Where Mother Nature’s beauty is wild and boisterous, manmade works of art are often carefully crafted, meticulous and precise. A walk through any famous garden in the world shows this to be true.
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From classic French gardens to Japanese Zen ones, people have found varied ways to immerse themselves in Nature, simply by arranging plants in aesthetically pleasing forms. Here are a few of the world’s most famous gardens to note, for your next vacation:
1. Chateau de Versailles, France
Renowned French landscape designer Andre Le Notre is responsible for laying out these famed gardens, which lie southwest of Paris, in the 17th century. Louis XIV commissioned him to do so, with the instruction that he had to enhance the glory of his palace at Versailles. The massive, 250-acre garden is full of meandering paths that lead to flower beds, serene corners adorned with classical statues, ornamental lakes, and a canal that Louis XIV used for gondola rides.
2. Royal Botanic Gardens, England
In Kew, Surrey, lie 326 acres of landscaped grounds, and amidst them, famed greenhouses. Under huge domes, botanical science and conservation converge in an elegant environment. The greenhouses are divided into different zones – the Temperate House, for instance, is the world’s largest Victorian greenhouse. The Bonsai House homes trees that are more than 150 years old. And under the glass roof of the Palm House, there are 10 climactic zones, where everything – from baobab trees to vanilla orchards – grows. Visitors especially enjoy the enchanting Orangery, where they can have lunch and spend time drinking tea.
3. Keukenhof, the Netherlands
What’s a garden without tulips? The world-famous Keukenhof in Lisse is a burst of colour from March to late May, because of colourful displays filled with tulips, daffodils, crocuses and hyacinths. The Keukenhof website states that it plants 7 million bulbs each year from 100 Dutch floricultural companies – they flower in spring and offer a dazzling experience for visitors.
4. Ryoan-ji Garden, Japan
Nestled within Kyoto’s Ryoan-ji Zen Buddhist Temple is a beloved garden that’s made in the classic karesansui (Japanese rock garden) style. Precisely raked gravel surrounds large rock formations in this Zen garden. Since the garden is meant to be viewed from the temple’s veranda, the stones are strategically placed so that they cannot all be seen at the same time. It’s thought that anyone who can see them all from a single seated position has obtained enlightenment.
Which is the most beautiful garden you’ve ever been to? Play today’s Word Search and tell us at games@gulfnews.com.
