Around the Globe: Inside 10 of London's Secret Gardens

Who doesn't love a beautiful garden? Conde' Nast Traveler takes us on a gorgeous pictorial tour of  London's Open Garden Squares Weekend, June 9 and 10, one ticket bought access to more than 200 gardens, 120 of which are private. Here’s a peek at some of our favorites.

In Notting Hill, Julia Roberts and Hugh Grant climbed over the fence to enter Rosmead, but visitors on Sunday can stroll right in. (Photo: Sarah Jackson)

The private garden of the 600-year-old Draper’s Company has raised beds and five mulberry trees. (Photo: Drew Bennellick)

Belgravia’s Eaton Square is one of London’s most exclusive addresses (Neville Chamberlain lived at number 37, Vivien Leigh at number 54). But it welcomes the common people on Sunday with Caribbean food, a steel band, and a Punch & Judy show. (Photo: Gavin Gardiner)

Hampstead’s 17th-century Fenton House is a National Trust property that's open to the public, with formal gardens and an orchard growing 30 varieties of English apples. (Photo: Sarah Jackson)

Southwark’s Garden Barge Square is made up of verdant barges floating in the Thames; it offers great views of Tower Bridge. (Photo: Drew Bennellick)

Built in 1938 atop a department store, the elaborate Roof Gardens now belong to Virgin’s Richard Branson. It has three themed sections: the Tudor Courtyard, English Woodland, and Alhambra-inspired Spanish Garden. Four flamingos roam the premises. (Photo: Courtesy of The Roof Gardens)

A small black gate in Little Venice opens to Crescent Garden, one of the city’s largest private squares, where wide lawns beckon lucky children. (Photo: Sarah Jackson)

Plants and produce will be for sale at Fulham Palace Meadows Allotments this weekend. These 406 plots sit on an Anglo-Saxon site enclosed by the giant moat around the palace. (Photo: Gavin Gardiner)

One of the city’s four Inns of Court—like colleges for barristers—the Inner Temple has a beautiful three-acre garden, open daily to the public. Parts date to the times of the Knights Templar; Dickens and Thackeray lived here too. Just off Fleet Street, it’s a hidden respite from the crowds. (Photo: Barbara Neumann)






 
 
 

Dalston Eastern Curve Garden, built on a disused railway line, opened in 2010 to give Hackney much-needed green space. Its acclaimed eco-conscious design includes butterfly bushes, tomato plots, and a wooden pavilion for neighborhood activities. (Photo: Sarah Blee)

A GARDEN OF IDEAS FOR SPRING

So the weekend came and went (way too fast we think!) and you missed the Johnson County Home and Garden show! Not to worry, we've got you covered! Check out these gorgeous ideas for your spring projects around the house. And just for fun, we thought we would show you some ABSOLUTELY STUNNING lawns for inspiration. Who needs Joe Gardener anyway?

What a beautiful idea for a Welcome sign for your front door! A trip to Michaels or Hobby Lobby for the chalkboard and some fresh pink and white roses and peonies and lush greenery of your choice from Tobler's and you are all set!

This Kansas City legend is known for beautifying the Plaza streets with HUGE colorful hanging baskets.  Rosehill Gardens projects range in size from planting a single shrub or tree through our elegant Garden Center in Martin City, to designing and installing everything from patios, walls, water features, and outdoor kitchens for your enjoyment.  To complement your exterior design they provide top quality plants, trees, shrubs, and flowers to give you the outdoor environment you’ve always dreamed of!

Picture yourself  having your morning coffee on this beautiful deck. I would never want to leave! Whether you prefer cedar, composite or hardwood - All Weather Decks can bring you several choices of designs and styles to suit every homeowners needs.

When it comes to backyard dreams, tens of thousands of U.S. homeowners have trusted the familiar “diving lady” symbol—making Blue Haven the local swimming pool builder / pool contractor of choice. Now this is living!

Creating this beautiful hardscape is easy when you follow the steps that Creative Outdoors provides you here.

Their roots are in growing plants – and at Family Tree Nursery they continue to grow the very best bedding plants in the area. Their bedding plants look better because they’re grown better – they grow almost every bedding plant they sell at their own greenhouses. They travel nationwide scouting trial gardens and test sites to uncover the best varieties for tough growing conditions and continually push to grow them bigger and better. With several locations across the metro - it's easy to start growing your beautiful garden today.

Nothing gives your home a look of welcoming warmth like good outside lighting. It's glow draws you in and invites you to stay a while. A great way to enhance your backyard and garden area, is by installing outdoor lighting around your property. It also dramatically increases property values! Talk to the experts at Lights and Design by Dan in Kansas City today for ideas and all your outdoor lighting needs.

Their the guys in the red trucks. You see them everywhere. They are Ryan Lawn and Tree (and the author of this blog uses them every year and they are AMAZING. Their attention to detail and care is second to none. They are professional and communicative.  My lawn has never looked better.


So there you have it. Several vendors right here in Kansas City that can make your lawn and garden look amazing! For more vendors that exhibited at the Johnson County Home and Garden show click here.

PS. Here are a few photos of our favorite lawns and gardens across the country - ENJOY!