Interesting trimmed hedges, ponds full of water lilies and koi, greenhouses full of exotic flowers, strange and fascinating sculptures - botanical gardens and parks around the world show the beauty of cultivated nature. A fusion between wild, untamed nature and man's architectural genius, these parks are like a piece of paradise that we can create with our own hands.
1.Botanical Garden in Brooklyn, USA
There are many botanical gardens and parks in New York, but Brooklyn Botanic Garden stands out from the crowd. It was founded in 1910 and covers 52 hectares. The garden is home to more than 12,000 plant species, with the garden's highlights being the Cherry Esplanade, the Steinhardt Conservatory and the Bonsai Museum. There is also one of the world's most unpleasant flowers, which last bloomed six years ago - called Sumatran Amorphophallus Titan or Corpse Flower.
2. Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden in South Africa
This beautiful garden is located on 89 hectares in Cape Town, on the slopes of Table Mountain, and was founded in 1913. Kirstenbosch is proud to boast itself as the most beautiful garden in Africa and the honor is well deserved. It is designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Although a large part of the garden is cultivated, an even larger area is retained to protect biodiversity (flora and fauna). A trademark of the garden is the Strelitzia, a yellow version called Mandela's Gold.
3. Missouri Botanical Garden in the USA
The 79-acre property was originally a private country estate owned by businessman Henry Shaw, but has been open to the public since 1859. The 14-acre Japanese garden “Seiwa-en” is the largest such garden in the Western Hemisphere, while the Climatron Winter Garden is home to exotic tropical plants.
4. Botanical Gardens and Parks in Singapore
Singapore is often referred to as the “Garden City” and with good reason: there are 300 parks and 4 nature reserves on the island. One of the most beautiful is the 183-acre botanical garden, which houses more than 20,000 orchids, as well as wild monkeys and turtles. Founded in 1859, it is the only botanical garden in the world open daily from 5 a.m. to midnight.
5. Montreal Botanical Garden, Canada
You might think that Canada's cold winter would make gardening a challenge, but Montreal's Jardin Botanique proves that theory wrong. The garden, founded in 1931, uses indoor and outdoor spaces to accommodate visitors year-round. In the warmer months, you'll first see the 30 themed gardens, which also include the largest Chinese garden outside of Asia and the Japanese garden, which showcases bonsai trees and a few exquisite water features. If the weather is cool, visit the Insectarium, which contains 160,000 live and preserved species of insects. The highlight is the “'Butterflies Go Free' exhibition, where thousands of tropical butterflies and moths are released into the greenhouses.
6. Longwood Gardens, USA
Like the Missouri Botanic Garden, the Longwood Garden was once a private property - owned by the DuPont family, but was converted into a public garden in 1919. The garden covers more than 1,000 acres and includes 20 outdoor and 20 indoor gardens. Exhibits include: The Orangery, Silver Garden, Acacia Passage, Orchid House, Cascade Garden, Palm House, Mediterranean Garden, Tropical Terrace and Outdoor Water Garden.
7. Royal Botanic Gardens in Sydney, Australien
The Royal Botanic Gardens, founded in 1788, offers views of downtown Sydney and the infamous Sydney Opera House. Decades of improvements to the soil have enabled a beautiful variety of plants to bloom, including many that grow in the Glass Pyramid. By May 2011, a colony of over 22,000 flying foxes lived in the gardens, but they killed dozens of trees and were eventually evicted.
8. Francisco Alvarado Park, Zarcero, Costa Rica
Abstract shapes, archways and the faces of strange creatures grow out of the courtyard in Parque Francisco Alvarado, found in the city center of Zarcero in Costa Rica. The hedge garden has been shaped in these fascinating forms by the same man since the 1960s.
9. The Gardens of Las Pozas, Xilitla, Mexico
More like a surrealist sculpture park than a garden, Las Pozas is the playground of British poet Edward James, a patron of the arts. James was a passionate supporter of the Surrealist art movement and his love of the style is evident in Las Pozas, which includes more than 80 acres of natural waterfalls and pools as well as concrete sculptures. The spindly, strange sculptures were built between 1949 and 1984; the entire project cost James over $5 million, which he raised through the sale of his considerable collection of surrealist art.
10. Botanical Garden in Kyoto, Japan
Kyoto Botanical Garden is located on a spacious area of 240,000 m2 and was founded in 1924. The garden is located on the Kamogawa River. With around 12,000 different species of plants, gardens, a conservatory, crop garden, expansive meadows and a children's playground, it is one of the largest botanical gardens in all of Japan.
