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The world’s most photographed gardens

A look at the the 10 most photographed gardens around the world including Morocco, Tokyo and France

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By House & Garden South Africa | December 28, 2021 | Gardens

Now that Spring has arrived many people are interested in spending more time outside and perhaps even transforming their gardens.

To get you inspired, we take a look at some of the most beautiful gardens in the world. Below you will find a guide from Propellernet and the Roofing Megastore in the UK who have shared their findings on the most photographed gardens around the world and their unique colour palettes.

Gardens By The Bay, Central Region, Singapore - 1,067,717 Instagram Photos

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One of the most popular tourist attractions in Singapore that has seen well over 50 million visitors since its creation, Gardens By The Bay brings nature right into the heart of the bustling city. Spanning some 250 acres that consist of waterfront gardens, the largest glass greenhouse in the world and its instantly recognisable ‘Supertrees’, the garden forms part of the nation’s plan to transform Singapore into a ‘City in a Garden’. Awash with colour, the palette includes vibrant pinks and standout greens that include lush lime colours to darker marshy hues.

Majorelle Garden (Yves Saint Laurent’s former house & garden) Marrakech, Morocco - 209,050 Instagram Photos

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The world-famous cobalt blue of La Jardin Majorelle takes centre stage amongst the 300 plant species, from five continents that make up this psychedelic desert garden design. French fashion designer Yves Saint Lauren was entranced by its beauty and bought the site in 1980, living there with his partner Pierre Berge, and the garden is now Morocco’s most visited tourist attraction, pulling in 900,000 visitors a year. This is a rich and hypnotic colour scheme, with the electric blue and vibrant mustard yellow sitting aside the grey-green of the cactus and the bright turquoise of the water and the arches.

Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden, Tokyo, Japan - 140,142 Instagram Photos

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One of Tokyo’s largest and most popular parks, Shinjuku Gyoen turns a subtle shade of candyfloss pink as cherry blossoms envelop the landscape in spring. From late March to early April, more than 400 Somei Yoshino trees explode in a celebration of the beloved pink hue. The park originated in 1603 and it features three different types of garden – the oldest is a traditional Japanese landscape garden, and the other two are a formal French garden and an English landscape garden. A subtle range of cherry blossom shades dominates the colour scheme here, complemented by the darker colours in the water, and the fresh greens of the grass.

Gardens of Versailles, Versailles, France - 96,575 Instagram Photos

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These exquisite gardens are situated to the west of the Palace of Versailles - dating back to the time of Louis XIV, the gardens feature a mosaic of meticulous lawns, sculpture and fountains, and in total, they span around 800 hectares of land. The colour palette here is one of earthy sand tones from the pathways and buildings, combined with a variety of exciting greens.From the deep shades of the trees to the lighter grass, topped off with the eucalyptus grey-green of the water in the middle.

Keukenhof Gardens, Lisse, Netherlands - 71,918 Instagram Photos

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Said to be ‘the most beautiful spring garden in the world, Keukenhof is the world's largest and most famous flower park, boasting more than 7 million flowers in bloom between April and May, including tulips, hyacinths, daffodils, orchids, roses, carnations, irises and lilies. Visitors are said to be overwhelmed by a spectacle of colour and perfume, and the colour palette here is a glorious riot of colour – from punchy pinks to glorious greens, layered with yellows, blues and reds on top.

New York Botanical Garden, New York, USA - 48,983 Instagram Photos

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Located in Bronx Park, the New York Botanical Garden was established in 1891 and is home to over 1 million living plants. Spanning more than 250 acres, the gardens feature 50 acres of old-growth woodlands, a wetland trail, an azalea garden and the internationally renowned Peggy Rockefeller Rose Garden, which is home to more than 650 different varieties of roses. The crisp whites of the dome contrast with vibrant blues and greens to create a fresh and relaxing colour palette that would work beautifully in any garden.

Monet’s Garden, Giverny, France - 46,040 Instagram Photos

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Claude Monet’s iconic garden is a Japanese-inspired water garden that sits beside his Giverny home that he bought in 1883. When designing the garden, he is said to have not liked the organisation of constrained gardens, instead of arranging flowers according to their colours and letting them grow freely. The serene pond, the mesmerising lilies, the wisteria-covered Japanese bridge and the rest of Monet’s flower garden feature in approximately 250 oil paintings by the French impressionist. And today 500,000 visitors head to the gardens each year to soak up the place that inspired some of the world’s most famous art.

Kew Gardens, London, UK - 38,448 Instagram Photos

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Kew Gardens in London boasts the 'largest and most diverse botanical and mycological collection in the world', so it's no surprise that it makes the list as one of the most photographed gardens in the world, with tourists and Londoners flocking to the gardens each year. One of London's top tourist attractions, the gardens even have their own police force to help protect the site, and the hundreds of thousands of plants that are on show. Colours here change with the seasons and the perfectly crafted arrangements, however, expect to see lush greens providing a background for pops of purples, yellows and reds.

Nong Nooch Tropical Botanical Garden, Pattaya City, Thailand - 38,207 Instagram Photos

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Rich gold and lush green epitomise the colour palette in this tropical Thai botanical garden. Stretching over 500 acres, the garden was originally purchased with the intention of developing the land as a fruit plantation. Thankfully, the owners decided to use the land to create a wildlife conservation project instead and the garden was opened to the public in 1980.

Bodnant Gardens, Colwyn Bay, UK - 18,225 Instagram Photos

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You can always expect beauty at a National Trust property in the UK, and Bodnant Gardens brings it in droves. Covering some 80 acres of Welsh hillside, the garden consists of multiple areas that range from rose gardens to lily ponds, however its most photographed section is arguably the Laburnum Arch. Dating back more than 100 years, the arch seems ready-made for the perfect Instagram shot, with a sky of sunshine yellow running overhead, while spots of pink and green pepper the sides.