Sofias Country Gardens

A year ago I had an operation to help with my back problems which meant that the whole of last years gardening season went to waste. It...

As May turned into June I found myself living in the slow lane, easing into summer at a snails pace. I am not a patient person by nature,...

After a very, very long winter spring finally begins to emerge. All throughout April the weather has played tricks on us, and each time the sun surprises us with its presence it swiftly goes back into hiding when a new set of snow clouds fill the sky, and large white, wet snowflakes once again cover the ground. The multitude of birds announcing their comeback to our cold climate latitude have no choice in the matter, with loudmouthed cranes and swans descending in the bay and

I used to say how quickly time goes when having fun. Nowadays I just think that time passes in lightspeed regardless of what I'm doing....

Living in the country I often think about the nature of light. In a town there is so much artificial light that it becomes a question of wether the sun is shining or not, wheras in the country I notice the variations in the light even on sunny days. In autumn this becomes all the more pronounced, because light takes on a completely different quality as the sun begins to hang lower in the sky. The first thing I notice around the end of September is how much warmer the light is

As I always seek perfection it is rare that I feel satisfied with my garden, and yet there are so many parts of it that are absolutely...

We've had the longest dry spell this summer, with six weeks of no rain. I've been looking at the gardens drying out week after week, and as I only water new plants most of my borders have been looking sad. The plants that have put down deep roots have survived, but flowered sparingly or gone to seed early. Normally I have a sea of brilliantly purple Allium giganteum filling up the woodland garden at Humlegård, but this year they put on a bleak show before withering. I was all

My friend Maria and I have a habit of consoling each other with the words "this too shall pass" when things aren't great, and sometimes lamenting the passing of great moments too. I was reminded of this now that my flower borders have finally burst into bloom. It is such a fleeting moment in summer that a certain flower is at its best that I'd really like to press on the pause button to have time to saviour it! As it's not possible to pause time I have instead saved the memo

This years winter was long and rich in snow, but suddenly, in just a few weeks, it all melts and spring arrives for real. Lulu the snow dog is the only one who is sad that the seasons are changing, as she loves the snow more than anyone I know, whereas I rejoice at watching it disappear. It has been fascinating watching it literally melting infront of my eyes, with a few meters of the snow blanket disappearing each day and it all vanishing within a week. Outside the red house

In the end of November we woke up to a light blanket of snow covering the gardens. Lulu the gardening dog was super excited, but quite non-plussed at not being able to dig the ground to bury her favourite toys! To me the snow was a welcome sight, as November is generally a very dark month. Morning twilight was a welcome shade of blue and white, but a few hours later the colours changed again into muted greens and greys. At this time of year when the plants are dormant the sta

Once again the gardening season comes to an end in a glorious firework display of autumn colours. The days are getting shorter by the...

Suddenly a late summer heatwave is upon us, and I find myself sweltering in it like my plants. Most of the flowers have gone to seed, and...

I love growing herbs in my gardens - I mean who doesn't? - but as the winters are so severe here in Finland a lot of herbs that overwinter happily in other Scandinavian countries just won't make it through the winter here. Climate zone maps aren't entirely reliable, as the survival of plants not only depends on the temperature but also on snow depth and frost. During a rainy winter they don't get a protective snow cover that would see them through, and there is nothing they h

And just like that... the garden is in full bloom. June is always such a hectic month that it seems to be whizzing past in a rush. With so many borders to weed and the kitchen garden to plant, I'm struggling to capture it in pictures. Still, I'm savouring every moment of it as soon enough we go into full summer. The woodland border at Humlegård has changed so much from last year. It is fascinating to keep track of the natural changes that occur from year to year, and I'm so h

Summer is finally here! Once again it came with a rush, turning from bare to lush within two weeks. I never manage to capture the transformation on camera. It always seems I go to bed one day with nature around me barely waking up, and the next day it is in full swing. It's lovely though. The birds are chirping from 4 am and each day brings a new surprise. This year the pergola behind the sauna has a new garden statue. I'm very fond of objects in the garden, perhaps because t

Gardeners always complain about the weather. If its not too wet, then its too cold or too dry, too hot or too windy. You'd think we are a...

Today I almost saw the sun... I say almost, because at this time of year the sun never reaches my garden. It is stuck so low on the horizon that it stays hidden behind the forest, and for the whole month of December I only see it basking the shores across the lake. My garden faces south west, which is lovely in the summer when I get the most gorgeous evening sun. In winter though, the garden lies in the shade. Before I lived on the farm full time I was never so aware of the d

It is not unusual for the first snow to fall by the beginning of December, but it is unusual that it stays. Most years we have dark and rainy long autumns, but this year a cold spell has hit us and just as it did a small storm passed us by, leaving the ground covered in a thin layer of snow. Afterwards, the skies cleared and left us with a glorious sunshine lighting up our short days. Still, I get the feeling that if I blink I will miss it - the sun is even slower than me in

And so it begins - this long winter season with little light. Days go by without seeing sunshine as the skies are mostly overcast. Even...

A few weeks ago my godfathers sent me two boxes filled with spring bulbs, much to my delight as they included Allium giganteum Gladiator...