How To Create A Scandinavian Style Garden

2024 Author: Sebastian Paterson | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 13:47

It is not for nothing that Norway, Denmark and Sweden are united into a single territorial unit - Scandinavia. A common history, starting from the Viking Age, frequent transfers of power in the region from one country to another, one language group and other nuances of joint development ultimately led to some very close aesthetic perception of life in these countries. Hence - the "Scandinavian style", which is best known to designers, and the similarity of techniques in urban planning, including - in landscape design and gardening. However, with all the generality, it is not so difficult to find differences in landscape solutions in a particular Scandinavian country.

Climate influenced

Differences in landscaping techniques are largely due to the difference in climatic and geographical conditions. For example, in Norway, the most beautiful and mountainous of all three countries, vertical zoning is clearly expressed: the vegetation on the coast differs sharply from the floristic list of high mountain regions. Gardening and landscaping techniques also have significant differences between the warm coast, where apples, pears, grapes are grown in the open field, and in the number of rose bushes it can compete with the floricultural state farms of the Crimea, and central Norway, with frighteningly frosty winters, when they are used for landscaping, mainly annuals and the ubiquitous lilac.

And in Denmark, on the contrary, there are no mountains at all, the country seems to be lying on a flat saucer, washed from all sides by the straits and warm waters of the Gulf Stream. Widely used in more northern Norway and Sweden, the method of covering the roofs of a house with a grass lawn, which has been performing the function of keeping heat for centuries, has never been relevant in Denmark and therefore is completely uncommon. And the Norwegians still use such gardening, but already as a purely decorative technique and a tribute to traditions.

Greening from the mind

The list of climatically determined features could be continued, but the differences caused by the peculiarities of the national mentality are much larger and they are much more interesting.

Denmark has long been the dominant state in Scandinavia. The Vikings, who were constantly on campaigns, obviously had no time for flowers. Roses alone conquered the harsh hearts of the Danes. Perhaps that is why there are so many roses in the landscaping of the capital of Denmark, Copenhagen. The famous metropolitan park Tivoli is especially distinguished by this. However, not only roses grow here, but also magnificent bamboos, a luxurious collection of ornamental shrubs has been collected. Even in autumn, in September, in the park you can see whole beds of magnificent varietal tulips - this is already the influence of Holland, located literally across the Strait. As a capital city with more than six centuries of history, Copenhagen has paid full tribute to regular parks, and intricate sheared boxwood patterns can be seen near ancient palaces such as Rosenborg Castle. Danes, living in such a "flat"in the geographical sense of the state, they are very fond of vertical gardening and strive to twine the supports for the lanterns and the walls of houses with climbing vines.

Sweden was quite militant and ambitious and since the 17th century was considered one of the largest European powers. Like any self-respecting kingdom, Sweden laid out huge parks on its territory, and every residence of the royal family is invariably decorated with elements of regularity: strict pyramidal shapes, symmetrical lawns and alleys of well-trimmed lindens. Perhaps, Sweden has the maximum number of castles for all of Scandinavia and, accordingly, parade parks. It is all the more joyful to meet landscape-type parks in which there was a place for irregularly shaped ponds, huge lawns and magnificent flower gardens. One of the best such places is the Deer Island Park, located east of the center of Stockholm. There is also a botanical garden. In general, the Swedish capital has excellent outdoor landscaping;the plants in containers change depending on the season, but in general, the number of flowerpots and boxes remains invariably large, and the planting style is quite orderly.

Norway gained independence a little over a century ago. Before that, it was considered either a province of Denmark or part of Sweden. Throughout the time after the end of the Viking Age, it was an agrarian country. The peasant roots of the inhabitants of the Norwegian capital - the city of Oslo - are visible today, and in landscaping as well. Norwegians are not at all shy about this and, on the contrary, they emphasize in every possible way. Most of the parks in the capital have a pronounced landscape character, the flower beds do not at all pretend to be regular, the appearance is completely simple, the "rural style" dominates here. And even in containers it is more likely to find plants that have recently been "tamed" by man. In a cottage village in the center of Oslo, a sunflower is one of the most common flowers, while, for example, in Russia it can be found, most likely,in the context of country style. The Norwegians are very fond of nature and have great respect for landscape architects and park creators. Oslo is a very green city, and in each of its parks there is a sign on which it is indicated to whom the townspeople owe this beauty. The residents of the capital are especially in awe of the Vigeland Park, where magnificent sculptures are successfully combined with the landscape and fountains.

Whichever Scandinavian country you find yourself in, the amount of greenery in them is amazing. Differences in approaches to gardening make the capitals of these states completely different, give them additional individuality and charm of originality.