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I have never visited the Schonbrunn Palace in Austria, but did drive by to have it pointed out by our rather attractive tour guide in the late 1990s! As Editor of the Daffodil Society, I am thrilled to learn from Mark’s book that daffodils were one of the most prized of their decorative plants, being imported from the Ottoman Empire in the 16th century. We are told that thousands of varieties bloom every year – what an awe-inspiring sight.
The Royal Botanic Gardens Kew of course make their presence known across the pages of this publication. I was last there in August of this year and visited for the first time The Hive – their relatively recent installation. Standing inside and looking up at the giant silver structure is a sight and sound experience like no other, linked to real bees and adding yet another layer to this botanically rich jewel in our crown.
The book is laid out geographically with a clear section on each garden and many with most useful maps to show the layout of the site.
There is much variety from the formal tree lined avenues and opulence of many a royal residence to the relaxed spirituality of Tirta Ganga in Bali and of course the romantic Taj Mahal, known for its monument to love, but not generally known for its passion for plants surrounding it.
The Cotswolds takes its place early on in the publication, with 10 glossy pages of luxurious text and photographs in honour of Highgrove. HRH Prince Charles has planted in the region of
10,000 trees in the grounds of his Gloucestershire home and continues to champion the environment wherever he goes. His stumpery is well known, designed in partnership with the Bannermans, who showed me around their then South Gloucestershire home and garden around a decade ago. I did not know that Prince Charles has a national collection of large and broad-leaved hostas – I do know now! In fact this book is awash with fascinating facts from The Palace of Fontainbleau having the first grotto in France to the Queen Mother’s favourite scented old roses at The Castle of Mey (Rosa ‘Albertine’ and ‘London Pride’ – the flower not the beverage!).
It’s not just our British royals who are contributing positively to the environment, take the Imperial Palace in Tokyo – there are 2000 Japanese black pine planted there and 20% of Tokyo’s trees are located in the palace grounds.
Across the miles each estate has its own individuality, but it is striking to see just how many of our great gardens have taken inspiration from other corners of the world. Denmark’s Frederiksborg Palace looked to Versailles for ideas whilst Drottningholm Palace in Sweden revelled in its impressive English landscape garden. Imitation really is the greatest form of flattery and although distance may divide, botanically we are blissfully intertwined.
In conclusion ‘Royal Gardens of the World’ provides a deluxe delve into heritage and horticulture and is the perfect regal read for a cold winter’s night.
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THROUGH THE GARDEN GATE CAMI L LA BAS S E T T - SMI TH
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