20 Gardens Through Which We’d Love to Take a Stroll

Whether you're a fan of formal gardens or enjoy something a little more wild and free, we've got a full list of gorgeous gardens that will make you want to stop and smell the roses.

By: Kamron Sanders

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Straight From a Storybook

This majestically manicured backyard garden from the 2021 HGTV Ultimate Outdoor Awards looks like its straight out of a storybook. Large garden beds feature bright pink flowers that pop against the home's elegant stonework and contrast with the lush, green grasses.

See More Photos: Storybook Garden With Romantic Blooms and Stately Stonework

From: Gale Nurseries Inc.

Take a Sunset Stroll

A sunset stroll through a gorgeous garden is always easier with a path, like this, to lead the way. In this beautiful backyard oasis, the flagstone pavers guide you beneath low-hanging trees and past a variety of flora that take away the stresses of the day.

See More Photos: Gorgeous Gardens: Strolling Garden With Stone Paths

From: Purlieu Landscape Design + Build

Charming Courtyard

A home this breathtaking needs a garden to boot, and this beautiful flower-filled courtyard delivers. From the beautiful brickwork below the fountain, to the colorful blooms tucked between the ornately shaped bushes, not a single portion of this garden is unworthy of a second glance.

See More Photos: Gorgeous Gardens: Formal Garden With Fountains

From: Hess Landscape Architects, Inc.

The Sounds of Relaxation

A water feature evokes a soothing feeling and we can almost hear the gentle babble through this picture. If a step into this garden weren't already calming enough, this over-the-top playhouse features a charming water wheel that enhances this picture-perfect garden's aesthetic, while adding some auditory ambiance.

See More Photos: Enchanting Garden With Stone Pavilion

From: Platinum Landscape & Pools

Jungle-Like Landscape

Grab your bug repellent, because this brick paver path leads directly into an immaculate jungle-like garden in the heart of this Key West backyard. As you admire the native plants and wildlife, you'll feel as if you've stepped into another world, all without leaving the yard.

See More Photos: Gorgeous Gardens: Tropical Retreat in the Florida Keys

From: Craig Reynolds Landscape Architecture

Perennial Perfection

In this beautiful flower garden situated next to the Long Island Sound, you can wander down to the water's edge through billowing banks of perennials that match the setting's soft colors and feel. What more could you want?

See More Photos: Gorgeous Gardens: Flower Fields by the Water

From: Glen Gate

Landscape Design Masterclass

This formal garden is a masterclass in landscape design. To create a serene, symmetrical layout, landscape designers used a combination of low hedges and wide, grassy paths that frame the statue in the center. Flowers tucked beneath the hedges add bright colors, while tall, sculptural trees create the outer border.

See More Photos: Stunning Formal Garden With Magical Details

From: Southern Walker Landscape Design

Woodland Garden Wonder

It takes a lot of work to make a manmade landscape look this natural, but this woodland garden is proof that all the hard work has a major payoff. Stone footpaths, beautiful bridges and a running stream are just a few of the enviable elements that make this garden breathtaking.

See More Photos: Woodland Garden and Stream

From: Lewis Aquatech

It's All Fun and Games

Who wouldn't love a stroll through a beautiful garden with mountain views like this? Between backyard bocce ball matches and relaxing al fresco meals beneath the pergola, this garden is the perfect spot to spend an afternoon ... or every afternoon.

See More Photos: Gorgeous Gardens: Lush Backyard With Bocce Ball Court

From: CommonGround Landscape Architecture

Tranquility Awaits

Japanese-style gardens are among the most beautiful gardens in the world. With sculpted pine trees, rare Japanese maples and a hedge of weeping cherries, this Palo Alto, California, paradise is nothing short of perfect.

See More Photos: Gorgeous Gardens: Japanese-Inspired Zen Retreat

From: Zeterre Landscape Architecture

Thoughts of France

Thoughts of France flood the mind when stepping into this formal European-style garden. Well-defined walkways, topiaries, hedges and flowers transform this beautiful backyard into a majestic masterpiece that complements the grand architecture of the home.

See More Photos: Gorgeous Gardens: Versailles-Style Garden Stuns With Sculpted Topiaries

From: Conte & Conte, LLC

Majestic Man-Made Oak Tree

A step onto this garden's flagstone path offers sights of whimsical trees and access to a cascading waterfall. However, the garden's true hidden gem is a massive fiberglass-and-steel oak tree that was constructed specifically for this backyard spot.

See More Photos: Gorgeous Gardens: Whimsical, Multi-Level Landscape

Concrete Jungle

This impressive rooftop garden in New York City proves that gorgeous gardens aren't bound to the ground below. A visit to this rooftop offers amazing views of the city — whether you choose to take them in from the garden benches, the bistro tables or beneath the pergola.

See More Photos: Gorgeous Gardens: Rooftop Garden With NYC Views

From: Christian Duvernois Landscape/Studio

The Charleston Treatment

When we think of Charleston, South Carolina, gardens, this is what we think of. Crisp borders of manicured boxwoods, ivy-covered brick and orderly rows of crape myrtles. Everything is perfectly manicured, but nothing feels sterile or stiff.

See More Photos: Take a Tour of an Elegant Charleston Walled Garden

Tiered to Perfection

The kitchen garden at The Governors Palace in Williamsburg, Virginia, has descending terraces for drainage to aid in vegetable production, making for a beautiful spot to take a walk and enjoy the afternoon. If you can make a vegetable garden this beautiful, then we applaud you.

learn more: A Lifestyle Expert's Vegetable Garden

Geometric Bliss

Get lost in the maze of perfectly clipped, geometric hedges surrounding this over-the-top New Zealand estate from HGTV Ultimate House Hunt 2020. The impressive estate encompasses a little over a half-acre lot with immense gardens that are manicured to perfection.

See More Photos: New Zealand Estate With Sunken Garden, Sky Murals

From: Barfoot & Thompson Ltd. and Luxury Portfolio International®

Lush and Lovely

This 1936 English Tudor is tucked away on 3.5 acres of beautiful Montecito property lined with mature trees and meticulous landscaping. The sprawling estate offers a gorgeous backyard with a plethora of plant life, giving the space a lush and mature look.

See More Photos: Grand and Sophisticated 1936 Tudor in Montecito, Calif.

From: Village Properties and Luxury Portfolio International®

Sculptural Boxwoods

We're convinced that boxwood gardens are just landscape designers showing off their abilities, but we're here for it! There aren't many more impressive garden elements than a skillfully trimmed hedge.

See More Photos: Custom Cabana and Formal Gardens

From: Harold Leidner

West Coast Wonderland

On this 66-acre Washington estate from HGTV Ultimate House Hunt 2017, there's no shortage of places to explore. Why not start with the immaculate formal garden overlooking the magnificent Georgia Strait?

See More Photos: Great Estates: Private Waterfront Villa

From: Windermere Real Estate

Going Georgian in Connecticut

The aerial view of this brick Georgian home in Darien, Connecticut, allows for the best view of the bountiful backyard garden. Flowers, shrubs and trees form a circular pattern around a fountain, creating a formal, manicured moment in the middle of the home's property.

See More Photos: 10 Properties For Sale With Extravagant Gardens