Gardens Near and Far

Kenroku-en

Gardens Near and Far episode 33 – Kenroku-en

Gardens Near and Far episode 33: With its lake, its waterfalls and its 8000 trees belonging to 18 different species, this vast garden is one of the most beautiful in Japan. Kenroku-en, meaning the garden of six virtues, is in the city of Kanazawa.     As Kanazawa’s harsh winter approaches, the gardeners engage in a curious airborne ballet. They are putting up Yuki-tsuri – giant bamboo and rope umbrellas designed to keep the weight of the snow off the big trees. Landscape architect Jean-Philippe Teyssier takes us on a discovery of the most beautiful gardens in France and the […]

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Gardens Near and Far episode 32 – Jnan Sbil

Gardens Near and Far episode 32 – Jnan Sbil

Gardens Near and Far episode 32 – Jnan Sbil: at the intersection of the old city and the vast new city, the garden of Jnan Sbil, meaning “paradise” in Arabic, stretches for over 7 hectares. The city of Fez, in the North of Morocco, possesses the world’s largest Medina.     In the 18 th century, it was created by Sultan Moulay Abdallah and became a public garden last century. Its outstanding vegetation is made up of numerous varieties such as eucalyptus, pine and palm, all over a century old. An atmosphere of balminess and peace reigns in the middle

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Gardens Near and Far episode 31 – Hanbury

Gardens Near and Far episode 31 – Hanbury

Gardens Near and Far episode 31 – Hanbury : Out on cape Mortola – between Menton and Ventimiglia – the Hanbury garden will mesmerize you with its beautiful landscapes. This classified site protects the Italian coast on about 6 kilometers. The splendor of nineteenth century botanical gardens combines harmoniously with exotic species imported from the world over.     In the middle of the nineteenth century, the Brit Thomas Hanbury and his brother Daniel – coming from a family of botanists – buy the estate. They were raised by devout Quakers who taught them a deep sense of respect and

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Maria Luisa Park

Gardens Near and Far episode 29 – Maria Luisa Park

Gardens Near and Far episode 29: spanning 34 hectares, the Maria Luisa Park, which is a mosaic of gardens, constitutes the lungs of the city of Seville. It was opened to the public in 1914.     The park illustrates the landscape theories of town planner and botanist Jean Nicolas Forestier, who was convinced of the need for green spaces in cities, at the start of the 20th century. The French architect / landscape gardener arrived in Spain having spent part of his career in Morocco, where he discovered the Arab culture of gardens. He adapted this culture to Seville’s

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Royal Botanical Garden Edinburgh

Gardens Near and Far episode 28 – Royal Botanical Garden Edinburgh

Gardens Near and Far episode 28: The Royal Botanical Garden Edinburgh was established in 1670, at the time of the British Empire’s major expeditions.     At the time, botanists travelled the world collecting plants, studying them, and presenting to the public, students and plant lovers.Up until the 16th century, the plants were used in treating disease or for food. Subsequently, they were collected for classification and study, and formed the foundations of botanical science. Landscape architect Jean-Philippe Teyssier takes us on a discovery of the most beautiful gardens in France and the world. The gardeners, landscapers, horticulturalists, architects, historians

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Inverewe

Gardens Near and Far episode 27 – Inverewe

Gardens Near and Far episode 27 – Inverewe: At the end of the 19th century, in the north west of the Highlands, Scottish aristocrat Osgood Mackenzie decided to create an oasis of exotic plants on his windswept land.     Loch Ewe is an arm of sea, where the influence of the Gulf Stream has enabled numerous plants from Chile, Nepal and South Africa to adapt. These 25 hectares of vegetable-growing land, forest and gardens are a veritable exception in this latitude, close to that of southern Greenland. Landscape architect Jean-Philippe Teyssier takes us on a discovery of the most

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Gardens Near and Far episode 26 – Domaine du Rayol

Gardens Near and Far episode 26 – Domaine du Rayol

Gardens Near and Far episode 26: the Domaine du Rayol is a surprising 20-hectare garden in which exotic plants live in harmony with Mediterranean scrubland.     Contemporary landscape gardener Gilles Clément gave the garden its current diversity. With his concept of “planetary garden”, he revolutionised the way gardens are perceived. Certain species have adapted to the Mediterranean environment thanks to age-old strategies revealing the incredible intelligence of the vegetal world. Landscape architect Jean-Philippe Teyssier takes us on a discovery of the most beautiful gardens in France and the world. The gardeners, landscapers, horticulturalists, architects, historians and estate managers he

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Quinta da Regaleira

Gardens Near and Far episode 25 – Quinta da Regaleira

Gardens Near and Far episode 25: created in the 16th century in Sinta, 40 km from Lisbon, the Quinta da Regaleira was a garden for the acclimatization of exotic plants that the Portuguese navigators brought back from their travels to Asia and the Americas.     In the 19th century, a famous owner, Antonio Augusto Carvalho Monteiro, was to make his mark on the place. He added various symbols, mysteries and enigmas for visitors to the 4-hectare garden. The resulting singular atmosphere of disconcerting strangeness makes this garden one of the most surprising places in the area around Lisbon. Landscape

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Palacio dos Marqueses de Fronteira

Gardens Near and Far episode 24 – Palacio dos Marqueses de Fronteira

Gardens Near and Far episode 24 – Palacio dos Marqueses de Fronteira: this baroque garden is decorated with thousands of small mosaic tiles, the famous “Azulejos” that recount the glory of the re-conquest of the independence of Portugal in the 16th century.     Despite its regular appearance, the garden evokes the Moor palaces with their refreshing fountains, thanks to a hydraulic system from Arab culture. Since the 17th century, the palace and its garden have been handed down from generation to generation within the same family. Landscape architect Jean-Philippe Teyssier takes us on a discovery of the most beautiful

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Valsanzibio

Gardens Near and Far episode 21 – Valsanzibio

Gardens Near and Far episode 21 – Valsanzibio: The Valsanzibio gardens, located in the heart of the Southern Padua hills, span eight hectares. The gardens are the work of the Barbarigo family, who were wealthy 17th century Venetian traders.     They are thought to have been created as a sign of gratitude to God for having spared the family from the plague in 1631. The design of the Valsanzibio gardens is attributed to Luigi Bernini, brother of the famous sculptor Bernini. The garden’s architecture is based on large boxwood hedges, and the place invites strollers on a spiritual journey.

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Garden of Padua

Gardens Near and Far episode 20 – Garden of Padua

Gardens Near and Far episode 20: Located in North East of Italy, in the heart of Veneto, the garden of Padua is the oldest botanical garden in the world. Founded in 1545, it dates back to the origin of botanical science.     With its plants from all over the world and its ancient trees from Asia, the garden of Padua takes us on a journey back in time. The botanical garden’s library contains a great many works that retrace the evolution of the science of plants, from the Middle Ages to the present day.   Gardens Near and Far

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Het Loo

Gardens Near and Far episode 19 – Het Loo

In the 17th century, William III of Orange and his wife Mary II acquired the estate of Het Loo, creating over 650 hectares of woodland and parkland, in an outstanding garden inspired by the French baroque gardens of the time.     The flowerbeds are not merely decorative elements designed to attract the eye. They are also intended to be a display power and glory. In the 19th century, the royal garden was transformed into a romantic style park. In 1970, the Dutch State decided to restore the garden’s original appearance. The garden, which is the pride of the Dutch

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