Where I live, there is something always in bloom. Often when I’m out walking in my neighborhood or hiking, I’m reminded of nearby gardens or those I have had the joy of experiencing in my travels. On one such walk I thought about how garden visits could make a beautiful travel theme.
From our local gems like the Huntington Library’s stunning grounds to memories of strolling through London’s Hyde Park, gardens tell stories that transcend borders. They’re windows into human creativity, cultural values, and our eternal romance with nature.
Take the mythical Hanging Gardens of Babylon—probably never existed, but what a concept! Nebuchadnezzar II allegedly built cascading terraces of exotic plants to cure his wife’s homesickness. Even legends can inspire wanderlust.
The Dutch certainly went wild for gardens. Remember “Tulip Mania”? In 17th-century Netherlands, tulip bulbs cost more than houses! Though that bubble burst spectacularly, the passion survived. Today’s Keukenhof Gardens showcases that obsession beautifully—millions of tulips creating spring’s most Instagram-worthy explosion.
Spain’s Generalife Gardens whisper different stories through flowing water and terraced courtyards, offering spiritual refuge that still soothes visitors centuries later. Meanwhile, London’s Kew Gardens chose science over serenity, becoming a botanical powerhouse that literally shaped industries worldwide.
For something completely different, Scotland’s Garden of Cosmic Speculation throws tradition out the window with mathematical spirals and physics-inspired sculptures—proof that gardens can be as quirky as their creators.
Canada’s Butchart Gardens tells perhaps the most inspiring tale: Jennie Butchart transformed a scarred limestone quarry into botanical paradise, proving nature’s incredible resilience when paired with human determination.
And in Kyoto’s Ryoanji, fifteen carefully placed stones create a meditation on imperfection—one stone always hidden from view, reminding us that mystery enhances beauty.
Each garden reflects its creator’s soul, culture, and dreams. No two are alike—and that’s exactly why they’re worth chasing around the globe.
