7 Gardens We Love to Learn In
- With Road Scholar, you can explore breathtaking horticultural landscapes worldwide, from seven million colorful bulbs at Keukenhof to whimsical figures at Ladew Topiary Gardens.
- Explore landscapes shaped by masterminds, including Frederick Law Olmsted and Fujita Kenichi, the architect of Japan’s Fujita Memorial Garden.
- These spectacular gardens are featured highlights on expertly curated travel programs designed to deepen your connection to nature.
British horticulturalist Gertrude Jekyll once said, “A garden is a grand teacher. It teaches patience and careful watchfulness; it teaches industry and thrift; above all it teaches entire trust.” Whether you have a green thumb or simply love the serenity of walking through a beautiful garden, we think you’ll be inspired by these special landscapes around the world.
1. Keukenhof Gardens
Keukenhof, aka “the Garden of Europe,” occupies 79 acres in Lisse, Netherlands. Each year, some seven million bulbs are planted there — including tulips, irises and daffodils — along with roses, carnations and countless other flowers. It draws approximately 1.4 million visitors annually!
Tiptoe through this garden on Tulipmania.
2. International Rose Test Garden
Founded in 1917 as a testing ground for new rose varieties, this garden will wow you with more than 610 varieties of roses (some 10,000 blooms at peak season) as you enjoy the view of downtown Portland — the City of Roses — in the background.
Stop and smell this garden on Signature City Portland.
Keukenhof Gardens, Netherland.
3. Butchart Gardens
Robert and Jennie Butchart planted their now-renowned garden on a former cement plant more than 120 years ago. This 55-acre gem in British Columbia is a National Historic Site of Canada and is an incredible palette of color in nearly any season.
Savor the colors in this garden on Victoria and Vancouver: Glorious West Coast Gardens.
4. Ladew Topiary Gardens
Named “one of the top five gardens in North America” by the Garden Club of America, the Ladew in Monkton, Maryland, was established in the 1930s by Harvey S. Ladew. Among the scenes enshrined in shrubbery is an entire English fox hunt, replete with horses, dogs and, of course, a fox.
Catch this garden on Topiaries, Pleasure Gardens & Botanical Gems in Philadelphia and Beyond.
Biltmore Estate, North Carolina
5. Fujita Memorial Garden
A true Japanese landscape garden — complete with a red arched bridge and waterfall — the Fujita Memorial Garden was constructed in 1919 by architects under the supervision of Hirosaki native Fujita Kenichi. A trip here offers views of Mount Iwaki, along with stunning cherry blossoms and azaleas depending on the season.
Behold the beauty of this garden on Northern Japan: Ancient History and Scenic Beauty.
6. Biltmore Estate
How do you create a show-stopping garden? George Vanderbilt hired famed landscape designer Frederick Law Olmsted to build his. The result? The Biltmore Estate’s 8,000 acres that include six gardens, a conservatory, nature trails and woodlands.
Delight in this garden on A Gardener’s Delight: The Private & Public Landscapes of Asheville.
7. Bermuda Botanical Gardens
Bermuda’s largest public garden is also a National Park, protecting its unique collection of trees, a Japanese Zen garden, a children’s maze garden and more. It is also home to the Sensory Garden for the Blind, known for its aromatic herbs, trickling water feature and braille signage that allows sightless visitors to explore independently.
Feed your senses in this garden on Bermuda Unveiled: Historic Forts, Secret Gardens & More!
For more learning adventures in gardens and in nature, visit our website.
Poppy Anemone