You Can Virtually Tour These Lush Gardens Around the World to Celebrate the First Day of Spring

Written by

Nicoletta RichardsonEntertainment Editor
Nicoletta RichardsonEntertainment Editor
In her spare time, Nicoletta loves marathoning the latest Netflix show, doing at-home workouts, and nurturing her plant babies. Her work has appeared in Women’s Health, AFAR, Tasting Table, and Travel + Leisure, among others. A graduate from Fairfield University, Nicoletta…read more
updated Mar 19, 2020
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Colorful flowers in the gardens of Waddesdon Manor House in England
Credit: Shutterstock/ronald ian smiles

Happy first day of spring, friends! While we’re encouraged to stay where we are right now, plenty of virtual tours are blossoming from the ground (i.e. the internet) that can immediately transport you to lush gardens around the globe. 

House Beautiful searched YouTube for vibrant landscapes that you can stream from home, and the result was these five gardens that are ideal for welcoming the new season. From the manicured grounds of Waddeson Manor in Waddeson, England to the 17 acres of tropical land in the Hawaii Tropical Botanical Garden in Papaikou, Hawaii, you’ll get your fix of nature from a wide range of international environments. 

Without further ado, let’s jump right into the great outdoors. 

Claude Monet’s Garden in Giverny, France

The artist who needs no introduction, Monet’s house in France comes with a picturesque garden that is said to have inspired hundreds of his paintings. Maintained by a team of gardeners, the landscape showcases overflowing greenery and vibrant floral species, complete with the Water Lily Pond known for its Japanese bridge. You can also take a virtual tour of the inside of Monet’s house as well. 

“The light is very soft and very luminous, and Monet was very aware of that,” Ann Dumas, the Royal Academy of Arts exhibition curator, said in a video highlighting the gardens. “This part of France does have this beautiful translucent light, and I think the quality of light here in Giverny is one of the main reasons that Monet acquired this property and made his garden here.” 

Chicago Botanic Garden in Chicago, IL

Spanning 385 acres of land, the Chicago Botanic Garden originates from the Chicago Horticultural Society that began in 1890. Since then, 17 gardens have been established and are maintained to this day, which includes the English Walled Garden and the Japanese Garden.

This video tour, which took place in the summertime, showcases the seasonal blooms that visitors can expect to see. “It’s peak season for [traditional] herbaceous perennials, everybody likes to grow them. In this climate, they are really coming into their own,“ Boyce Tankersley, the Director of Living Plant Documentation at the botanic garden. He then takes the tour through the rest of the garden, showcasing other blooms such as hollyhocks and hydrangeas.

Waddesdon Manor in Waddesdon, England

Built by Baron Ferdinand de Rothschild between 1874 and 1885, the Waddeson Manor is a Neo-Renaissance château that has stunning landscaped grounds surrounding the estate. The video showcases manicured shrubbery and flowerbeds styled intentionally like familiar objects—such as a bird or a star—that burst with vibrant color.

“Around the framework of the garden, [Ferdinand de Rothschild] was thinking about where the statuary might go, where all the different beds and different focal points that would create interests in his guests might be positioned,” Pippa Shirley, Head of Collections and Gardens at Waddesdon Manor, said in the video. See it for yourself by touring the grounds above.

Hawaii Tropical Botanical Garden in Papaikou, Hawaii

Walk across the 500-foot-long boardwalk to enter the Hawaii Tropical Botanical Garden, which spans across four acres of tropical forests. Visitors are able to spot local tropical plants such as orchids, heliconias, and giant bamboo, plus over 200 species of palms alone. See a glimpse of it all via this virtual tour, which takes you over bridges and alongside the Onomea Stream.

Kew Gardens in Richmond, England

Deemed a UNESCO World Heritage site, Kew Gardens is complete with 37 acres of woodland and 14,000 trees that change by the season. The grounds have charming Victorian glasshouses and an Alpine rock garden, among many other features, and over 50,000 living plants that grant visitors plenty to see. See it all in the virtual tour above, guided by experts on the property.