Cox grew up in San Francisco and Marin County, nurtured by what he calls a "bohemian patrician" family, surrounded by the redwood forest, the Golden Gate Bridge and San Francisco Bay.

WSJ: The Most Important Garden Designer You've Never Heard Of

Copacabana and Ipanema brought fame to Rio in the 20th Century for golden sands and the lush, forest-covered mountains that framed them.

BBC: Bohemian Santa Teresa

He managed to stop the cutting of virgin forest (and the destruction of golden monkey habitat) in Yunnan province.

ECONOMIST: Liang Congjie

Early next morning before the park is overrun by weekend visitors, walk another nature trail with Vakale to learn about indigenous plant such as kadamba and flame of the forest, and bird species such as golden orioles and racket-tailed drongos.

BBC: Mumbai��s urban jungle, after dark

That afternoon, Lanier ascended the stairs to his studio, picking his way past an overflowing garbage can and a forest of microphone stands, and seated himself before a tall golden harp.

NEWYORKER: The Visionary

It was a national treasure, with a golden pagoda-style roof the size of a football field supported by a forest of red pillars each more than three metres around.

ECONOMIST: Red elephant