six of the most extraordinary garden oases around the world
gardens have been a cornerstone of human culture since adam, eve, and that fateful apple. part art, part science, these carefully engineered landscapes tell the story of human entanglement with nature. today, no matter where you go in the world, you’ll find gardens of all shapes and sizes, all of which speak to a region’s unique biodiversity and culture. below, we detail six of the most extraordinary garden oases around the world, from zen gardens to hotel jungles.
manon les suites, copenhagen, denmark
a balinese-inspired oasis is not what you’d expect to find in the heart of denmark’s fashionable capital, but that’s exactly what makes manon les suites so charming. the five-star boutique hotel offers an unexpected yet welcome retreat from the hustle and bustle of copenhagen. the highlight of the hotel is its central atrium, a pool courtyard surrounded by tropical plants, dangling fish lights, and giant terracotta pots suspended in the air.
just outside of central adelaide sits mount lofty botanic gardens, a sprawling oasis of cool-climate plants that offer a bounty of surprises no matter the season. set over 97 hectares and overlooking picadilly valley, the grounds are home to an incredible diversity of gardens - from one of australia’s richest collections of ferns to a magical collection of asian and indian flower species. its winding trails throughout the gardens of varying difficulties are perfect for a weekend escape from the city.
opened in 1903, the isabella stewart gardener museum was modelled after a 15th century venetian palace and is home to one of the world’s most incredible art collections. the centrepiece of the museum is a piece of art in itself - a stunning courtyard garden that’s a real life rendition of the renaissance paintings found throughout the building. the grounds are also home to some wonderful external gardens ideal for a lazy stroll after exploring the museum’s art.
opened in 1924 by french landscape painter jacques majorelle, jardin majorelle projects a technicolour vision of over 300 plant species in the heart of the moroccan desert. the desert species are thrown into relief against majorelle’s royal blue art studio, that today houses a collection of indigenous art. the garden was saved from destruction by hotel developers in 1980 by yves saint laurent and pierre bergé, and is now one of the most iconic landmarks in marrakech.
housed on the grounds of the orchard of a former convent, oaxaca’s jardin etnobotanico showcases the rich biodiversity and history of the region. the vestiges of the garden’s history have been restored, with old pathways, ceramic kilns, and a central pond lending character to the thriving garden. as the garden’s founders emphasise, it has been named an ‘ethno’ botanical garden due to the cultural significance its plants hold to oaxaca’s indigenous groups.
north west of kyoto lies ryoanji, a 15th century temple famous for its zen garden. its garden is one of the most well-preserved surviving examples of kare-sansui, a kind of zen garden characterised by distinctive, large rock formations set against raked sand. visitors sit on the veranda of the temple courtyard to take in the garden’s serene presence, that has been arranged so that 14 boulders can be seen from any viewing angle.
