Scott Arboretum, USA

An arboretum can present distinct challenges for the photographer. On occasion they’re nothing more than a fairly dry collection of botanically arranged specimens, ranked according to genus and species. Thankfully, the Scott Arboretum at Swarthmore College on the outskirts of Philadelphia isn’t one of those places. It’s a very skilful blend of trees (and yes, there are plenty of those!) with the odd architectural flourish and plenty of low-level, garden-worthy planting to help ground the forest giants. And what a collection it is – superbly landscaped, immaculately maintained, it’s a hit with staff, students, garden visitors, and at least one very happy photographer.