Mainau Island in Lake Constanze, Germany

. garden island is open to public, entrance fee

. size: medium - big

. the island also offers a butterfly house, a greenhouse (palmhouse) and a collection of sequoia trees and dahlias

Giant sculptures made of flowers

Water cascades are probably the most breathtaking part of the garden.

The peaceful effect of combining white roses and blue plants

Ainolan puisto city park in Oulu, Finland

. city park, free entrance includes a greenhouse

. photos from September 2012

. impressive fountains located near the river delta in Hupisaaret park

. characteristic white bridges

. rose garden still in full blossom in September

Kaisaniemi Botanic Garden, Helsinki

. open to public, free entrance, entrance fee for the greenhouse only

. size: small - medium

. photos from September 2012

The almost 130 years old Palm House 

Caffe Viola inside the garden

Baroque Gardens of Belvedere in Vienna

. size: medium

. open to public, free entrance to the park

. photos from April 2013

The baroque garden of Belvedere palace offers cascades, fountains, a big water basin and baroque sculptures.

Belvedere in Vienna consists of two palaces, the Upper and Lower Belvedere. 

Side entrance to the garden.

Jardin des Plantes, Paris

.Size of the garden: medium

. Type of the garden: city park
. The entrance is free except for the entrance fee for the greenhouse.

. Photos were made in May 2013.

May is a perfect month to visit as the rose garden is in full blossom.
Imagine a poet walking through the rose vault!
Rainer Maria Rilke was one of those poets as his famous poem The Panther is subtitled In Jardin des Plantes because of a nearby zoo.
The rose garden is officially called Jardin de Roses et de Roches (The Rose and Rock garden). This part of the garden is not very old however, it is my favorite.
Don't forget to visit the other parts of the garden - especially an alpine garden and a big greenhouse are worth a visit. The alpine garden is a very old garden renewed in the 20th century. It contains a collection of alpine flowers from all over the world among which the pistachio tree is one of the oldest. Garden consists of 11 other different units from an ecological garden to an iris garden.

If you are visiting Paris you can also visit Jardin de Luxembourg and Bois de Vincennes. Giverny and Versailles are of course also not far away.

The Rose and Rock Garden

The Alpine garden

Bois de Vincennes, Largest City Park in Paris

. size: large

. city park, free entrance

. photos from June 2013

The temple of love lies on an island on Lac Daumesnil and is accessible by boat.

Renting boats is a popular activity in Bois de Vincennes similar as in Retiro Park in Madrid.

Jardin du Luxembourg in Paris

. size: medium - large

. photos from June 2013

Medici fountain by Francini

The history of Luxembourg gardens starts in 1612, when Maria de Medici ordered Boyceau to design a garden in front of the Luxembourg palace. The fountain in the picture is the only original part of the historic garden. Other parts were influenced by baroque and later renovations.

Giardino Bardini and Giardino Boboli in Florence

. size: large

. open to public, entrance fee, combined ticket for both gardens

. Photos from September 2015

Giardino Bardini - wisteria

Giardino Bardini - rose garden

Palazzo Pitti as seen from the Boboli Gardens. In the middle you can see an Egyptian obelisk. Boboli gardens are the biggest Medici garden. 

Both gardens have an excellent view on the city of Florence

A long cypress lane with sculptures at both sides

Isolotto, the island fountain with a statue of Oceanus. Under the main statue there are allegorical sculptures of Euphrates, Nile and Ganges.

Horti Leonini in San Quirico, Italy

. size: small

. city park, no entrance fee

. photo from November 2016

Statue of Cosimo III dei Medici

Jardin Exotique de Roscoff

. open to public, entrance fee

. size: medium

. photos from May 2017

Birds are an important part of Roscoff Garden's soundscape.

The blue garden furniture along with a collection of succulents, cacti and yuccas makes a specific garden tone.

View from the uphill part of the garden