March is synonymous with fresh blooms, warm sun and pleasant winds. Spring is here and the fact we can’t get out of our houses at this time doesn’t mean we can’t appreciate the season. We can’t go out to the gardens, but we can make them come to us. Here are 10 virtual tours of stunning gardens that you can take from the comfort of your house:
Waddesdon Manor, England
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Waddesdon Manor was built in the 1870s by Baron Ferdinand de Rothschild. Since the family was keen on art, Waddesdon Manor was built to display collections, and to entertain fashionable guests. It is now home to Rothschild Collections of paintings, sculpture and decorative arts. The gardens here, three of them, have been restored and can be cherished by the visitors. Did you know that the Parterre Garden here is planted with a new design every year with around 1,10,000 different varieties of coloured plants? The other two, the Aviary and the Water gardens have also been restored for visitors. Take a virtual tour and witness their charm.
Claude Monet’s Garden, France
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Claude Monet, famous French painter and founder of French Impressionist painting, has left behind a legacy in terms of art. His garden is laid out in two parts, a flower garden in the front and water garden at the back. The former is laid out in themed borders with tulips, iris, and oriental poppies, amongst others. It is also believed that these flowers provided the inspiration to Monet’s paintings. The water gardens are a replica of the Japanese bridge that featured in Monet’s paintings. If you are an art lover, Monet’s house will amaze you and at the same time inspire you. You can take a virtual tour of the garden here.
Chicago Botanic Garden
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The four decade old Chicago Botanic Garden is one of the world’s greatest conservation centres. With more than a million annual visitors, the garden boasts is known for its lake shoreline and its bonsai collection. If your interest lies in horticulture, then Chicago Botanic Garden has plenty to offer. With winter getting over and spring overshadowing it, the garden is all set to welcome daffodils and many other flower varieties. A virtual tour of the garden can be accessed here.
University of Oxford Botanic Garden
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From visiting glasshouses to relaxing at UK’s oldest botanic garden, the University of Oxford Botanic Garden has plenty of options. With almost 5,000 different types of plants, the garden is a hub for biodiversity right in the heart of the city. It has unique plant collections and definitely requires more than just a single visit. Even on a virtual tour, there are plenty of things that you can see. The tour can be accessed here.
Hampton Court Palace Gardens, England
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The gardens at Hampton Court Palace are 500 years old and were the playground of kings and queens. Over time, they have incorporated contemporary ideas while retaining their old-world charm. The gardens retain a strong influence of the monarchs and their gardeners. While on a virtual tour here, look out for the Great Fountain Garden, the Privy Garden, the Great Vine, the Maze and many others. We suggest you keep plenty of time handy. The virtual tour can be accessed here.
Kew Gardens, England
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One of the most gardens in the world has to be the Royal Botanic Gardens of Kew, They will drive you close to nature right from your living room. A vast collection of 14,000 trees, a lake, a tranquil Japanese garden and walk borders are only some of the highlights. The virtual tour can be accessed on their website as well as their channel.
United States Botanic Garden, US
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The US Botanic Garden iwas established in 1820. It is one of the oldest botanic gardens in North America and showcase sustainability, and plant conservation. A virtual tour of the garden can be accessed here.
Hawaii Tropical Botanical Garden, Hawaii
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This one is a stunner. It isn't just a pretty garden. It's a bioreserve and a museum of living plants that attracts visitors from across the world. Their collection of tropical plants is world renowned. The garden is home to over 2,000 species, representing more than 125 families and 750 genera. The nature trails here comprise of tropical rainforest, streams and waterfalls as well as the rugged Pacific coast. A virtual tour of this paradise can be accessed here.