ArcaMax

A historic mansion in New Jersey, once a private home for Moroccan royalty, today is a luxurious hotel. People visiting two sites in Portland, Oregon, might imagine that they have been transported to Asia. Guests at a deluxe resort in Tennessee awaken to watch the sun rise over the foothills of the Great Smoky Mountains.

The charms of these disparate attractions would be reason enough to entice visitors to find their way to those destinations, but they share another inviting appeal, too. Each provides the setting for a garden that offers either examples of Mother Nature's magnificent beauty or her magnanimous edible bounty.

With spring upon us and summer fast approaching, gardeners -- along with those who appreciate what they grow -- are welcoming the time of year when they till the soil, plant seeds, and then enjoy the flowers, fruit and vegetables of their labors. This also is the period when people can simply enjoy the beauty of floral displays and taste-tempting edible treats near where they live or as they travel. Visiting a garden can provide a dramatic feast for the eyes or, in some cases, the stomach.

That notable estate in New Jersey has been transformed into the Pendry Natirar hotel and spa. It includes a 10-acre sustainable farm that supplies its restaurants with fresh produce and herbs, just-gathered free-range eggs and honey collected from the onsite apiary. A 3,200-plus-bottle wine cellar provides libations to accompany the food.

Close to 10% of the population of Portland is of Asian descent, so it's not surprising that two gardens in the city represent their countries of origin. The Japanese Garden is believed to be the most authentic one if its kind outside of Japan. Its five distinct areas include a bonsai terrace, sand and stone garden, and strolling pond area. Those who check out the Lan Su Chinese Garden could think that they have been transported to that country. The colorful landscape encompasses covered walkways, open colonnades and graceful bridges.

It may seem unlikely that an unincorporated community with a resident population of only about 300 would be home to a resort included on the 2025 Conde Nast Traveler List of Best Hotels in the World, but Blackberry Farm in Walland, Tennessee, offers a combination of luxury, culinary excellence, wellness and outdoor adventure.

That state is known for its bumper crop of wild blackberries. Among the varieties that flourish in its bramble patches are Black Satin, known for large, juicy berries with a slightly tart flavor; thornless Chester, a boon for those who prefer hassle-free picking; and Darrow, whose versatile attributes make it suitable for fresh eating and use in jams and jellies.

Not surprisingly, varieties of that crop are available for sale at the aptly named Blackberry Farm. Housed in a turn-of-the-century barn located in the center of the farmstead, its James Beard Award-winning restaurant offers menu choices rooted in local Appalachian ingredients, including produce harvested just a few feet from the front door.

Certified organic gardens that flourish at the Standford Inn by the Sea in Mendocino, California, turn up on tables at its vegan restaurant and are among the reasons the property has been ranked among the 10 best eco-friendly hotels in the United States. Guests can take a biointensive gardening class that focuses upon maximizing crop yield in a minimum space.

Lessons available at Castle Hot Springs in Morristown, Arizona, include hands-on gardening workshops and in-the-field tastings. That garden hotel is a Sonoran Desert oasis with natural springs that irrigate more than 150 varieties of vegetables, fruits, herbs and flowers. Guests who enjoy accompanying their food with a potent potable can sign up for mixology classes that integrate just-picked herbs into refreshing cocktails.

Another hands-on experience is available at The Weston, perched in the heart of Vermont's Green Mountains. The small, luxurious guest house has been described as "a bucolic retreat" and "a luxurious home away from home," where "farm-to-table actually lives up to the hype." Overnight visitors can join the innkeeper in picking vegetables grown without the use of pesticides or synthetic fertilizers.

Whether flowers are your forte or you have a fondness for fruits and veggies, this is the time to check out gardens, farms and other places where your favorites flourish.

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WHEN YOU GO

pendry.com/natirar

travelportland.com

blackberryfarm.com

stanfordinn.com

castlehotsprings.com

thewestonvt.com

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Victor Block is a freelance writer. To read features by other Creators Syndicate writers and cartoonists, visit the Creators Syndicate website at www.creators.com.

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