It’s summer! And a wonderful time of year to appreciate the stunning parks and gardens that surround us. Oases of peace, nature and vibrant joy, those of us living in cities especially appreciate the beauty of our parks and gardens. Let us look at some particularly colourful examples from around the world!

Keukenhof Tulip Garden, The Netherlands

The Netherlands is synonymous with tulips, and a stroll through downtown Amsterdam will prove this in abundance as there are tulip shaped souvenirs at every corner. However, if you really want the real deal, head to Keukenhof Tulip Garden, one of the most colourful places on earth between March and May every year! Also known as the Garden of Europe, Keukenhof Tulip Garden has seven million flower bulbs of 800 different varieties! Although known for tulips, the garden also showcases hyacinths, daffodils, lilies, roses, carnations, irises and more. Every year the garden has a different theme, delighting visitors since 1950.

Butchart Gardens, Vancouver Island, Canada

These gardens originate back to 1904 when the Buchart family moved to the island to start a cement factory! While cement and beautiful gardens don’t seemingly go hand in hand, this garden is the result of a reimagined cement quarry from where limestone had been removed. Jennie Butchart created this masterful sunken garden and the results are for everyone to enjoy! By 1929, the garden had expanded to include the Japanese Garden, the Italian Garden, and the Rose Garden. The garden remains with the Butchart family and is a National Historic Site of Canada.

Bamboo Forest, Kyoto, Japan

While neither a manicured park nor an explosion of flowers, there is something exceedingly calming and magical about the swaying of bamboo in the wind. If you’d like to experience the sound of trees, go to the Bamboo Forest in Arashiyama district of Kyoto. The famous Tenryuji temple nearby is an important local shrine and this bamboo grove is a popular spot to combine it with. The tall bamboo stalks sway to a meditative tempo and create a surreal soundscape when winds pass through them. The serenity of the scene is further enhanced when sunlight filters through the trees at the right angle.

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