Winter starts off exciting, but it ends as we grow utterly weary of snow, ice, and cold temperatures- 2015 more than most. But spring is coming around the corner and it’s time to dream of nature’s yearly renewal and blooming flowers and those lovely green spaces we call gardens. And just in time for those dreams, Roads Publishing presents Reflections: Gardens, available March 15th, with a forward by Andrew Grant.   

Francis Bacon once said, “God Almighty first planted a garden. And indeed, it is the purest of human pleasures.” Gardens are our connection to the earth, a restorative place to relax and contemplate the wonder of nature. The great gardens of the world are a each reflection of the culture that created them, a theme explored in the book Gardens. I was delighted to get a preview of the book in gorgeous photographs, and which Neatorama is proud to share with you.  

Desert Botanical Garden -- Arizona, USA
(Photo courtesy of Desert Botanical Gardens)

The Desert Botanical Garden was founded in Papago Park in the northern part of the Sonora Desert by the Arizona Cactus and Native Flora Society in 1939.

Gardens by the Bay -- Singapore
(Photo courtesy of Far East Organization Children's Garden, Gardens by the Bay)

Gardens by the Bay -- Singapore
(Photo courtesy of Far East Organization Children's Garden, Gardens by the Bay)

The most astounding feature of the gardens are undoubtedly the ‘Supertrees’ which are home to enclaves of unique and exotic ferns and vines. There is an elevated walkway between two of the larger supertrees which allows visitors to enjoy an aerial view of the gardens.

Het Loo -- Gelderland, The Netherlands
(Photo courtesy of See Holland)

Originally laid out in the Dutch baroque style for William and Mary of Orange between 1686 and 1695, these gardens were transformed by Louis Napoleon around 1807 when the walls and stairways were replaced with an array of fine trees.

Keukenhof -- Lisse, The Netherlands
(Photo courtesy of Keukenhof Lentepark)

The world’s largest flower garden was created in the fifteenth century by the Countess of Holland, Jacoba van Beieren, for growing fruit and vegetables.

Lost Gardens of Heligan -- Cornwall, England
(Image credit: (c) Tracy Packer)

Situated on the estate on which the Cornish Tremayne family were resident for over 400 years, the Lost Gardens of Heligan offer the visitor over 80 hectares to explore.

Château de Marqueyssac -- Aquitane, France
(Photo courtesy of Laugery-Les Jardins de Marqueyssac-Dordogne)

The Château de Marqueyssac is a seventeenth-century building offering superb panoramic views of the Dordogne valley. It was built by Bertrand Vernet de Marqueyssac, Counsellor to Louis XIV. In 1861, it was inherited by Julien de Cerval, who had a passion for gardens, having spent time in Italy. He redesigned the series of terraced gardens and planted more than 150,000 boxwood trees carved into fantastical rounded shapes.

Namba Parks -- Osaka, Japan
(Photo courtesy of Jerde)

The most distinguishing feature of Namba Parks is undisputedly the rooftop park that connects to the street and ascends eight levels, inviting visitors into the groves of trees, lawns, water features and other natural amenities, all placed around a man-made canyon. This innovative design creates quiet pockets of green in which to dine and relax within a busy urban environment.

Powerscourt Gardens -- Wicklow, Ireland
(Photo courtesy of Powerscourt Estate)

Set on almost 20 hectares, visitors today enjoy its Triton pool and fountain, the Italian and Japanese gardens, statues and ornamental lakes, rambling walks, tree-lined avenues, cascades, grottos and a very unusual pet cemetery.

Schau- und Sichtungsgarten Hermannhof -- Hessen, Germany
(Image credit: (c) Jerry Harpur)

The garden cultivates about 2,500 species, and in spring it is host to vast swathes of tulips. It also has a peony collection and a North American prairie garden, and many of the garden’s trees, including a giant sequoia, date back to its very beginnings.

Gardens of Versailles -- Île-de-France, France
(Photo courtesy of Toucan Wings)

The greatest of baroque formal gardens, the Gardens of Versailles, situated to the west of the palace, cover some 800 hectares of land, much of which was landscaped by André Le Nôtre under the orders of Louis XIV. The gardens are now one of the most visited public sites in France, receiving more than six million visitors a year.

Château de Villandry -- Centre, France
(Image credit: (c) Jerry Harpur)

The château was bought by Dr Joachim Carvallo in 1906 and, with the help of fourteenth century texts, he spent eighteen years restoring the elaborate gardens to their original strict geometric layout.

These are just a taste of the many beautiful gardens and gorgeous images in the new book Reflections: Gardens, with text in four languages, available March 15th from Roads Publishing. Order yours from Amazon.