Gardens of the Globe – More Beautiful Gardens

This is the sixth installment in my Gardens of the Globe series. Here are the links if you missed the previous posts:

Gardens of the Globe

Gardens of the Globe – Japanese Gardens

Gardens of the Globe – Botanical Gardens Part I

Gardens of the Globe – Botanical Gardens Part II

Gardens of the Globe – Botanical Gardens Part III

As I have previously mentioned, according to Merriam-Webster, a botanical garden is defined as: a garden often with greenhouses for the culture, study, and exhibition of special plants. The gardens I’m including in today’s post are not classified as botanical gardens, but are every bit as lovely and alluring. One is even quite famous.

1. Dunrobin Castle Gardens, Golspie, Scotland. We visited this exquisite castle and gardens in the autumn of 2017 when we were in the area visiting friends. Dating back to the 1300s, Dunrobin is the oldest continuously inhabited castle in the UK. The castle has been the home of the Sutherlands for many centuries.

After touring the castle, we enjoyed a leisurely stroll through the gardens where we enjoyed a game of croquet with our friend. It was a rare, clear day in the Highlands, and we thoroughly enjoyed our outdoor time there.

2. Le Jardin Retrouvré Honfleur, France. This beautiful garden in Honfleur dates just to 1996 and is a mixture of French and English gardens. Water is an important element in this garden, and you’ll find ponds, fountains, and other water displays.

3, Andalusian Gardens, Rabat Morocco is a serene escape from the bustling city just within the walls of Kasbah of the Oudayas. Here you’ll find a wide variety of plants, flowers, fruit trees, and calming corners to sit and meditate. We visited on a Sunday earlier this year, and even though the garden was filled with families, couples, and others enjoying the garden, it didn’t feel overly crowded.

4. Jardim da Alameda João de Deus, Faro, Portugal. This is the largest garden in Faro, and is a great place for families and kids. When we visited, there was a class of teenagers and their instructor having a great time with what we deciphered as a scavanger hunt. It’s not a huge garden, but it does have some animals, exercise equipment, and seems to be a central gathering place for the locals.

5. Monet’s Garden, Giverny France. Claude Monet moved to this beautiful location in 1883 and stayed here until his death in 1926. He had seven gardeners helping him tend the garden and actually had a nearby river diverted for the expansive space. It was left on its own for many years, and thus was in need of much restoration, which happened in the mid 1970s.

Today it is a lovely place to visit, and you may find some inspiration to take photos or even do a sketch if you’re so inclined. We visited in the spring of 2000 on a family trip to the UK and France. These photos are from old snapshots, so I apologize for the poor quality.

There is a garden in every childhood, an enchanted place where colors are brighter, the air softer, and the morning more fragrant than ever again. Elizabeth Lawrence

I hope you enjoyed this post on some beautiful gardens, and it motivates you work in your garden or just dig in the dirt.

All the best,

Tricia