One of the pleasures of being a gardener is visiting other people’s gardens. First there is the pure enjoyment of walking around flowers and shrubs and appreciating the colors and scents of the different plants. Then there is the opportunity to learn and pick up tips from what you see on your visit. It will be a rare occasion when you return from a garden visit without some new idea that you can try in your own garden. So take a look at these breathtaking gardens which I found on the Daily Eight website.

1. Butchart Gardens ? Canada
Created in 1904, these gardens are visited by nearly a million people every year in Victoria, British Columbia. Over a million plants in approximately 900 varieties bloom constantly from March through October on 55 acres. A Japanese garden, an Italian garden and a rose garden have helped to make Butchart Gardens a popular tourist destination.

2. Garden of Cosmic Speculation ? Scotland
Creator Charles Jencks designed this unique private garden encompassing 30 acres of Scotland. Science and mathematics provide the theme for 40 areas of focus including gardens, sculptures and bridges. Visitors can trek to the tiniest building blocks of matter on the Quark Walk or see fractal geometry amid various lakes and landforms.

3. Nong Nooch Tropical Botanic Garden ? Thailand
This 600 acre site boasts 200 acres of gardens and contains an impressive cycad and palm collection, one of the world?s finest. Highlights include the European Renaissance garden, a Stonehenge feature and a 17th-century French garden. Over 670 native orchid species and hybrids are housed within the orchid nursery, the largest collection in Thailand.

See more at the Daily Eight