“If you have a garden and a library, you have everything you need,” were apparently the sage words of famous Roman, Cicero.

But while browsing bookshelves can be fulfilling, not much compares to the natural beauty of a garden. In the UK, the average garden is 50ft. long with ten different kinds of flowers, a barbecue and a water feature — according to a report by Foxtons, an estate agent. But what about the most luxurious, expensive and extravagant gardens across the planet?

Browse this list of unusual and beautiful gardens from around the world in our outdoor guide by Arbordeck — a supplier of composite decking boards.

France: The Gardens of the Palace of Versailles

The reign of King Louis XIV was all about wealth and beauty. Designed and renovated by André Le Nôtre in 1661, the monarch’s gardens surrounding the Palace of Versailles in France today offer some of the most striking landscapes in the world.

This project took a long time to complete. Across four decades, Le Nôtre worked with artists and architects to design the gardens — with each project being overseen by the monarch. The renovation consisted of creating canals, shifting soil and transporting trees from various regions in the country at a time when the logistics and construction industries were obviously nowhere near as advanced as today.

In 2018, you can now enjoy the gardens’ orangery, or perhaps simply stroll passed towering marble sculptures, beautiful parterres and peaceful waterfalls.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BTrx62lFq5T/?tagged=gardensofversailles

England: Kew Gardens

33% of Brits are competitive when it comes to gardening, according to the earlier-mentioned Foxtons survey. This suggests that we have an affinity for aesthetically pleasing outdoor spaces, rather than just area that we can grow vegetables or do DIY.

Kew Gardens is a very popular place to see for both Brits and international tourists. According to the most recent report, Kew Gardens attracted 20% more visitors than the previous year, implying that our love of attractive gardens is growing.

The iconic glasshouse is surrounded by a collection of rare plants and immaculately kept lawns. In the evening, the area is illuminated spectacularly and during the day, you can wander around a maze of water features, buildings — such as the 18^th-century pagoda — and wildlife — from peacocks and robins, to ducks and Chinese water dragons. Planning a visit? Make time for The Hive — a 17-metre, multi-sensory construction that changes depending on bee activity.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BGtyK5SGlHm/?taken-by=kewgardens

The Netherlands: Keukenhof Gardens

The 32-hectare Keukenhof Gardens features around seven million flowers — including 800 types of tulip in various shades and shapes. Perhaps it’s because Brits spend around £1.5 billion on garden plants every year, according to the Horticultural Trades Association, that this destination is popular.

Despite being a beautiful place and an excellent spot for a holiday, the Keukenhof Gardens is only open for two months a year, so be careful when you visit. Here, you’re treated to a blend of English and French horticultural designs filled with old beech trees and pretty ponds, and there’s also a petting zoo home to miniature pigs, giant rabbits and alpacas!

https://www.instagram.com/p/Be4zjQLhnid/?tagged=keukenhofgardens

The USA: Bookworm Garden

Bookworm Gardens, in the state of Wisconsin, is a quirky, botanic environment that is designed around our favourite childhood tales.

With an aim to fuse a love of the outdoors with an affinity for books, Bookworm Gardens opened in 2010 as a non-profit organisation and now features fun buildings and characters from books such as The Tale of Peter Rabbit. With turkeys, owls, chipmunks and butterflies calling Bookworm Gardens home, it’s no surprise that the venue is a top place for families and schools.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BaPFdoMgXrt/?tagged=bookwormgardens

Singapore: Gardens by the Bay

Gardens by the Bay is 250 acres in size and comprises a trio of waterfront areas containing more than a million plants.

Into quirky venues and intrigued by what the years to come may look like? This futuristic-looking garden gives the impression of a grown-over city centuries from now, with huge towers, glassed domes, immaculate walkways, and immense water features surrounded by exotic trees and vivid plants. Clearly, it’s a popular destination — Gardens by the Bay has attracted more than 40 million people to date and is even one of the top-20 checked-in places on Earth by Facebook users.

Visit Flower Dome — the largest glass greenhouse in the world — or head to Supertree Grove, which is a network of illuminated, tree-shaped vertical gardens. At Gardens by the Bay, you can explore rare flowers and endangered plants. Plus, you can experience memorable views from the 22-metre high aerial walkway.

https://www.instagram.com/p/Be2JLR8BYt9/?tagged=gardensbythebay

Scotland: Garden of Cosmic Speculation

Science geeks and puzzle fans will adore this destination — found in Dumfries, Scotland. This 30-acre garden was made by architect, Charles Jencks, and offers visitors the chance to explore ideas, theories and global influences — from black holes to oriental landscaping! There are terraces, sculptures, lakes, bridges, and a labyrinth of witty architectural works at Garden of Cosmic Speculation. Designed to detail the story of the universe and complexities of space and time, you can spend hours working out what Jencks meant by checked terraces, snail-formed mounds and zigzagging staircases.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BTwB6a5lPRr/?taken-at=271775810

Sources:

https://hta.org.uk/learn-develop/market-information/garden-industry-statistics.html

https://www.thesun.co.uk/news/3692942/british-garden-research-gnome-bbq-sheds-summer/

https://www.kew.org/sites/default/files/RBG%20Kew%2016-17%20Annual%20Report%20and%20Accounts.pdf

https://www.kew.org/kew-gardens/attractions/the-hive

http://en.chateauversailles.fr/discover/estate/gardens

http://www.gardensbythebay.com.sg/en/attractions/ocbc-skyway.html

https://keukenhof.nl/en/#discover-the-park

https://www.travelwisconsin.com/arts-and-culture/bookworm-gardens-208647

http://www.bookwormgardens.org/

http://scotlandsgardens.org/portrack-the-garden-of-cosmic-speculation/