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

Arboretum Volčji Potok near Ljubljana, Slovenia

. open to visitors, entrance fee includes orchid and cactus greenhouse

. size: large

. best time to visit in late April - May

Beauty surrounds us, but usually we need to be walking in a garden to know it. 

Rumi

Rhododendron

Magnolia

Arboretum Volčji Potok hosts a tulip festival each year in April and May

Spring tulip festival

the French formal garden

Occasionally there is also an exhibition of butterflies in a butterfly house at Arboretum Volčji Potok 

Cactus skeleton

Villa Garzoni in Collodi, Italy

Enchanting garden of Villa Garzoni (1652) - Giardino Garzoni

. open to public with entrance fee

. middle sized - big garden

. it lies 15 km away from Lucca

Photos from April 2016

Lady butterfly 

perfumes her wings

by floating

over the orchid

Basho

Symmetric stairs with three terraces is the main part of composition.

The garden is detached from the villa which is uncommon for 17th century.

Lily:

out of the water ...

out of itself

Nick Virgilio

Entrance fee to Villa Garzoni includes a butterfly house.

You may also be interested in:

• Medici Villa of La Petraia garden, Florence click here
• Villa Gamberaia garden near Florence click here
• Villa di Castello garden in Florence
• Giardino Bardini, Florence
• Giardino Boboli, Florence