Bacalhoa Buddha Eden Garden
It is no secret that we’re lovers of Oriental garden design at Paramount Plants. Earlier this year, we discovered a most surprising find, just one hour north of Lisbon at Quinta Dos Loridos, you will find the Buddha Eden Garden. An ambitious Oriental Peace Garden which is in fact the largest oriental garden in Europe.
We were intrigued to find out more… conceived and created in 2001, by the wealthy art patron José Berardo, the garden occupies over 35 hectares and welcomes everyone in an atmosphere of peace and tranquility, embracing a multi faith philosophy, to promote peace and understanding. Central to its success as a garden, is not surprisingly the planting itself, yes the statuary is impressive but it is the nature and planting that steals the show…
Ancient Olive Trees and Hardy Palm Trees at the Entrance to the Buddha Eden Garden
Reclining Buddha Statue, surrounded by palm trees, at Buddha Eden Garden, Portugal
Taking centre stage, is an enormous reclining Buddha carved from marble and reached via a marble staircase, surrounded by lush planting, including a huge array of palm trees, forests of bamboo and Portuguese cork oaks, citrus groves and ancient olive trees.
Cork Oak Tree Forest at the Buddha Eden Garden in Portugal
As you wander through these carefully designed gardens among the cork oaks and olive groves, you will encounter marble statuary representing Hindu deities, Buddhas and Jain gods and goddesses. A startling discovery are the seven hundred, hand painted Chinese terracotta warriors standing guard along the top ridge within a huge grove of Quercus Suber, Cork Oaks
and surrounded by beds containing thousands of Blue Agapanthus
Chinese warrior horses surrounded by beds of Agapanthus Blue Storm
Palm Tree Avenue at Buddha Eden Garden
Large lakes and ponds populated by teaming shoals of Koi carp are surrounded by a fringe of palm trees and forests of Bamboo.
Koi Carp Lake, Fringed with Palm Trees at Buddha Eden in Portugal
Clusters of ancient olive trees, which have been bonsai’d, are clipped and shaped with table top flatness to fully display their gnarled trunks and sculptural shape.
Ancient Olive Trees at Quinta Dos Loridos, Portugal
Bonsai Olive Tree at Qinta Dos Loridos, Portugal
We subsequently saw these exact, same style Olive trees pop up in the Royal Bank of Canada silver gilt winner at the Chelsea Flower Show 2015. It’s heartening to know that despite a garden with this design being created in Portugal, it’s quite possible to grow almost all of these trees or something very similar in the UK climate.
So, do be inspired when you’re in far off places…then on your return, speak to us at Paramount Plants to find out what varieties will grow in your UK garden.
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