A Gardners' Love of the Most Beautiful Gardens in the World

I love beautiful gardens. You may ask, what is a Gardners' love? Well Gardner, that would be me! Gardner is my family's last name and according to wikipedia, some sources claim that the name Gardner is an occupational surname that comes from the word "gardener". Others of the family, who came to New England in the seventeenth century but left little record of themselves and their families, were Edward, who came from London in 1635; Edmund of Ipswich, Mass., in 1640; Nathaniel of Boston in 1649; Nicholas of Wickford, R.I., in 1674, Samuel of Roxbury, who was killed in the Indian wars in 1676; and John of Woburn in 1670.

The name is found on the ancient English and early American records in the various forms of Gardyner, Gardener, Gardenar, Gardiner, and Gardner, the last two of which are those most frequently used today. Probably the first of the family to come to American shores was Richard Gardener, who came on the "Mayflower" in 1620.

The following beautiful gardens around the world are some that I especially love. Each garden is an amazing sight. Hopefully the following gardens can provide some landscaping and beautiful gardening ideas and inspiration as you plan your home gardens this year.

Keukenhof, Lisse, Holland. Keukenhof means The Kitchen Garden. Back in the 15th century this area belonged to the Countess of Holland. This is where games were hunted and herbs gathered for the castle's kitchen. Keukenhof is a popular Dutch attraction, located a short walk from the small town of Lisse. Visitors can enjoy walking in the 32-hectare park, in which seven million bulbs are planted. Nowhere else in the world will you find more glorious colors of spring and inspiration as Keukenhof. You may see millions of bulbs in flower, fantastic flower shows or you may just relax in the largest sculpture park in the Netherlands. It is the most photographed place in the world so you don't want to forget your camera.

Butchart Gardens, Victoria, B.C. The Butchart Gardens at Todd Inlet, which lie around 14 miles from Victoria B.C., covers more than 55 acres of the 130 acre Butchart Estate. It is an internationally-known tourist attraction which receives more than a million visitors each year. Join in the entertainment and high class food service that complement the meticulously maintained gardens.

A Hawaiian garden in Hanalei Valley on Kauai

A beautiful photograph of the Hanalei taro fields with the lovely framing and brilliant colors. A starchy edible tuber of the taro, also known as kalo plant, which is commonly cultivated in water that is knee-deep, is used to make a staple Hawaiian food called poi.

Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden in South Africa is world-renowned for the beauty and diversity of the Cape Flora it displays and for the magnificence of its setting against the eastern slopes of Table Mountain that you see looming in the background.

Exbury Gardens, New Forest, England - A garden for all seasons. The calm waters of Exbury Lake reflect all the amazing and gorgeous colors of the landscape.

Mirabell Garden in Salzburg, Austria - Its characteristic, large symmetrical flower-beds make the Mirabell Gardens a good example of a typical baroque park. An excellent example of baroque landscape gardening laid out about 1690, probably by J. B. Fischer von Erlach, with terraces, marble statues and fountains.

Versaille Garden, Versailles, France - Perhaps it is the Worlds most Famous Garden, built for Louis XIV and designed by André Le Nôtre between 1661 and 1700. A prime example of the French Baroque style. Some of its magnificient features include huge parterres, an orangery, famous fountains, rich bosquets (ornamental groves), a 1.8 km cruciform canal.

The Gardens at Crathes Castle, Scotland - the gardens as seen today are a largely 20th-century creation, on a seven-acre site on two levels, bounded by old brick walls and fine old yew hedges. A sureness of touch with color.

A Dreamy Garden in Giverny, France -Claude Monet's dreamy garden in Normandy is extremely well maintained. It is a water garden where the artist made his famous studies of waterlilies. It is well worth seeing and very much holds its own amid the tyranny of expectation.

Bodnant Garden in Wales - It was the 2nd Baron Aberconway who largely created this extraordinarily ambitious terraced garden between 1904 and 1914. This Garden will interest amateur and professional gardeners, artists, photographers and families alike.

Topiary Garden at Levens Hall, England - There has been much debate about the actual date of the celebrated yew topiary forms at Levens Hall in Cumbria, which so captured the imaginations of Edwardian garden writers. Wandering through this garden at twilight is one of the most evocative of all garden experiences; any description of the layout seems superfluous because the whole point is to become deliciously lost. Beds of perennials between the hedges, a nuttery and a herb garden top off this beguiling scene.

Nong Nooch Tropical Botanical Garden is a famous attraction 15 minutes east of Pattaya,Thailand. It is the biggest and one of the most beautiful gardens in South East Asia. This tropical garden is landscaped with various flowering and decorative plants from all around the world and also holds the largest variety of Orchards in Thailand. A cool place to visit whether you have a green thumb or not.

The beautiful gardens by The Sultan's Palace in Muscat, Oman (in the Middle East) is a lovely place to wander around. Immersing yourself in the culture and heritage of the Omani people and their country has been called an undiscovered middle eastern treasure. The way that Muscat is wedged between the mountains and the Arabian Gulf no matter where you look the scenery is spectacular. To visit the beautiful gardens and The Sultan's Palace located in the old port area of Muscat is truly a spiritual experience.

A garden is a place where man and nature can come together to enjoy and breathe life into beautifully inspired creations.

I hope this stroll through the gardens has refreshed your soul and inspired you with some landscaping and beautiful gardening ideas. Come back for a visit as I add more little visions of paradise.