18 Things You Can Learn From The Most Famous Gardens In The World

Don't let these breathtaking gardens scare the crap out of you! Just because they're world famous, doesn't mean you can't learn from them. Get a start on your own garden with Miracle-Gro.

1. Claude Monet's Garden, Giverny, France

jpitha (CC BY-SA http://2.0) / Via Flickr: jpitha

Tip: A garden doesn't need to be constrained to be beautiful. Claude Monet planted flowers according to their colors and left them to grow freely.

2. Master of the Nets Garden, Suzhou, China

Rita Heine (CC BY-ND http://2.0) / Via Flickr: rita-h

Tip: Classical Chinese gardens blend architecture, art, and nature — ponds, rock works, trees, and flowers. When planning your garden, emphasize the harmony between your home and garden.

3. Alhambra, Granada, Spain

Steven Gerner (CC BY-SA http://2.0) / Via Flickr: sgerner

Tip: Traditional Moorish gardens were created as a place for relaxation and meditation. Think about what your happy place includes — a pond, daffodils, a hammock — when planning your garden.

4. Keukenhof, Lisse, Netherlands

Sam DeLong (CC BY-SA http://2.0) / Via Flickr: bfsminid

Tip: To achieve a similar sea-of-flowers effect in your garden, plant the same type of bulbs in large groups or drifts and alternate types or colors.

5. Kawachi Fuji Garden, Kitakyushu, Japan

Inazakira (CC BY-SA http://2.0) / Via Flickr: inazakira

Tip: To recreate the wisteria tunnel the Kawachi Fuji Garden is famous for, start with a sturdy trellis — the vines are heavy — and plant wisteria at the base of one of the poles. And be patient: Wisteria usually doesn't bloom until its sixth year.

6. Kew Gardens, London, England

Ayca Wilson (CC BY http://2.0) / Via Flickr: ayca13

Tip: Kew Gardens is the world's largest collection of living plants with over 30,000 different species. While you won't be able to fit nearly that many types of plants in your garden, remember that even a little variety can go a long way!

7. Majorelle Garden, Marrakech, Morocco

Jean-Pierre Dalbéra (CC BY http://2.0) / Via Flickr: dalbera

Tip: If you don't have space outdoors, try an indoor desert garden with cacti and other succulents like those found in the Majorelle Garden. You'll need cactus soil and a sunny windowsill, but succulents are easy to grow because they require so little care.

8. Brooklyn Botanic Garden, Brooklyn, New York, U.S.

Guian Bolisay (CC BY-SA http://2.0) / Via Flickr: instantvantage

Tip: The Brooklyn Botanic Garden is known for its gardens within the garden. If you have enough space, consider subdividing your home garden into a variety of sections like an herb garden, a rose garden, a vegetable garden, and more!

9. Nong Nooch Tropical Botanical Garden, Chonburi, Thailand

Thrillseekr (CC BY http://2.0) / Via Flickr: thrillseekr

Tips: Parts of the Nong Nooch Tropical Botanical Garden are inspired by the geometry of traditional French gardens. Plant your own garden in your favorite shape for a design that is both unique to you and traditional at the same time.

10. Sir Thomas and Lady Dixon Park, South Belfast, Northern Ireland

Valdiney Pimenta (CC BY http://2.0) / Via Flickr: valdiney

Tip: The Sir Thomas and Lady Dixon Park is famous for its rose garden, which contains over 40,000 roses in the summer. To start your own rose garden, look for a spot with direct sunlight and moist soil. And avoid over-pruning new plants.

11. Lodi Gardens, Delhi, India

Neil Falzon (CC BY-SA http://2.0) / Via Flickr: ish-shemsh

Tip: In recent years, the ancient Lodi Gardens has become a popular spot for bird-watchers. Make your garden into a bird sanctuary by ensuring there is water, native plants, and possibly a bird feeder.

12. Sanssouci, Potsdam, Germany

Olga Khomitsevich (CC BY http://2.0) / Via Flickr: zemzina

Tip: The terraced garden is one of the most distinctive features of the Sanssouci Palace. If you're struggling to plant a garden on a hillside, consider terracing the land for a practical — and stunning — solution.

13. Jardim Botânico, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

A C Moraes (CC BY http://2.0) / Via Flickr: acmoraes

Tip: Although it now contains 6,500 species of flora, the Jardim Botânico was built to acclimate West Indian herbs and spices to Brazil. Start your own indoor (or outdoor!) herb garden for a 24-hour supply of fresh, recipe-ready herbs.

14. Butchart Gardens, Victoria, British Columbia, Canada

Aaron Carlson (CC BY-SA http://2.0) / Via Flickr: 59003943@N00

Tip: Butchart Gardens was originally an exhausted limestone quarry before it was covered with topsoil and transformed into one of the world's most beautiful gardens. Remember, even the worst plot of land can become a verdant oasis.

15. Gardens of Versailles, Versailles, France

Photogra Fer / Via Flickr: 52124668@N02

Tip: The Gardens of Versailles are the epitome of the French formal garden, known for symmetry and the principle of imposing order on nature. Incorporate these principles of symmetry and order into your own garden to give your home a stately air.

16. Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden, Cape Town, South Africa

Derek Keats (CC BY http://2.0) / Via Flickr: dkeats

Tip: Kirstenbosch is the first botanical garden in the world to be devoted to a country's native flora. Go native in your own garden because these plants will require less protection and maintenance in the long run.

17. Royal Horticultural Society Garden, Wisley, England

Mrs Airwolfhound (CC BY-ND http://2.0) / Via Flickr: amylloyd

Tip: The RHS Garden at Wisley is know for its mixed borders: garden beds containing different types of plants. Mixed borders are easy for beginner gardeners but look fairly complex. Create your own by including shrubs, perennials, annuals, and bulbs.

18. Giardini Botanici Villa Taranto, Verbania, Italy

Irene Grassi (CC BY-SA http://2.0) / Via Flickr: sun_sand_sea

Tip: The fountains, small waterfalls, and pools are some of the most memorable features of gardens at the Villa Taranto. If you're really looking to enhance your garden, consider installing a water feature.

Get started on your garden — big or small — with Miracle-Gro.