18 Outrageous Outbuildings

Take a peek at garden sheds, gazebos, conservatories and greenhouses from around the world.

By: Jeff Stafford

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Photo By: Image courtesy of Karl Gercens III, www.karlgercens.com

Victorian Flower Show

Outbuildings can be large or small ranging from petite gazebos to rustic garden sheds to sprawling conservatories. Assembled from the world travels of horticulturist Karl Gercens III is a collection of spectacular outbuildings that run the gamut from grandiose to intimate starting with this classically designed Victorian garden shed with hydrangea borders from the Rippon Lea Estate in Elsternwick, Australia.

Glasgow Green

This sleek glass greenhouse with a Victorian design is part of the Glasgow Botanical Garden in Scotland and in the foreground is an Acer palmatum (Japanese maple) and Phormium tenax (New Zealand flax) in the center.

Gothic Style

A cross between a gazebo and a canopy, this gothic-inspired garden structure is almost hidden amid a lush forest in Parques da Pena in Sintra, Portugal.

Always the Center of Attention

A gazebo sits at the center of intersecting paths in the Herrenhauser Garten (Hanover, Germany) which is considered one of the best preserved baroque formal gardens in Europe.

The Royal Treatment

Among the 25 glasshouses used for propagation and research at the Royal Botanical Garden Edinburgh is the famous Tropical Palm House, which was first built in 1834 and has an impressive glass dome which gives the building a height of 72 feet.

Carnival of Cannas

Planters filled with cannas decorate the exterior of this rustic garden shed that is located on the grounds of Logan Botanic Garden in Port Logan, Scotland.

Think Pink

Shades of pink accent this brick patio which is memorable for its striking gazebo and was featured in a private garden tour by the Horticulture Society of Maryland.

Nature's Makeup

Some garden sheds just look better when you let the vines and ivy take over to create a living sculpture, as with this landscape wonder.

Czech Aristocracy

Built in 1843-45, this beautiful Old World greenhouse is located on the grounds of the castle Lednice in Zamecky Park in the Czech republic. The cast iron framework is supported by cast iron bamboo-shaped pillars edged with decorative leaves.

Green Roof Gazebo

Similar in style to sod-roof houses, this gazebo with a living carpet on top blends in with its green surroundings at the Botanischer Garten Universitat Hamburg in Germany.

The Pyramid Effect

Open since 1972, the Pyramid greenhouse is part of the Tropical Centre complex at Australia's Royal Botanic Gardens Sydney, which was founded by Governor Macquarie in 1816.

Not Your Usual Grotto

The odd couple combination of grotto and gazebo is a particularly memorable sight at the lush green sanctuary of Bom Jesus do Monte near Braga, Portugal.

Hudson River Overlook

Sometimes a location with a beautiful view is made even better by an architectural addition like this simple but elegant gazebo that rests on a hillside overlooking the Hudson River.

Portuguese Perfection

A tile roof portico accents this stately garden house made of stone on the lush wine estate of Quinta da Aveleda near Penafiel, Portugal.

Enchanted Cottage

Nestled in the woods, this garden cottage looks like something out of a fairy tale but it is actually on the grounds of the Botanischer Garten der Technischen Universität Darmstadt in Germany.

Purple Whimsy

Who says a conservatory has to have a conservative color palette? Here's one that stands out distinctly from the rest at the Marsted's Garden of Whimsy in Canton, Connecticut.

Garden of the Future?

Looking more like futuristic pods than gazebos, these uniquely contemporary structures were showcased at the annual flower show at Hampton Court in England.

Chateau Chic

This magnificent, high ceiling garden shed is as big as a barn but the interior houses a stylish stone courtyard with sculpture on the grounds of the Chateau de Chenonceau in France.