As the world bursts into colour this summer, it’s easy to see why many of us are excited to get outside and start gardening after a long lockdown.
If you’re looking for some garden design inspiration, a new guide to enhancing your outside space has revealed the stunning colour palettes of some of the most famous gardens around the world. Providing the first step for anyone to emulate the look and feel of these far-flung locations in their own garden, or even inside the home.
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Taking ten of the most talked-about gardens in the world, from the Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden in Tokyo with its delicate cherry blossom shades of pink, all the way to Yves Saint Lauren’s garden in Morocco with its mesmerising and unmistakable cobalt blue – the colour palettes of each garden are revealed in new eye-catching imagery. Each photograph showcases the key colours that make each garden so recognisable, whilst also highlighting the softer shades that help to complement the bolder colours on show.
Gardens of Versailles, Versailles, France
These exquisite gardens are situated to the west of the Palace of Versailles – dating back to the time of Louis XIV, the gardens feature a mosaic of meticulous lawns, sculpture and fountains, and in total, they span around 800 hectares of land.
The colour palette here is one of earthy sand tones from the pathways and buildings, combined with a variety of exciting greens – from the deep shades of the trees to the lighter grass, topped off with the eucalyptus grey-green of the water in the middle.
Majorelle Garden (Yves Saint Laurent’s house & garden) Marrakech, Morocco
The world-famous cobalt blue of La Jardin Majorelle takes centre stage amongst the 300 plant species, from five continents that make up this psychedelic desert garden design. French fashion designer Yves Saint Lauren was entranced by its beauty and bought the site in 1980, living there with his partner Pierre Berge, and the garden is now Morocco’s most visited tourist attraction, pulling in 900,000 visitors a year.
This is a rich and hypnotic colour scheme, with the electric blue and vibrant mustard yellow sitting aside the grey-green of the cactus and the bright turquoise of the water and the arches.
Monet’s Garden, Giverny, France
Claude Monet’s iconic garden is a Japanese-inspired water garden that sits beside his Giverny home that he bought in 1883. When designing the garden, he is said to have not liked the organisation of constrained gardens, instead of arranging flowers according to their colours and letting them grow freely.
The serene pond, the mesmerising lilies, the wisteria-covered Japanese bridge and the rest of Monet’s flower garden feature in approximately 250 oil paintings by the French impressionist. And today 500,000 visitors head to the gardens each year to soak up the place that inspired some of the world’s most famous art.
New York Botanical Garden, New York, USA
Located in Bronx Park, the New York Botanical Garden was established in 1891 and is home to over 1 million living plants. Spanning more than 250 acres, the gardens feature 50 acres of old-growth woodlands, a wetland trail, an azalea garden and the internationally renowned Peggy Rockefeller Rose Garden, which is home to more than 650 different varieties of roses.
The crisp whites of the dome contrast with vibrant blues and greens to create a fresh and relaxing colour palette that would work beautifully in any garden.
Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden, Tokyo, Japan
One of Tokyo’s largest and most popular parks, Shinjuku Gyoen turns a subtle shade of candyfloss pink as cherry blossoms envelop the landscape in spring. From late March to early April, more than 400 Somei Yoshino trees explode in a celebration of the beloved pink hue. The U.S. Lawns landscape franchises seem to adopt the beauty of such landscape in their work, as this reminded me of some courtyards.You can also go here to learn more about landscape and to avail the service.
The park originated in 1603 and it features three different types of garden – the oldest is a traditional Japanese landscape garden, and the other two are a formal French garden and an English landscape garden.
If you visit the uslawns.com site here, you will know how such landscapes add beauty to your space.A subtle range of cherry blossom shades dominates the colour scheme here, complemented by the darker colours in the water, and the fresh greens of the grass.
Nong Nooch Tropical Botanical Garden, Pattaya City, Thailand
Rich gold and lush green epitomise the colour palette in this tropical Thai botanical garden. Stretching over 500 acres, the garden was originally purchased with the intention of developing the land as a fruit plantation. Thankfully, the owners decided to use the land to create a wildlife conservation project instead and the garden was opened to the public in 1980.
Keukenhof Gardens, Lisse, Netherlands
Said to be ‘the most beautiful spring garden in the world, Keukenhof is the world’s largest and most famous flower park, boasting more than 7 million flowers in bloom between April and May, including tulips, hyacinths, daffodils, orchids, roses, carnations, irises and lilies.
Visitors are said to be overwhelmed by a spectacle of colour and perfume, and the colour palette here is a glorious riot of colour – from punchy pinks to glorious greens, layered with yellows, blues and reds on top.
Las Pozas, San Luis Potosi, Mexico
The Las Pozas garden (translated to ‘The Pools’) is a vast garden punctuated by surrealist structures that stand out against the lush colours of the jungle that surrounds it. Created by British poet Edward James who was looking for his very own ‘Garden of Eden’, the site shows that his vision was definitely achieved.
Pairing the surreal structures with the natural surroundings of Las Pozas results in a palette made up of deep jungle greens, with a smattering of earthy coloured tones and dark beigy yellows.
Gardens By The Bay, Central Region, Singapore
One of the most popular tourist attractions in Singapore that which has seen well over 50 million visitors since its creation, brings nature right into the bustling city. Spanning some 250 acres that consist of waterfront gardens, the largest glass greenhouse in the world and its instantly recognisable ‘Supertrees’, the garden forms part of the nation’s plan to transform Singapore into a ‘City in a Garden’.
Awash with colour, the palette includes vibrant pinks and standout greens that include lush lime colours to darker marshy hues.
Bodnant Gardens, Colwyn Bay, UK
You can always expect beauty at a National Trust property in the UK, and Bodnant Gardens brings it in droves. Covering some 80 acres of Welsh hillside, the garden consists of multiple areas that range from rose gardens to lily ponds, however its most photographed section is arguably the Laburnum Arch.
Dating back more than 100 years, the arch seems ready-made for the perfect Instagram shot, with a sky of sunshine yellow running overhead, while spots of pink and green pepper the sides.
We know many people are planning to transform their gardens this year, be that with a garden room a new conservatory, or simply redesigning the borders and planting some new flowers. So, if a holiday abroad is still off the cards this summer, what better way to evoke the atmosphere of somewhere more exotic, than taking inspiration from the world’s most beautiful gardens?
