150 breathtaking gardens to see before you die

There are those who, as soon as they get to an unfamiliar city, immediately go to its most celebrated museum to learn more about where they have arrived. And then there are those who prefer a tour of its botanical garden, for exactly the same reason. Sir Francis Bacon wrote that “as ages grow to civility and elegance, men come to build stately, sooner than to garden finely—as if gardening were the greater perfection.”

Stefanie Waldek, an American writer with a passion for travel and space adventures, has compiled a very long list of gardens that she considers must-sees. It is a mixture of historical gardens, botanical ones, Zen oases, and other unique green spaces, located throughout the world.

“For me, gardens are the perfect microcosms for exploration here at home [on Earth],” writes Waldek, “they’re something that can be enjoyed by all kinds of people, all over the world.”

Her work, 150 Gardens You Need to Visit Before You Die is part of the 150 series released by Belgium-based publisher, Lannoo. While each of these gardens should be visited at least once, a truth about gardens is that they are best enjoyed when visited repeatedly, to admire the changes they experience with the seasons.

Here are some of the gardens that Waldek highlights. Some are famous, others less so, but all share captivating and beautiful aspects that are sure to appeal to curious travellers.

Amber Fort, Jaipur

It appears in the distance like a mirage, floating on the waters of Lake Maota near Jaipur. This terraced garden sits at the foot of the Amber Fort, an age-old fortress in the town of Amer, built over a period of more than a hundred years, starting in the late 16th century. It was long the residence of the Rajput maharajas and their families. The garden is home to fields of saffron crocuses and is four-sided in the classical Persian pattern (Čahār bāgh). It is said to be even older than the glorious palace.

Also read: Ahmedabad’s Parimal Garden offers a poignant reflection of the city since the 1950s

Desert Botanical Garden, Phoenix

Some people think that nothing grows in the desert, but that is of course not the case at all. Proof of this can be found at the Desert Botanical Garden in Phoenix, Arizona. Founded in 1939 by Swedish botanist Gustaf Starck and philanthropist Gertrude Divine Webster, the garden occupies 60 hectares and includes over 50,000 plant species. In addition to being a botanical attraction, the garden is home to the Desert Landscape School, which teaches professional and amateur gardeners how to design gardens for areas with arid climates.

Ryoanji, Kyoto

The rock garden at the Ryoanji Temple in Kyoto is the most famous example of karesansui, or dry garden, in the world. The defining characteristic of dry gardens, which distinguishes them from other styles of Japanese gardens, is the total absence of water. This garden of stones was created in 1450 as an integral part of the temple and includes 15 rocks arranged in such a way that it is never possible to see all of them at once. This aspect of the garden so fascinated the composer John Cage that he was inspired to write a piece dedicated to this place of peace and meditation.

Jardín Botánico del Instituto de Biologia (UNAM), Mexico City

Mexico is famous for its historical sites, beaches, and cuisine, but perhaps not as well known is the coutry’s astonishing biodiversity. A visit to the botanical garden of the Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (UNAM) offers a chance to see some of wide variety of plants found in the country. The collection includes many endangered cactus species, which are particularly valuable at a time when the world is threatened by climate change. The impressive garden stands on an ancient lava flow, which over time has created natural waterfalls, caves, and rock gardens. Among the garden’s most unusual inhabitants is the rare tarántula del Pedregal spider.