AUGUST 2019
I love visiting gardens all over the world, as I love the landscaping and love flowers! The Gardens by the Bay are still on my bucket list, but I have seen my fair share of gardens 😉 These are the gardens which made a great impression on me:
Gardens of the Alhambra in Granada, Spain
I have wanted to visit the Alhambra for years, as I have fallen in love with Moorish architecture after visiting Marrakesh. Little did I know that the gardens were amazing too. I loved the beautiful views of the buildings, but also the rose garden with its many arches.
Villa Rufolo Garden in Ravello
When we were staying in Positano, I just had to visit this garden in Ravello, which I saw featured all over Instagram. This year spring started pretty late, so the flowers were not yet in full bloom in May, however the views were still amazing.
Le jardin Exotique in Eze
The little town Eze is located on top of a hill nearby Nice and features a cactus garden with stunning views over the Mediterranean.
Delaire Graff Winery in Stellenbosch
We went here to taste the wine, but fell in love with the sculptures in the modern garden. It must be said that a lot of wineries in South-Africa had beautiful gardens and flowers, but this one really upped the game by including decadent sculptures. I almost started feeling uncomfortable by the luxury of it. Another recommendation in this area is the garden of Boschendal in Franschhoek.
Monet’s garden in Giverny
I am a big fan of Monet and impressionist paintings so it was a dream come true to visit his gardens in Giverny. The tulip season was in full force while we visited (April), but you can visit this garden in many seasons, as there will be different flowers in bloom. I would love to go back during cherry blossom season or when the water lilies are in bloom. The weather was pretty rough when we visited, but the gardens were still lovely.
Hortus Botanicus in Amsterdam
The Hortus Botanicus in Amsterdam has a beautiful greenhouse, but the surrounding garden is also really charming. There are different greenhouses for different kind of plants, such as palms, cacti and a tropical garden. I was not appropriately dressed for this experience (too hot)😉.
Jardin Majorelle in Marrakesh
The Jardin Majorelle is a garden that cannot be missed on this list. I have visited this beautiful garden, that contrasts perfectly with the blue buildings many, many years ago (before it became popular on Instagram). Never mind my outfits, but at least you can see the blue details really well.
Hidcote Manor Garden in the Cotswolds
Hidcote Manor Garden is a typical English garden which seems to flow organically from one type of garden into other gardens. Hedges separate different colors of flowers from other colors, while this garden still not gets a stiff vibe.
Sudeley Gardens in the Cotswolds
Sudeley Castle is the perfect backdrop for this garden. The Sudeley grounds contain a little church and some ruines, on which the plants and flowers are growing which gives these gardens a very special vibe.
Volksgarten in Vienna
By accident we bumped into the Volksgarten in Vienna. In June this garden was full of roses, which was a nice surprise. Bring your picnic gear, because this garden is perfect for it!
