Oh, Take Me to the Gardens

“You can learn a lot of things from the flowers…” and you can, you really can. As it is referenced in the “Alice in Wonderland” lullaby “The Golden Afternoon,” gardens bring us “a wealth of happiness and romance,” feed our need for escapism and heal our inner woes. The flowers we’re drawn to are a physical manifestation of our embodied aesthetics and personal style. They’re more than a decoration or gift –– they are a representation of us. They make us feel like we’ve transcended reality.  They remind us of the elegance and wonder of life. They give us solace. They give us peace. Flowers free us. Stepping into a garden is like stepping into Wonderland  — it’s ethereal and abstract, lovely yet isolating, otherworldly yet simple, curious and pleasant. We are all Alice when we visit a new garden. If you’re looking for magnificent spaces and hidden places to be enchanted, look no further — we’ve got you covered. From markets to gardens, there is a world of color blooming, patiently awaiting your arrival. Here’s a guide for the dreamers, world travelers and lovers — a guide to the flowers. Let’s ascend together. It’s time to smell the roses around the world. 

To Market, To Market

Sunday — a day associated with the “scaries” and “fatigue” of the upcoming week. It’s a bookend day that has built up a muddied reputation of apathy and is all about pining for the next weekend to arrive, but it can be so much more than that; it should be better than that. Sundays should be for the sublime — a day about awe. If you’re looking to elevate your simple Sunday routine and just so happen to find yourself in London, check out the Columbia Road Flower Market. This Sunday-only street market specializes in all your favorite floral treasures. Embrace the day of yearning, and turn it into something beautiful at one of London’s oldest and most popular flower markets. As mentioned in an article from CK Travels, Columbia Road Flower Market is a one-stop shop for all your botanical needs –– plants, flowers, blossoms and more. With rows and rows of Victorian shops, this market embodies traditional London. Situated off Hackney Road in the London Borough of Tower Hamlets, this once dingy corner is transformed on Sundays into an eye-catching haven of merriment and jolly. A retreat of charming florals, Columbia Road is one of the most Instagrammable locations for spring.

CK Travels explains that since there are around 50 different flower stalls all vying for your attention, this market is a much cheaper option than traditional garden centers or supermarkets. It’s a steal! The article describes the banter between stall-holders is something to soak in –– it's cheeky, witty and makes the market feel more alive. You will see Cockney “geezers” bellowing various one-liners and other enticements to get you to shop at their stall. Let yourself feel alive on Sunday instead of dreary, and head to Columbia Road. Other flower markets to check out to get your fix of graceful whimsy and bustling energy include: New York Flower Market, Bloemenmarkt (Amsterdam, The Netherlands), Flemington Flower Market (Sydney, Australia) and Cuenca Flower Market (Cuenca, Ecuador).

An Era of Girlhood

Who doesn’t want to find their own personal secret garden? A place that is your very own –– a hidden gem, if you will. Gardens and the idea of femininity have been intertwined for decades, solidified into a true association with the publication of the bestselling novel “The Secret Garden” by Frances Hodgson Burnett. “The Secret Garden” follows 10-year-old protagonist Mary Lennox who, after the death of her parents in India, is sent to live with her uncle in Yorkshire, England. Mary’s is a story of luxury and isolation; it's about learning to see life in a better light. It’s about self-discovery, growth and beauty — all of which she learns from the garden. It is a story of girlhood –– the state of being a girl. But, it's truthfully all about growth. Girlhood is when you flourish, it’s when you bloom. 

A garden is like a personification of girlhood. It ebbs with time, changing with every season as it is transformed into something new and beautiful. Anyone, regardless of who they are, can relate to the idea of girlhood — the isolation, the learning and the beauty. If you're yearning for your youth, we have the perfect hidden garden that you just have to visit. Connect with your inner child at the Hill Garden and Pergola in Hampstead Heath, London. This is a place where you can just get lost. Experience expansive views, overgrown vines, raised pathways and dreamy flowers in this hidden oasis. Admission is free to visit these gardens, so it's the perfect retreat for someone on a budget. Live in the ethereal and frolic in one of London’s best-kept secrets. 

Other gardens that are perfect for those looking to connect with their young soul include:  Moss Garden at Saiho-ji Temple (Kyoto, Japan), Claude Monet’s Gardens (Giverny, France) and the Gardens of Ninfa (Central Italy).

Pocketful of Sunshine 

In the words of singer Natasha Bedingfield, “Take me away, A secret place, A sweet escape…”. If you’re yearning to disappear into a fantasy land of your own and, like Natasha, are just looking for your own personal pocketful of sunshine, we recommend feeding your explorer syndrome at the world-famous Keukenhof Tulip Gardens. These botanical gardens are located in Lisse, Netherlands about 40 kilometers from Amsterdam and are an absolute explosion of color. Here, you can be truly immersed in the flowers like nowhere else, as Keukenhof also means “Garden of Europe.” According to Tripadvisor, Keukenhof is the independent, international showcase for the Dutch floricultural sector, with a special emphasis on flower bulbs. It's a festival of color, beauty, elegance and, of course, flowers. Embrace your inner divine feminine, and just let yourself be encapsulated by whimsy in this gentle yet grand display. If you’re looking for other bright gardens to lose yourself in, check out the following recommendations: Newton Vineyard (Napa Valley, California), Duke Gardens (Durham, North Carolina), and The Gardens of Versailles (France). 

Embrace Sublime

As busy college students, it's important to take a breath and find the beauty in the chaos. Find joy. Find peace. Find the flowers. Find the sublime. To connect with ourselves is to embrace the lovely simplicity all around us. Gardens are a place to revitalize, refresh, restore and reset — a place to get blissfully lost. Let’s get lost together.

 Feed your soul. Be enchanted. Live in the ethereal. Ascend into beauty. Reconnect with your inner femininity. Go to the gardens, they’re calling you….

Cover Photo by Ana Luisa Scholtes