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Monday, April 30, 2012

Zagreb Botanical Garden

 Zagreb Botanical Garden, located in Zagreb, Croatia, was built in 1889.  It was originally designed to be a research area for the Zagreb University botany department.
 
The garden covers about twelve acres and contains 10,000 different species of plants.  Visitors can see an arboretum, 14 greenhouses, 3 rock gardens, 2 lakes, and an ornamental bridge.
 


The garden is open from April 1 to November 1.  Hours are Monday and Tuesday from 9:00 AM to 2:30 PM.  Wednesday through Sunday from 9:00 AM to 6:00 PM.  Admission is free.

Saturday, April 28, 2012

Yuan Ming Yuan

 Yuan Ming Yuan, translated, "Garden of Gardens," is located in Dunhuang, China.  It was built in 1707 by the Kangxi emperor, and at one time was considered China's largest and most luxurious imperial garden.  



  Today most of it lies in ruins.  Much of it was destroyed by French and British troops in the Second Opium War of 1860.  Still, it's an interesting place to visit.  On its 865 acres, visitors will see ruins of ancient imperial buildings, along with hills, lakes, ponds, woods, and flowers.

  Some restorations have begun on the garden.  Wanhua (10,000 Flower Maze), a maze of winding paths between low walls, was recently reconstructed in the Changchun Yuan (Garden of Eternal Spring) section.

The garden is open daily from 7:00 AM to 7:00 PM.  Admission is 10 yuan.

Friday, April 27, 2012

Xishuangbanna Tropical Botanical Garden

 Located in Xishuangbanna, China, the Xishuangbanna Tropical Botanical Garden covers an area of almost 2,000 acres.  It is China's largest tropical garden.  The full name of the garden is Tropical Plant Research Institute of the Chinese Academy of Science.  (Big name for a big garden!)  As you can guess, the garden is used for research, and contains over 10,000 species of tropical plants.


There are thirteen separate gardens within the main garden.  These include a tropical fruit tree section, shade plants, palms, water plants, national plants, and medicinal plants.



The garden is open daily from 7:00 AM to 9:00 PM.

Thursday, April 26, 2012

Wuhan Botanical Garden

 Wuhan Botanical Garden, located in Hubei, China, covers over 150 acres and contains over 4,000 species of flora.  It was formed in 1956 as a place for scientists  to study plants native to China.

 

There are several gardens on the property.  These include an Aquatic Plant Garden, Rare Endangered Plant Garden, Chinese Gooseberry Garden, Ornamental Garden, Tree Garden, Pine and Cypress Garden, and Bamboo Garden.

 

 The garden is open daily from 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM.  Admission is 30 yuan.

Wednesday, April 25, 2012

Villa Lante Garden

 Villa Lante Garden, located in Bagnaia, Italy, is a formal Italian garden that covers about fifty acres.  It was designed for Cardinal Gambara in 1568 who lived there in the Villa.  It's a tribute to the lavish lifestyle for those high ranking officials in the Catholic Church at that time. 

Water from nearby Monte Cimino flows down to the fountains of the villa.  From there, it flows down a series of terraces until it reaches the central pool of the regal garden.  It's really a sight to see!

 As you wander through the garden, you will sees statues, grottos, box hedges, and of course, a lot of fountains.
 The garden is open everyday except Monday.  Hours are 9:00 AM - 4:30 PM in the winter, and 9:00 AM - 7:30 PM in the summer.  Admission is 2 euros.

Tuesday, April 24, 2012

UBC Garden

  UBC Garden, located in Vancouver, British Columbia, is Canada's oldest university botanical garden.  It was founded in 1916.  Today it covers over 100 acres, and contains about 12,000 plants from temperate regions all over the world.

 

There are several gardens within the garden.  These include the Alpine Garden, Asian Garden, Carolinian Forest, Food Garden, and Native garden.  Visitors will see magnolias, rhododendrons, dogwood, roses, and a plethora of Alpine flora.

 

  The garden is open daily from 9:30 AM - 5:00 PM.  The best times to visit are April and May, or September and October.  Cost of admission is $8.00 for adults and $4.00 for children.

Monday, April 23, 2012

Tibilisi Botanical Garden

 Tibilisi Botanical Garden is located in Tibilisi, Georgia.  (That's Georgia near Russia - not the United States.)  It covers over 325 acres and contains roughly 3500 different types of plants.

 

The garden was founded in 1625, and was first known as the "royal gardens."  Today visitors can see flora and fauna from all over the world -China, Japan, Turkey, and North America.  The river Tsaukisistskali runs through the area.  Three large bridges cross over it, and under one is a beautiful waterfall, which is probably the main attraction of the garden.  The garden is also noted for its lovely peonies and iris.

 

The garden is open daily from dawn to dusk.

Saturday, April 21, 2012

Shenyang Botanical Garden

  Shenyang Botanical Garden, located in Shenyang City, China, covers 467 acres and contains more than 1,000 species of flowers, trees, and shrubs.  

 As you walk through the garden, you'll see several ponds, waterfalls, and ornate bridges.  There are 20 gardens in all.  These include an azalea garden, peony garden, lilac garden, and rose garden.

 

The gardens are open daily from 8 AM to 5 PM.  Admission is 20 CNY.

Friday, April 20, 2012

Rikugien Garden

  Rikugien Garden, located in Tokyo, Japan, is considered one of the area's most beautiful gardens.  It was built between 1695-1702 by Yanagisawa Yoshiyasu, and in 1938 was donated to the Tokyo city government.












The word, "Rikugien" means "six poems garden."  It's called this because it reproduces in miniature, 88 scenes from famous poems.  The garden is lovely to walk through.  You'll see the central pond, islands, wooded areas, and teahouses.
      

The garden is open daily from 9 AM - 5 PM.  Admission is 300 yen.  Note:  There are no parking lots here, so you'll have to walk from the Tokyo Metro Namboku Line.  It's about a 7 -10 minute walk from there.


   

Thursday, April 19, 2012

Queen Sirikit Botanical Garden



  The Queen Sirikit Botanical Garden is located in Chiangmai, Thailand, within the lush mountains of Doi Pui-Suthap.  The property of the garden covers over seven miles (yes, that's correct - miles), and features collections of rare and endangered species of native flora.

 

The garden was opened in 1992.  Today it features 4 exhibitions and 8 glass houses.  These include a rain forest plant collection, cacti collection, and aquatic plant collection.

 

For those of you who like to hike, there are a large number of trails on the property that lead through the forest.  Most take one to two hours to hike.

  The garden is open daily from 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM.