Our home and garden once upon a time

Once upon a time we bought a house in Sweden. A very special building, a school build around 1897. Nowadays it's looking like the picture above. The house is nearly totally painted outside. Around the building, it's a green oasis now. Very well maintained, the gras is looking like a lawn and there are lot of flowers areas. We brought a lot of plants form my garden in the Netherlands and a got a lot of special plants form my late father. Also we found a lot of plants from former days, when the old lady was gardening (from the sixties till 2006). They had some difficulties because they were overgrown but managed after being in the nursery. 

But we bought it like you see it on the picture below. We started with cutting a lot of trees. There were too much, sometimes not planned but just growing. Creating a lot of shade and moss. And the place you see before the house, they planned to have that awful avlopp. Just in front of your doorstep because there was no other option within the rules. We really hated it but made the best out of it. Only the Midsummer Roses are still there!

Above you see the picture made in 2015. The ground around was totally overgrown, you could mow the grass around the house where once was a path. Two Thuja's were growing too close to the house. We cut both the trees and recreated borders around the house. We took away the wild grass and reconstructed the gravel path around the house. We painted the a lot of red and white, also the iron pilasters and balconies. Right now we are recreating the grass in front. Actually, we are trying to make a wild dry meadow. 

The barn (totally in the left) was taken away already in 2016. The barn at the right, build around 1897. was painted and repaired again. Inside you can still can see the traces from former days. Once is was the home for the horse of the teacher who lived here in Sjöbygget but also needed to teach in Dörärp. Maybe there was even a sort of housekeeper for the school who had his "office" in the barn. The sculptures are still there, in good shape. Created by the old lady in the sixties. 

Above you see a picture for 2015. We think the old lady got a lot of Christmas trees for free. She planted them everywhere in the garden and started shaping them. Maybe to keep them small. But in the years when the house became a holdidayhome they started growing very fast. In the years we have been living here they just speeded up. That's why we cut down 4 of 5. Below you can see the one who's still remaining. Already 4-5 meters high. 

The biggest difference is the painting but there is more. We renewed the total wall at this side and painted all the stairs in a lighter color. In front here was growing a climbing plant "Blue rain" for some years but never flowering. We replaced it to a more sunny place. And the good news is, it flowered this year for the first time since 10 years. 

The lake side didn't change so much. It is still a very quit place. It's always there. A very nice small lake where you can fish, swim, walk along or take a swim. 

Same for the udden in Flyxen. The half isle where you can enjoy the private view, or your swim in summer time. There is a stone picknick table and a grilling place you even can enjoy while ice fishing in winter time. 

 Do you want to read more about the school and the garden some years ago? Try the articles I already wrote about this special place. 

May and Junes gardening life

There happened a lot since the beginning of May. It was a very big rush. Lot of things happening at the same time or needed to be done next day, it just to follow nature. When we walk around the garden with our morning coffee, you will always find a "job to do". But I think also that's all inclusive, when you take care of a garden, it will always call you. 

In the beginning of the month is stayed very cold, specially in the nights. Later on in June it went little warmer but finally around Midsommar we really had the first Swedish summer days. For the plants it was good weather anyway. not too warm, not too cold and heavy rain showers now and then. So everything is growing very very very fast. So much I can't keep up with the weeds. The bad thing is it will be more difficult to get rid of it because it will take even more time. But we will see. I have to split my time anyway. 

Of course I opened my plantmarket beginning of June. I collected a lot of plants while weeding and I had been sawing so enough to sell. And the weather hasn't been too dry (so it takes a lot of time to water all) or too wet (so we have so save the plants from drowning) until now so it goes with the flow. It only took some time before the people really bought some plants but now every now and then some payment is coming in digitally. 

A mole decided to make new routes and big buildings in our garden and destroyed a lot of the grass in front of the livingroom, near the apples trees. We started to discourage by removing his buildings daily and putting garlic water in his routes for some days. But when it didn't work we decided to try to catch it. We succeeded in only two days. Actually they are quit good looking guys. Next time they should dig in the 60 hectares around us. 

Again we managed, we chased away the Maqpies, they have a nest but not in our garden. We made a very long stave to reach the building of the nest and tried to destroy it several times. In the end they got tired of rebuilding. So now the other young small birds in our garden were not eaten and had more chance to survive. 

We got special visitors last weeks anyway. The Cranes with their youngster, very early in the morning (around 5) they just walking around our neighbors house, while we were sleeping just some meters aside. Looking for some nice frogs or pads....

Just found some smultrons in my garden, de small strawberries (around 1 cm, growing in the wild. I like to eat them when I passing by, they are very healthy. I saw also the first Cantharellen, very early this year. Mostly the appear end of July or even August. It must be the weather, high temperatures and lost of rain sometimes. Let's hope we get some Scandinavian high pressure area around soon, which will deliver a stabile weather period for some weeks. For now we had some very hot days suddenly. From cold weather to 34 degrees..... You can not do that much when it is so warm, nice to go swimming in the lake of course. I'v been there now more often then last year in a summerseason 😄. 

Thanks for now, nice to see you next time!

Rush hour in the garden, it's springtime

Finally. Everything needs to be done, nature is in a hurry. Only some months you have the chance to show yourself. Now or never. Really rush hour now....

After the snowdrops, we had Crocus time for a while, followed by White and Blåsippa (Anemone and Liverleaf). After that...? Well it simply exploded. The Pulsatillas started flowering, the Magnolia (for the first time), all sorts of Narcisses and my favorite bulbs: the Fritillaria Meleagris.

Right now, 4 weeks after spring started -end of March- it's nearly all green around us. Except the Beeches. But they are getting green very soon, more and more leaves appear.

Pulsatilla

Some things have been growing 40 cm's already in very short time, like the Aquileias. We still needed to clean some of the borders, they are still covered with leaves to protect the plants. But in the beginning we were little afraid being too early. Because frost is still possible till the end of May. After cleening the next step is to create an extra mulch layer to feed the soil and slow down the weeds. There were also some parts I didn't manage to weed in time last autumn. That's a pity because the roots grow longer in winter so it's a hard jobb to fix it now. So already a lot of wheel barrows transport through the garden. At the same time I've been cutting the grass for two times already. That never happened before in April. I also already installed Herman, the robot, too. I was very lucky the lines were still okay after winter, though Herman is getting a little older and doesn't always know the way back home. Last days we have been busy to clean, composting and replant the old fireplace, it was totally overgrown and the robot crashed each time on the stonewall because it disappeared under the weeds. It was really a very heavy jobb, but we fixed it 💪.

On the average we walk 2-3 km's in the garden every day, without counting our walks in the neighborhood or fitness/yogatimes. Last weeks we didn't need extra fitness actually, only some stretching for the painful muscles 😂.  

Magnolia

Meanwhile this is also the moment to reshuffle plants a little, for a better composition. Now it is not to dry and warm yet. Normally it is the ideal time also to split up plants, so you'll get more of your favorite ones. I was just in time for the Sedums, before they start growing. There is only a little problem now. We didn't have rain the last weeks, so it's already dry. And because of the high temperatures last weeks all is happening at the same time, all needs to be done now. Nature is ruling at the moment. So there is little time left to fix all the things in some weeks you normally fix in two months. 

My favorit bulbs: Fritillary

We prepared the front side garden to be a flower meadow. we bought 40m2 seeds and good manured soil. But there was soooo much moss in that part, we thought it would be better to take it out as much as possible. We took out nearly 10 wheel barrows to the compost area (We are lucky my brother Alrik made a new compost area one last year) to make new compost. It's mostly garden garbage, because I don not want to attract or feed the wild animals with leftovers from food. I started 8 years ago with composting on the old place. Now it's time to use the compost ground, it contains nutrients and minerals. Normally I mix it with extra manure to better the poor ground around here. I can already experience that the ground is getting better after these years working like that. Never thought I would be happy for my own compost 😄.

House made compost

Last autumn I collected a lot of small plants for selling in summer seasons. They only had to survive the winter, because the best is to stay outside in winter. And ques what? Most of them survived! We even found a small but well growing Clematis, we made last year out of cuttings. We cleaned and refreshed them and now they started growing already very well. In some weeks we can start selling at the street side again, we will open the Växtloppis again. 

But I promised also to make time for maintaining the house and for traveling together now. Having less stress because of having a garden cafe - with deadlines whole summer-  but experience really quality time together for the time we live our dream on the countryside. So we dried, cleaned and painted the garden gates, the front and kitchen door -nearly finished- and we traveled in between every 3-4 weeks to the city to socialize and see some soccer to Göteborg or Stockholm.

In March I started sowing. First the most difficult plants, how needs a long time to germinate, like Day Lily, Gaura, Crocosmia and a Wisteria (we call it Blue Rain). Later the ones who need to go out when the frost risk is over, in the end of May/beginning of June. In the end we have over hundred seedlings. Most of them are Lathyrus, we like them so much. But also Holyhock, Amarant, Mais, Basilicum, Lavendel and lot's of Snapdragons. All alive and kicking. But not only succes stories. The Passion flower didn't grow, as the Salvia didn't - only one survived. Maybe it was too dark and too cold on the room. In some years you also collect a lot of seeds but you don't use all. This year I started sowing this old ones, getting a last chance to grow. The rest of the seeds I will sow outside directly. Like the Dill, Cosmea, Aquileia, Pumpkins, Beans and Marigolds. 

Last week we took out all the seedlings to the outside veranda. It has been very nice weather last weeks, between 8-15 degrees. But suddenly some frost appeared in the weather app 😳. So we needed to (replace some and) protect all the plants again, with preventive fleece. We lost some of them now, it is always a pity when you put so much time in it. But nature is ruling, it can be challenging too. We still love it 😅. It gives energy!

By the way: now it is Tulip season in Sweden, they call these French Tulips, they are very big and flowering wonderful! Even the Appletree starts coloring, at least the early ones. Did you know I also tried to sow a new Jazz apple tree (with seeds from the apples we eat every day). It is our favorite Apple and two of them came out... now already 10 centimeters high. Same I did with our favorite Cherry tomatoes, just for fun.... also growing big now 😂. 

PS: The bad news is we think the Maqpies are breeding in the Christmas Tree again. We see them flying around very sneaky. Next days we will try to chase them away again. I will let you know next time....

Visiting Botaniska Trädgården Göteborg (GBG)

 

It is always a pleasure visiting the Botaniska in GBG. There is always something to see and it is a very nice park in the middle of the city center. A lot of citizens use the park to go outside for a walk or fika. You can also start your walk in the Botaniska and walk out of this park to nature in direction of Mölndal of visit the higher parts and enjoy the view on GBG. At the moment the Botaniska is renovating the glasshouses, so it is a little bit a mess, nevertheless worth visiting. They finished already building a new glasshouse on top nearby the entrance. 

Porcelin klocka

Not snowdrops but Springbells

Under a glass roof you will find very rare sorts of bulbs from al over the world. They are flowering now!

And in the new build glasshouse they show threatened plants by climate change. Specially plants growing in the coldest arias (like Antartica or Himalya) of the world are having more and more problems to survive in a warming up world. 

View on Goteborg

When you want to have an indication what it can be like in summertime, just have a look on the pictures from the Botaniska I made in earlier days. For more information about opening times, what exhibitions or events they offer, when they finish renovation or something else, please visit their website. 

Spring arriving in Småland Sweden

For now we are still in the Snowdrop season in Sweden, in general the earliest flowers of the season. They are giving there best for now, growing bigger every day. Every year I start looking for the first small sign of spring. Like some years ago when we still had a real winter.  Now it hardly was a real winter, more like a very long autumn. 

Till the moment of spring arrives, I try to enjoy myself inside with sowing Lavendel and Passion plants and making plant cuttings, mostly pelargon. Last season I already made cuttings of Hydrangea Annabelle, Skimmia Kew Green, Forsythia and Hydrangea Paniculatum. They are doing very well outside. They survived "autumn"time and are starting to grow now. 

After a little walk around I found the first flowering Crocus. Only the left overs. The most of them are eaten by the Sork. Like the specials bulbs I bought in the Botaniska, the Camassias and lot of special Narcissus. That is a small active animal, something in between a mouse and a cavia here in Småland. We try to scare them away by watering garlic water in the holes.

We also heard the first Cranes some weeks ago, already the beginning of March. Quit early actually. Last week they also arrived by our lake, very close to our house (only 50 meters) but we can not see them from our place. First only one, screaming all day to inform the partner who arrived later. First days screaming each morning, so we waked up early too. Now they are quit ok. Feeding after the big travel from the south of Spain. It is hard to belief they can make that long journey, survive the challenges of modern times and know what direction to fly to. We tried to make a picture of them but they are very scared. So I only can offer you a far away picture, there are some grey/white things in the left corner. Our cranes. We saw them much more close but then couldn't make a video in time. Today we were working outside, we saw several groups of cranes arriving in Sweden. A fabulous view and sound to witness. 

Cranes hiding in the reed

But finally half of March, expecting spring, you wake up and see only snow. A total white world. With beautiful sun this time. Suddenly time to clean the path again (before it's getting icy). And next step,  just throw all your things you are busy with away, put on your winter clothes and just enjoy the day today! Don't forget to make nice pictures 😎. By the way, the snow disappeared as suddenly as it came. 

So we went on with inside jobs to do. I started sowing the more difficult plants (like Passiflora, Crocosmia or Hemerocallis (Daylily), or the ones who need warmth and coldness or a long time to germinate (like Pinus, Verbena, Lavendula). Next weeks it is time for the Lathyrus to sow. But I need to create place first 😉. So the Pelargonias have to move from their winter place to a little warmer and more sunnier place for waking up. 

Meanwhile we have been outside sometimes, not only to have some healthy movement, but also looking for more spring signs. We only found them hidden far away between the leaves: the blåsippa. It has been so cold and grey till now, I can understand they are still hiding (frosty in the nights, max 5 at daytime). But I have good news too. Last week we got suddenly some days of spring, temperatures around 10 degrees and totally sunny every day 💛😍. We have been outside as much as possible, enjoying the light and sun (we even got sunburn in our faces). 

