Flor og Fjaere

In 1965 the Bryn family bought a farmstead on a bare rocky island in the Ryfylke fjords and began, from 1982, importing soil and planting; the result is a garden of about twenty thousand square metres with palms, bamboo, ferns and dense flower planting that looks Mediterranean or tropical although it sits at 59 degrees north, sheltered by the fjord walls and the warm current. Everything is replanted or protected each year, since the frost-tender species cannot overwinter outdoors. It operates as a single package: a boat from Stavanger, a guided walk through the garden, and a buffet meal in the restaurant, running from May to September. Independent visits are not possible and booking is essential.

History

In 1965 Aasmund and Else Marie Bryn bought a farmstead on the northern tip of the island of Sør-Hidle; Aasmund moved there for his health and, as it improved, began the garden, planting pines to shelter it from the wind. In 1995 their son Olav Bryn opened it to the public with a restaurant (Wikipedia, Flor og Fjære).

Highlights

• The planted island - twenty thousand square metres of garden on bare rock.
• The tender species - palms, bamboo and tropicals kept alive at 59 degrees north.
• The boat crossing - a half-hour trip through the Ryfylke fjords.
• The included meal - a buffet in the garden restaurant.

When to go

May to September only, when the garden is planted and open; the whole operation shuts for winter. June to August shows the planting at its fullest. Boats are cancelled in poor weather.

Practical notes

There is no way to visit without booking the full package, which is expensive and includes a fixed meal. The garden is replanted annually rather than a permanent landscape. The visit runs to a set schedule with no flexibility.

Nearby

Stavanger harbour is the departure point; the Lysefjord and Preikestolen lie further into Ryfylke.

Key facts