The origins of the modern botanic gardens date back to the Medieval Era, being associated with the medicinal gardens known as physic gardens, the Italians being the first to create one. They are often run by universities and offer their visitors both educational and recreational opportunities. Let’s take a look at 10 of the most inspirational botanic gardens in the world!
1. Montreal’s Botanical Garden, Montreal, Canada
More than 190 acres of greenhouses and thematic gardens make of this place a National Historic Site of Canada and one of the most important gardens in the world. From February to April they also host the Butterflies Go Free exhibit. It’s a place that will teach you about horticulture and the conservation of endangered species. They have plants from all around the world. The city of Lyon donated a monument to Montreal, on the occasion of the 350th anniversary of this city in 1992. Nowadays, the Lion de la Feuillée, a bronze wild cat, lies at the entrance of the rose garden.
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2. Auckland Botanic Gardens, Auckland, New Zealand
Here you can immerse yourself in more than 150 acres of pure beauty, a place that hosts more than 10 000 inspirational plants. The main point of the research conducted in this area is to identify those species that are best suited to grow in the local conditions. It is also home for many threatened New Zealand native plants, such as Euphorbia glauca. This place will remind you of the fragility of life itself.
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3. Eilat Botanic Garden, Eilat, Israel
This is an amazing oasis of colors, watching over the Arava Valley and being one of the best spots to enjoy the views over the mountains of Jordan. It’s a place built from nothing, covering the remains of an old army guarding point. Thousands of species of herbs, bushes, ornamental trees and exotic flowers were brought here from all around the world, as if to decorate the Red Sea.
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4. Royal Flora Ratchaphruek, Chiang Mai, Thailand
A picturesque landscape which can be visited both by bicycles and electric bus. Chill, peaceful and very good for jogging as well. From December o February it hosts a very impressive flower festival, commemorating the birthdays of the Royal House of Thailand. The Ratchaphruek (Golden Shower Tree) is also the national flower of Thailand.
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5. Wellington Botanic Gardens, New Zealand
This is a protection area for thousands of native species, extended on around 25 hectares of land. Here, tourists can enjoy walking, jogging, admiring the beauty of nature or taking their children to the playground. The place also features a large Victorian-style glasshouse and the National Observatory of New Zealand.
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6. Fairchild Tropical Botanic Gardens, Miami, Florida, USA
This is a 83-acre Paradise for a huge collection of rare tropical plants like cycads and palms, located in metropolitan Miami. It is a conservation research facility and a museum at the same time. Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden also sponsors the exhibits of new artists every year, hosting galleries and festivals.
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7. Botanischer Garten und Botanisches Museum, Germany
This one was constructed between 1897 and 1910, with the main goal of presenting exotic plants imported from German colonies. A large scientific library attached to the Botanical Museum and the Herbarium Berolinense make of this place an incantation for the mind, not to mention the numerous monuments decorating the alleys, making them even more attractive.
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8. Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden, Cape Town, South Africa
This is a very popular tourist attraction, located on the eastern slopes of the Table Mountain. Created in 1913, this Eden embraces more than 1300 acres of terrains on which only indigenous plants are cultivated. The gardens are also famous for their trails, leading to the summit of Table Mountain, thus making it a must visit for mountaineering enthusiasts.
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9. Acharya Jagadish Chandra Bose Indian Botanic Garden, Kolkata, India
Over 12,000 species of plants have the opportunity to grow and evolve in this wide reservation, occupying over 100 hectares. The jackal and the Indian fox also populate the gardens. The most popular attraction of this place is The Grand Banyan, the largest tree on Earth, having more than 330 metres in circumference.
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10. Brooklyn Botanic Garden, New York, United States
New York is a huge chaotic city and its inhabitants really needed a natural wonder to forget about the smog. At Brooklyn’s Botanic Garden, they can really enjoy the amazing feeling of walking through the many specialty gardens and collections, which give them the opportunity of admiring more than 10,000 species of plants. The garden attracts about one million tourists each year.
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