The Botanical Garden (largest in Norway) is an oasis in east Oslo, home to exotic plants such as cacti, orchids and palms, and indigenous species, including Norwegian wild flowers. Among 1800 different plants arranged according to family and genus, you’ll find some 300 medicinal plans (the Economic Garden), some 1450 species of plants covering the mountain flora of Norway and of other mountainous areas such as Caucasia. Thousands of mountain plants flourish in The Rock Garden, cut through by waterfalls and 1450 species of mountain flora is one of the many highlights (click all pics to bigify and enjoy!):
First a bit of history:
In 1812 the estate owner at that time, President of the Oslo Magistrate, Johan Lausen Bull, sold Tøyen back to the Danish-Norwegian king, Frederik the 6th, who donated Tøyen to the newly established University of Norway. The University Botanical Garden was founded in 1814. Most of the lands were however later sold. Today, the Garden covers about 115 hectares (37.5 acres). Three Natural History Museum buildings are located within the Garden.
I’m not a pro, so this won’t be a botanic expert showing you around. However I love nature, trees and flowers; here is from today’s quality time with my wife seen through my eyes or Nikon S2 lens:
The Rock Garden:
A miniature alpine landscape and the plants are hardy perennials, bulbs and shrubs from all over the world. They are arranged in series of European, America and then Asiatic:
What also caught my eyes, was how beautiful the waterfall was and how much fun you can have in it:
The Systematic Garden:
It aims to show the great variety of plants among Angiosperms. The species, genera and families are arranged to illustrate their evolutionary relationship:
You can relax and enjoy in front of that section too:
The Duck Pond:
Both children and adults were fascinated by the ducks:
The Dove Tree:
The tree comes from China and is an attraction in bloom. It was planted in the 50s and start blooming 30 years later:
Ever since it has flowered each year and been a great pleasure to all visitors to the garden in May. It flowers only for about 10 days; Lucky we where there to be able to share with you:
Quality time:
Of course I took a lot more pics and you may see them here on my Flickr account. I have, however saved the best to last; I was talking about quality time with my wife Diane (click to see her post from this garden visit!), didn’t I? So here is what she had prepared for us as a surprise:
Diane’s shrimp salad sandwiches with a little bubbly ;-)
Want to see more? Well, come and visit then – I’ll gladly show you around!
Hmmm looks like quite a romantic day ;-)
You two are such romantics. How lovely! This weekend is America’s Memorial Day Weekend. I wished Diane a Happy one. But perhaps a blessed one would be better.
The first picture, with the reflection, is stunning. How beautiful! I remember the contrast with the winter and once again, I think Norway is like Canada. Two seasons, two dramatically different sceneries!
You guys are a cute romantic couple ;-)
I recognised a few plants that we have growing here, Renny. How lovely to have a picnic with that beautiful azalea, just a mass of flowers, in the background. The lunch looks lovely. As it’s lunchtime here, I immediately wanted some of yours!
Love the colors in the reflection at the duck pond and yummy food! I want some wine! :)
Oh it is so beautiful just gorgeous, these pictures so pretty. I want to go there and just sit and enjoy the beauty all around me. Wow, I love this place.
The food looked really good too!
Love and Blessings,
AngelBaby
I love botanical gardens! yours is such a fantastic place, enjoyed your beautiful shots.
Great lunch, by the way. Cheers!
Amazingly beautiful. Also because of the completely ripple-free crsytal-clear water. Does this park only bloom during spring?
RennyBA
No the park bloom from early spring to late fall. It’s the dove tree that only bloom for 10 days in May.
Just beautiful Renny – thanks for sharing!
Beautiful gardens! Ours are coming along here too and the lilacs are peaked.
Hope you two are thriving and happy!
I’ve always been so fascinated in gardening, and the rock gardens have been one of my favorites along with a rose garden, roses are diffidently my favorite of all time. Thanks for sharing, its good to hear from you, keep in touch…and have a great weekend…;)
Fantastic report from this magnificiant Garden, so far away from the image of Norway as Cold, Glaciers and Polar Bears;))
You know, Anna’s School is close by, and her pupils from all over the World, loves to visit this Garden.
And now: Ida, the primate and missing link, age 47 millions of years, will be exhibited in one of the Parks Museums.
Hurray – this park need more attention. And you have started.
btw. I was there during Halloween. Just a hint;))
My ABC-L is here:
http://toraa.blogspot.com/2009/05/abc-l.html
Beautiful gardens and very educational. I ould love to see it someday.
Slike oaser er gull verd – i alle mulige betydninger av betegnelsen.
Beautiful – from start to finish. Yum yum.
these are so beautiful! and the sandwich looks yum! :D
oh that really looks like such a beautiful place. i especially love that waterfall too! thanks for taking us along :)
Wow…this is a great place! What a fantastic garden… and the sandwich look good too ! ;-)
I love the greens and purples … and bubbly :)
Hi, nice posts there :-) express’s concerning the interesting advice
Whoa! Looks like Spring has arrived in Norway! Look at those lovely blooms!
What a great way to spend time with Diane! You probably have eyes for each other only. haha….
That’s a beautiful place. It seems like a wonderful place to relax and unwind with family and friends. It’s great to know that you were able to spend quality time with your wife.
I love the devotion and thought that went into the systemic garden. that would be a pleasure to explore.
What a LOVELY Botanical Garden this is…I LOVED the pictures Renny….Especially the ones at the Pond with the Ducks…..
I hope sometime you will sgow us The Cactus and Succul;ants, too….That is my big interest, though I LOVE ALL Plants!
It sounds like it was a perfect day for you and your lovely wife….It was great to see so very many people there enjoying it with you and Diane…!
Looks like a perfect ending to a perfect day! Absolutely beautiful!!
You have taken some really stunning pictures here Renny! Thank you for showing us such beauty. If only I could, I would be on the next plane to see this. I think botanical gardens are wonderful places – you can learn if you want to, but also just absorb the natural beauty of the surroundings. Education doesn’t always have to be hard work. :)
It reminds me that on our first son’s first birthday we took a picnic to the botanical gardens of Liverpool University. A long time ago but also in May.
Your Quality Times with Diane are very inspiring, Renny. I love how you share them with us! Thank you.
Wonderful photographs! I love waterfalls.
What a lovely day. And that wife of yours is quite wonderful :)
Yo Renny, can never get enough of the flowers and all that greens :D
What’s the dressing for Diane’s shrimp sandwich, sure looked yummy :D
Oh, these are the most gorgeous gardens. I would go crazy with my camera there.
You just have recieved an award from me, check out my blog for details, congrats !!!
http://freemanscreams.blogspot.com/
Oh it’s so beautiful!!!! what a wonderful garden! And the tree blooming is spectacular! :)
great pictures,as usual blessed with a perfect weather!!
tomatoes like full sun and they are an attractive plant. You can provide a little shade for herbs like thyme and basil by using the larger plant like tomato to provide shade by placing. The herbs won’t grow tall. Use lots of water and you may use a water soluble type fertilizer like Peter’s. You just mix a mild solution and put it on the plants about once a month and they’ll really like you by being healthy and green.
Wow! so amazing garden, i will stay there for my whole evening every weekend :D
Hi,
Nice post with have a good natural pictures.
Those pink flowers are so beautiful, this place is romantic. This place is also a good place to have a picnic with my family.
i m from nepal . and i m so pleased to see such a beautiful natural scene as well as so nicely decorated garden i love so much.
i liked so much these nice gardens .i want to b there soon ..