Hiding Blåsippor (Hepatica)

Of course the Blåsippa started flowering immediately, it was waiting for the first sun and warmth too. We have been enjoying sun for nearly a week. Having breakfast early in the morning (with a wintercoat, in the sun out of the chilly wind). It's like nature is exploding. Everything in nature is in a hurry suddenly. "Grow now, we only have some months left before its getting winter again." Daylight gets already less from the end of June 😬....

We still need some more patience, because we also went back to winter again. Maybe we will have some spring in the beginning of April?.....Hope next time we meet, spring has started 🙏.

And oh yes my neighbor Andreas made very close pictures from the cranes only 50 meters away in the lake. Beautiful to live to closely. It was funny because this time there were invaders, the Cranes man got concurrence, but was chased away. The cranes wake up us nearly every morning when the daylight starts to come, very early around 5 o'clock 😳. See you next time!

The light is back

Yes, finally. At least the light is back, you can really feel it. It is earlier light, at the end of the day it is much longer light and even during daytime it is getting slowly better. The sun is already climbing much more higher as in winter, so the days are less dark and grey. It has been a long time already. We started already 5 months ago. I used a lot of blue energy light to keep the mood upp. Even my plants got some extra help to get healthy through winter.

On the first of Februari it is Imbolc, the celebration day of the Celts. It is the moment the light is coming back. The godess Birgit stood symbol for the party of light. The sun is coming back and days getting longer for half a year. The Celts lived very close with nature, in the rythm of nature, mostly agricultural. They followed the sun and marked the time of year on a wooden stick. This is was also a to do list. What jobs to do in which season. In winter season (where the days are shorter as the nights), what started beginning of november with the Festival of the light called Samhain, it was mostly keeping busy with handcrafts and slowing down a little. Reload for the activities next half year. The new season started end of April. It is still celebrated in Sweden, being the celebration of the spring. It is called Valborgsafton in Sweden (also known as Walpurgisnacht in Germany). 

Photo de Charlie Sivlér sur Unsplash

Climate wise it is a very short season for gardening in Scandinavia. When you are lucky you can start early in spring but it can be frosty till the beginning of June. I remember a holiday time in the Norwegian mountains. In June the animals and plants come out of winter and have only three months to flower, set seeds as a guaranty for next generation. End of August there can be snow and frost again. 

In The Netherlands they have a much longer season. Of course situated more South and having a sea climate, a big difference. With a little luck you can start in your garden in March and the forst can come till half of May. Here in Sweden we have a land climate. That means it takes longer to wake up because the earth takes longer to warm as sea. 

This season it nearly hasn't been winter att all. Second time, like last year. It's still like having a very long autumn. Suddenly we got a surprise, one week with coldness and snow. We could even have a walk on the lake. We heard the typical sound of the ice, wonderful to experience. 

But it is a pity, it disappeared as suddenly as it arrived. Next day it was the normal grey and around 4 degrees again. Business as usual again. Hope to see you in spring, whenever it will start. Next step is less grey, more sun and above 5 degrees 🙏. 

See you next time!

Winterstop

We really hope you a nice Christmas Time. Of course we wish you a very good gardening season in 2025. For me it is time to think about next season.

I will quit with the garden cafe. It is a hard decision. Because I did it with all the energy I had. I worked very hard for many years to open a countrygarden who is worth visiting. I did it with my whole heart and love for nature. It is my passion to share my love for gardening with other people. To try to make the distance between people and nature a little smaller. To see the beauty and power of nature. Because actually we are the nature. Without nature no more humanity. We can not rule nature, it rules us. 

For me it is not worth the effort anymore, to less visitors, to high costs and to much hours of work preparing. Sometimes for nothing. Maybe there will be an open garden in future, when I will join the national garden days in 2026, we will see.

This means I will not join the Lingonstallen anymore either. Most of their activities take place out of the gardening and holiday season, which is the most important season for me. So it doesn't make sense anymore. Of course I will continue gardening meanwhile, -I can not imagine a life without gardening- and having a plantmarket with small cuttings or seedlings at the street side. 

Spring is still far away. Winter too. It's looking like a very long autumn without light or sun. It has been grey and dark for a long time now. No snow. No coldness. No winter at all. Very boring weather. We have the lights on in the house, every singel day. We tried to escape form the country and the bad weather to the Netherlands, but the weather over there was even worse. It was the darkest time in 50 years, in 6 weeks we only had 4 days with sun. Though we were living close to the seaside we could hardly see the sea. So when the sun finally appeared for some hours, we really needed to cherish the moment. 

Finally little sun in The Netherlands

Back home in Sweden. The usual grey again. I found out we are living in the region Småland with as less light as in Lapland. Maybe it is even worse. In Lapland they have snow, which make the days more light. No winter yet. Only endless autumn. Time to start some home projects and just keep on moving. Just start counting. Spring is coming soon. We are more then halfway. Only 10 weeks left to go.