Page 11 - RCI EV Asia October 2015

Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew
Richmond, Surrey, England
Greenhouses are the draw at this 326-acre oasis, which earned a spot on the UNESCO list of World Heritage sites thanks to its terrific collection; there are 2,000 varieties of plants, some specimens dating from the
18th century. In February and March consider a visit for the orchids alone. kew.org
Jardim Botânico
Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Brazilian beauties, such as orchids and bromeliads, dot the 345-acre enclave, around which its namesake neighborhood grew. Visit the three themed sections: the Cactário, the Japanese Garden and the Sensory Garden. Don’t miss the greenhouse, which contains insectivorous species, such as Venus fly traps. jbrj.gov.br
Fondation Claude Monet,
Giverny Normandy, France
Art lovers will delight in the legendary painter’s former home, spread over nearly five acres in Giverny. Divided into two parts: The Clos Normand is like a living en plein air painting, complete with thousands of tulips, peonies and irises. At the Water Garden, meanwhile, a Japanese-style bridge stretches over a lily pond. fondation-monet.com
Biltmore Asheville,
North Carolina
This 8,000-acre estate is home to six formal gardens designed by Frederick Law Olmsted. Arranged around the 250-room Biltmore House, built by George Vanderbilt in the late 1800s and the country’s largest house in continuous private ownership. Don’t miss the four-acre Walled Garden, designed in a formal English style, where thousands of daffodils and tulips bloom in the spring. biltmore.com
Denver Botanic Gardens
Colorado
Colorado’s dry climate is on spectacular display at the Denver Botanic Gardens, which are split between three locations: the main, 24-acre York Street enclosure;
the larger Chatfield meadow and historic homestead; and the Mount Goliath alpine-wildflower garden. botanicgardens.org
Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden
Cape Town, South Africa
Set on 90 acres along the eastern slopes of Table Mountain, the garden grows flowers from all over southern Africa, like the spiky king protea, and was the first in the world to be included within a Natural World Heritage site. Get panoramic mountain views as you walk along Kirstenbosch’s new, 130 meter long steel-and-wood canopy walkway. sanbi.org
Brooklyn Botanic Garden
New York
This spring, Brooklyn’s beloved 52-acre sanctuary debuts a Discovery Garden where kids can explore a meadow, a woodland and a marsh and experience a hands-on- gardening area. Open Tuesday–Friday: 8am - 6pm, Saturday & Sunday: 10am - 6pm. Closed on Mondays. Adults $12, Children $6 and under 12 free. bbg.org
NOTE: Information may have changed since publication. Please confirm key details before planning your trip.
ENDLESS VACATION 9