Grete sent us these photos all the way from western Norway. Despite being extremely far north, Norway has a surprisingly mild climate, thanks to the warmth brought in by the Gulf Stream. That same weather pattern brings huge amounts of rain—an average of 90 inches per year. (For comparison, famously rainy Seattle only gets an average of 37 inches per year.)
As the photos Grete sent show, this is a climate suitable for gorgeous gardens!
Masses of peonies (Paeonia species and hybrids, Zones 3–8) in full bloom steal the show this time of the year.
Numerous low-growing shrubs make a dense tapestry of green that is beautiful and requires very little maintenance.
In this image, taken from from the same viewpoint as the previous photo but in fall, the evergreen shrubs mix with the brilliant color of Japanese maples (Acer palmatum, Zones 5–9) shifting into their fall color.
The beautiful, rugged Norwegian landscape makes an incredible backdrop for a camellia (Camellia sinensis, Zones 7–9) shrub loaded down with pink flowers. This plant witnesses to the incredibly moderate climate. Camellias are not very cold tolerant and are best known in the United States in places like South Carolina, yet they are thriving in this garden that is as far north as Alaska.
In this garden in spring, numerous dwarf rhododendrons come into bloom against a diverse backdrop of evergreen and deciduous shrubs.
Have a garden you’d like to share?
Have photos to share? We’d love to see your garden, a particular collection of plants you love, or a wonderful garden you had the chance to visit!
To submit, send 5-10 photos to [email protected] along with some information about the plants in the pictures and where you took the photos. We’d love to hear where you are located, how long you’ve been gardening, successes you are proud of, failures you learned from, hopes for the future, favorite plants, or funny stories from your garden.
If you want to send photos in separate emails to the GPOD email box that is just fine.
Have a mobile phone? Tag your photos on Facebook, Instagram or Twitter with #FineGardening!
You don’t have to be a professional garden photographer – check out our garden photography tips!
Do you receive the GPOD by email yet? Sign up here.
Fine Gardening Recommended Products
Ho-Mi Digger - Korean Triangle Blade
Fine Gardening receives a commission for items purchased through links on this site, including Amazon Associates and other affiliate advertising programs.
Berry & Bird Rabbiting Spade, Trenching Shovel
Fine Gardening receives a commission for items purchased through links on this site, including Amazon Associates and other affiliate advertising programs.
Attracting Beneficial Bugs to Your Garden, Revised and Updated Second Edition: A Natural Approach to Pest Control
Fine Gardening receives a commission for items purchased through links on this site, including Amazon Associates and other affiliate advertising programs.
Comments
Who would have thought that such a lush and beautiful garden would be possible in Norway. I particularly enjoyed your collection of evergreen shrubs.
Love seeing gardens from other countries. What a treat.
Lovely gardens! Love the fall color!
Camellias! Wow! I would love to be able to grow them here in CT but it's too cold without enough snow to protect them. (We're near the water--inland gets more snow.)How much of the 90 inches of rain is in the form of snow? I had heard of places in western Scotland able to grow almost tropical plants because of the Gulf Stream, but Norway never occurred to me. It's lovely.
It seems so strange to see the Camellia with the mountain in the background. It's wonderful to see gardening from a totally different perspective. My spirits aren't as high as the mountain in the background this morning, but they are much higher than they started out. Thank you for your lovely pictures.
Wow, wow, wow.... your garden is so beautiful - I am now suffering from peony envy! And the view from your garden is spectacular. Thank you so much for sharing this stunning place.
Your garden has a beautiful combination of shrubs and perennials - and wow what an amazing Camellia- just loaded with flowers!
Your plantings of shrubs are just incredibly beautiful. Such a rich interweaving of colors - and such a lovely shift in the fall. Thank you so much for sharing your photos. It has been grey and drizzling all day here, so you have brightened up my day as well.
Love to see such fabulous gardens from different parts of the world. Always some wonderful surprises. Thanks for sharing with us.
Ha det Grete!
Hello from Finland!
Wonderful garden photos - so much to love. Admiring the view of the mountains and lake - I wish we had that!!
Log in or create an account to post a comment.
Sign up Log in