The average gardener is quite happy working on their lawn, growing their vegetables and watching their flowers grow. However, there are some gardeners out there who have turned gardening into an art form, transforming acres of land into a tranquil paradise. Some of these projects have lasted for decades, becoming lifelong works of art for the designers. Some of the gardens are open to the public.
New Zealand’s “A French Kiss”.
Located in Akaroa, Christchurch, A French Kiss is a stunning design by Ben Hoyle. His design won New Zealand’s Ellerslie International Flower Show with A French Kiss, the sixth time he has come out on top in the competition.
A French Kiss is a sunken oasis that features a lounge area in the middle of a sunken lake that allows visitors to sit below the water line with the comfort of pillows and a seating area. According to Ben Hoyle, it was inspired by a French settlement in the town of Akaroa in New Zealand. The garden moved to New Brighton, an area that suffered serious damage during the 2011 Earthquake.
The “Forestiere Underground Gardens” of the United States
Forestiere Underground Gardens in the United States is located in Fresno, California. The gardens were created by an immigrant from Sicily who spent 40 years working on the garden between 1906 and 1946 when he died. The man’s name was Baldasare and he cited his inspiration as coming from Roman catacombs. He originally built the garden to escape the heat of the Californian heat. Since his death, the gardens have been listed as a historical monument in the state of California.
The underground gardens consist of three floors, containing a number of rooms including a summer bedroom and a winter bedroom. Some of the plants in the garden were planted over a century ago but are protected by the underground garden structure.
The Foresiere Underground Gardens are open to the public to this day, with tours scheduled throughout the year allowing visitors to marvel at the garden’s stunning design. There are also sunset tours available that allow visitors to appreciate the beauty of the garden after hours.
The “Arctic Alpine Botanical Garden” of Norway
Norway’s most stunning garden is known as the northernmost garden of its kind on the planet. The beautiful Arctic Alpine Botanic Garden displays arctic and alpine plants, as the name suggests. The garden has been open since the mid-1990s and is currently managed by a local university.
As well as showcasing stunning Arctic plants, there are also foliage from all over the world including Africa, South America and the Himalayas.
Located 200 miles into the Arctic Circle, the unique location experiences the midnight sun between the months of May and July. From November to January, the area does not see any sunlight. It is completely free to enter the stunning gardens between the months of May and October so if you ever find yourself in Norway a visit to this garden is highly recommended.
Patricia Heinz is a travel and gardening blogger. Her two passions make her visit gardens all over the world. When she is at home she likes to browse www.gardenfurniturecentre.co.uk