5 Gardens to Visit Before the World Ends

This week, I thought I’d take you on a tour of my bucket list. It is a list of botanic gardens, arboretums, and estate gardens that I want to visit. The list is ever growing with more gardens being added than crossed off. For this weeks newsletter, I’m going to share a sample of 5 of the gardens on the list. Now, put a kettle on and get comfortable, because our first stop in in England.

1. Sisinghurst Castle Garden, Cranbrook, England

If there is a British competition show about something, the chances are high that it is a hobby of mine. They are also responsible for the Great British Garden Revival, which started my obsession with the romantic rusticism of Monty Don and stumperies. The garden at Sisinghurst was created by Vita Sackville-West, a poet and writer, and her husband Harold Nicolson, an author and diplomat. The garden consists of many different rooms which create a sense of escape and refuge. I unironically adore roses and would love to spend a day here.

2. Sacro Bosco, Bormazo, Italy

Sacro Bosco is known as the park of the monsters due to the stone sculptures depicting creatures of myth and magic. Pier Francesco Orsini aka “Vicino” began working on this garden in the middle of the 16th century. This garden makes the list due to the wild sculptures that remind me of the set of a Guillermo Del Toro movie. Imagine a strong cocktail and an evening walk through this garden!

3. Portland Japanese Garden, Portland, Oregon

This next garden does not require a passport if you are in the U.S., but it feels like it should. It’s been dubbed as the most authentic Japanese garden outside of Japan. It was originally designed by professor Takuma Tono of Tokyo Agricultural University. I’m hoping to actually visit this one by the end of the year, since I’ve had a few friends move to Portland who said the garden is stunning.

4. Singapore Botanic Gardens, Singapore

The Singapore Botanic Gardens is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the oldest tropical gardens in the world, established in 1859. The garden is massive at about 80 hectares and features a national orchid garden, rainforests, and lakes. The garden helped convert the island into it’s moniker of a “garden city.” I’d love to see such a large tropical garden, and the iconic buildings are what made me want to visit.

5. Royal Botanic Gardens Cranbourne, Cranbourne, Australia

Australia itself has been on my travel bucket list for a very long time, so I didn’t need another reason to want to go. (Something about that accent, right?) However, this garden makes the pull stronger. The Royal Botanic Gardens Cranbourne is southeast of Melbourne and covers over 360 hectares of native bushland and gardens. Its main attraction is the Australian Garden, which features striking red sand, native plants, and landscapes that represent Australia’s natural beauty.

This Weekend in the Midwest Garden

From heavy rain to tornados…it’s been a week in the Midwest. I would keep an eye on the weather before starting a big project.

1. Water smart - Water only as needed with these rainstorms.

2. Weed & mulch - The benefit of rain is how easy it makes weeding. If you haven’t heard of a Dutch Push Hoe - consider it to save your back muscles.

3. Scout for pests & harvest - Keep an eye out for pests in your plants and harvest any ripe produce.

The Plot Thickens

I’ll be following my own advice this week by weeding and mulching. Perhaps I’ll be able to find some time to remove some more trees from the fence line to make more sun for a vegetable plot. I’ve also been learning to bake recently, so I’ll likely be trying a new recipe!

What I Loved This Week

• Read: Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir, I asked for book recs on Instagram and you all delivered!

• Watch: NY Times Cooking - No Knead Bread - I made my first bread loaf with the help of this video and it was delicious!

• Listen: The Moth: Cycling - For those of you who love biking and storytelling as much as I do.

• Connect: Luke Kelsall - Informative videos on cultivating a food forest.

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Until next Thursday,
Ken Welch

About the Author

Ken Welch is a horticulturist and research professional at UW–Madison. He’s drawn to native ecosystems, community gardens, and helping others grow confidence in their craft.

Instagram | Bluesky 

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