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!
May 22nd, 2009 at 12:23 am
Hmmm looks like quite a romantic day
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May 22nd, 2009 at 2:08 am
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.
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May 22nd, 2009 at 3:55 am
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
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May 22nd, 2009 at 4:08 am
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!
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May 22nd, 2009 at 6:59 am
Love the colors in the reflection at the duck pond and yummy food! I want some wine!
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May 22nd, 2009 at 7:17 am
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
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May 22nd, 2009 at 8:53 am
I love botanical gardens! yours is such a fantastic place, enjoyed your beautiful shots.
Great lunch, by the way. Cheers!
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May 22nd, 2009 at 12:07 pm
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.
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May 22nd, 2009 at 3:47 pm
Just beautiful Renny – thanks for sharing!
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May 22nd, 2009 at 4:42 pm
Beautiful gardens! Ours are coming along here too and the lilacs are peaked.
Hope you two are thriving and happy!
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May 22nd, 2009 at 5:18 pm
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…;)
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May 22nd, 2009 at 7:43 pm
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
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May 22nd, 2009 at 10:25 pm
Beautiful gardens and very educational. I ould love to see it someday.
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May 23rd, 2009 at 8:07 am
Slike oaser er gull verd – i alle mulige betydninger av betegnelsen.
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May 23rd, 2009 at 11:53 am
Beautiful – from start to finish. Yum yum.
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May 23rd, 2009 at 3:21 pm
these are so beautiful! and the sandwich looks yum!
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May 23rd, 2009 at 8:47 pm
oh that really looks like such a beautiful place. i especially love that waterfall too! thanks for taking us along
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May 24th, 2009 at 1:28 am
Wow…this is a great place! What a fantastic garden… and the sandwich look good too !
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May 24th, 2009 at 5:04 am
I love the greens and purples … and bubbly
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May 24th, 2009 at 6:10 pm
Hi, nice posts there
express’s concerning the interesting advice
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May 24th, 2009 at 6:41 pm
Whoa! Looks like Spring has arrived in Norway! Look at those lovely blooms!
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May 24th, 2009 at 6:43 pm
What a great way to spend time with Diane! You probably have eyes for each other only. haha….
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May 24th, 2009 at 7:18 pm
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.
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May 24th, 2009 at 11:52 pm
I love the devotion and thought that went into the systemic garden. that would be a pleasure to explore.
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May 25th, 2009 at 4:12 am
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…!
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May 25th, 2009 at 3:30 pm
Looks like a perfect ending to a perfect day! Absolutely beautiful!!
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May 25th, 2009 at 3:49 pm
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.
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May 25th, 2009 at 7:35 pm
Your Quality Times with Diane are very inspiring, Renny. I love how you share them with us! Thank you.
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May 25th, 2009 at 9:22 pm
Wonderful photographs! I love waterfalls.
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May 26th, 2009 at 12:47 am
What a lovely day. And that wife of yours is quite wonderful
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May 27th, 2009 at 4:32 am
Yo Renny, can never get enough of the flowers and all that greens
What’s the dressing for Diane’s shrimp sandwich, sure looked yummy
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May 27th, 2009 at 4:32 am
Oh, these are the most gorgeous gardens. I would go crazy with my camera there.
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May 27th, 2009 at 7:02 pm
You just have recieved an award from me, check out my blog for details, congrats !!!
http://freemanscreams.blogspot.com/
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May 27th, 2009 at 8:36 pm
Oh it’s so beautiful!!!! what a wonderful garden! And the tree blooming is spectacular!
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May 30th, 2009 at 4:58 pm
great pictures,as usual blessed with a perfect weather!!
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June 9th, 2009 at 8:33 pm
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.
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October 19th, 2009 at 10:16 pm
Wow! so amazing garden, i will stay there for my whole evening every weekend
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October 31st, 2009 at 11:25 am
Hi,
Nice post with have a good natural pictures.
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January 11th, 2010 at 12:26 pm
Those pink flowers are so beautiful, this place is romantic. This place is also a good place to have a picnic with my family.
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