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

Villandry Chateau Renaissance Gardens

. size: large

. open to public, entrance fee

. photos from May 2017
. the original garden was reconstructed at the beginning of 20th century

The ornamental garden, also called jardin'd amour. It contains four squares representing: 

- tender love (hearts with pink/orange flowers),

- passionate love (12 broken hearts with colorful flowers),

- fickle love (butterflies and horns with white/yellow flowers),

- tragic love (swords with red flowers).

Pavillon de l'Audience

The kitchen garden behind the ornamental garden

Vegetables are grown in nine squares of the kitchen garden (jardin potager). Vegetables are planted in March and June.

Villandry chateau jardins also contain a maze, a herbal garden and the Sun garden with a fountain.

Les Jardins Exotiques de Bouknadel in Rabat

. Size: medium

. open to public, entrance fee

. Photos from April 2015

Contrasting colors make a strong statement.

Note soft textures of Cyperus and an asymmetric informal line of the walking path.

Miramare Park in Italy

. open to public, free access to the garden

. size: medium

. photos from October 2017

Miramare park contains a french formal garden which is placed in front of the Swiss house,  now a coffee shop.

Miramare castle as viewed from the English garden.

Gaudi's Parc Güell in Barcelona

. public park, no entrance fee

. photos from April 2011

. Different types of pillar forms, united in the same color make Parc Güell unique and recognizable.

Grosser Garten in Dresden, Germany

. photo from April 2010

. flower beds in front of Sommerpalais

Garden of Chambord Castle, France

. size: large

. open to public

. photos from May 2017

. the garden was overgrown with weeds in the past, the replanting started in 2016

Chenonceau Castle Garden, France

. size: medium

. open to public, entrance fee

. photos from May 2017

Garden of Catherine de Medicis

Don't miss flower arrangements inside the castle.

Chenonceau Castle as viewed from the Diana's garden. Diana Potiere owned the castle in 16th century. She was the one who ordered castle's bridge across the river.

There are also some cottage gardens and a vegetable garden near the entrance to Chateau Chenonceau.

Wisteria in the more rustic part of the castle park