| For many gardeners in the U.S. the winter is | | | | as his water lily and Japanese bridge |
| a down time because the ground is frozen and | | | | paintings were of his garden in Giverny. |
| covered with snow. A popular alternative is | | | | Monet lived in Giverny from 1883 until his |
| for garden and gardening lovers is to take a | | | | death in 1926. He and many members of his |
| midwinter trip to the world's most famous | | | | family are interred in the village cemetery. |
| gardens. This article will take you to some | | | | Today the garden features hundreds of plants, |
| of most famous gardens in the world. | | | | flowers, and trees along with the famous |
| | | | bridge that has been restored to its original |
| The first stop on the itinerary is the Far | | | | condition. |
| East. Japan has long been famous for its Zen | | | | |
| or "Japanese Style" gardens. These gardens | | | | The final garden to visit is one of the |
| feature carved stone lanterns that are | | | | gardens designed by the one of the true |
| hundreds of years old, along with stones and | | | | experts in gardening. Gertrude Jekyll (1843- |
| plants arranged to maximize the Zen of the | | | | 932), was an influential British garden |
| garden. Most gardens in Japan can be found | | | | designer, writer, and artist. She created |
| near Buddhist temples often surrounding them | | | | over 400 gardens in the UK, Europe and the |
| or leading up to the Temples from the busy | | | | USA and contributed over 1,000 articles to |
| streets. Kenroku-en, Kairaku-en and | | | | Country Life, The Garden and other magazines. |
| Koraku-en are the three great gardens of | | | | In 1908, when she was 65, Jekyll was asked |
| Japan. Kenroku-en located in Kanazawa, | | | | by Charles Holme to design the garden for one |
| Ishikawa, Japan, is an old private garden | | | | of his houses at Upton Grey in Hampshire. |
| developed from the 1620s to 1840s. It is | | | | Gertrude Jekyll drew plans for the four and a |
| open year-round during daylight hours and | | | | half acre garden. On this chalky, sloping |
| famous for its beauty in all seasons; an | | | | site she designed one of her most beautiful |
| admission fee is charged. The garden is | | | | gardens. It includes many features of a |
| located outside the gates of Kanazawa Castle | | | | typical Jekyll garden, but on a rather |
| where it originally formed the outer garden, | | | | smaller scale than most of her commissions. |
| and covers over 25 acres. The garden is home | | | | To the west of the house stands the Wild |
| to the oldest fountain in Japan and is lovely | | | | garden. Grass paths wind from semicircular |
| to visit in the winter. | | | | grass steps through rambling, species roses, |
| | | | to a small copse of walnut trees and wild |
| The next stop on the journey is the garden | | | | flowers, beyond which lies a small pond. Some |
| made famous by Monet, the Garden at Giverny. | | | | of Jekyll's original drifts of daffodils |
| Claude Monet noticed the village of Giverny | | | | remain at the end of the Wild Garden, still |
| while looking out the window of a train he | | | | in the drifts she designed. This is one of |
| was riding. He made up his mind to move there | | | | the finest private gardens in the world and |
| and rented a house and the area surrounding | | | | well worth the drive from London. |
| it. Some of his most famous paintings, such | | | | |