water Garden on the other side of the road. Both are exquisitely beautiful, and contrast and complement one another. Monet and his family settled in Giverny in 1883, but it wasn't until 10 years later in 1893 that he bought the piece of land neighbouring his property on the other side of the railway, where the water garden now lies. As arguably the most important painter of gardens in the history of art, Claude Monet himself once said he owed his painting 'to flowers'. Take a virtual tour
3) Waddesdon Manor, Waddesdon, England
The utterly majestic Waddesdon Manor is a French Renaissance château, built in the 19th century, and filled with royal treasures and an extensive art collection. It has been a Rothschild family home since the late 1800s with its first owner being Baron Ferdinand de Rothschild and its last owner being James de Rothschild, who left the house, grounds and majority of collections to the National Trust for the public enjoy. The Rothschild Foundation manages the manor, which is one of the most visited National Trust sites in the country. The gardens are an exceptional example of late Victorian garden design, and were first conceived by Ferdinand de Rothschild and extended by Alice de Rothschild. Take a tour of the interiors here, and the gardens below. Take a virtual tour
4) Chicago Botanic Garden, Chicago, US
Dating back to 1890, the Chicago Botanic Garden boasts 385 acres of land and 27 gardens, including an English Walled Garden, the Plant Science Centre and the Japanese Garden. It's owned by the Forest Preserve District of Cook County and maintained by the Chicago Horticultural Society. It has the highest membership of any public garden in the US. Take a virtual tour
5) RHS Garden Wisley, Surrey, England
The RHS Wisley Garden in Surrey is one of the world's greats, packed with endless horticultural inspiration. The stunning Mixed Borders are probably the most iconic and celebrated area of the garden. Originally designed by horticulturist Graham Stuart Thomas, the borders are 128m long and 6m wide and backed by hornbeam hedges. The beautiful Laboratory building is a must-see. You can go on a virtual tour in pictures here, or a video tour . Take a virtual tour
6) Hawaii Tropical Botanical Garden, Papaikou, Hawaii
Keen botanists will adore this tropical garden that's home to 2,000 plant species, and century-old coconut and mango palm trees. Opened in 1984 by owner Dan J. Lutkenhouse, it's since been sold to a non-profit trust for the public to enjoy. Not only is it beautiful, it's situated on the Pacific Coast, and a virtual walk through its jungle canopies gives us a little taste of paradise that's always much appreciated. Take a virtual tour
7) US Botanic Gardens, Washington, US
Established in 1820, this is one of the oldest botanic gardens in North America. The US Botanic Garden is located in Washington, and is supervised by the Congress through the Architect of the Capitol, who is responsible for maintaining the grounds of the United States Capitol. From roses to orchids, the rainforest to the Mid-Atlantic, rare and endangered plants, to the latest in home gardens, you will find a world of horticultural delights in the permanent exhibits and gardens. Any time of year, you'll see something beautiful in bloom at the US Botanic Garden Conservatory, the National Garden, and Bartholdi Park. Take a virtual tour
8) Keukenhof, Amsterdam, Holland
Looking for an exquisite, showstopping array of flowers? This is it. The Keukenhof, which in Dutch means 'kitchen garden', has been around since the 15th century and covers 32 hectares. It became a public garden in 1950 and now welcomes over a million visitors a year. From the authentic 19th-century windmill, to the gigantic flower bulb mosaic, covering an area of 250m2 and consisting of 50,000 tulips, grape hyacinths and crocuses, it's utterly spectacular. Take a virtual tour
