Reykjavík Grapevine - 02.08.2019, Side 50

Just Like
Paradise
The beautiful success of Akureyri
Botanical Garden
Words: Felix Robertson Photos: Art Bicnick
Located just under 50km south
of the Arctic Circle, the northern
Icelandic town of Akureyri is not
the obvious location for a verdant
garden. But Akureyri’s Botanical
Garden, opened in 1957, is a suc-
cessful and popular local attrac-
tion, showcasing a wide range of
native and international plants in
its scenic perch above the town.
Winter is coming
When I spoke to head gardener
Guðrún Kristín Björgvinsdóttir I
expected her to speak of the chal-
lenges of maintaining a garden
in such a northerly setting. But,
as she explained to
me, the location isn’t
as problematic as it
sounds. “Actually, it’s
not too challenging,”
she says, as we chat
in the garden’s large
greenhouse. “All our
plants begin in the
greenhouse. We order
seeds and put them in
a small pot, and when
they bloom we keep
them inside for maybe
two months, depend-
ing on the plant. Then
we put them outside.
If they survive to the
end of May or the be-
ginning of June, we
can put them outside
in the beds and they’ll
grow over the summer.”
Of course, the real hardship
comes in winter, when the tem-
perature often falls below freez-
ing and snow can pile up to one
metre or more. But, as Guðrún
explains, thick snow isn’t as bad
as it sounds. “It acts like a blanket
over the plants,” she explains. “And
this protects them over the winter.
We often put plants out first at the
beginning of May, and if they live,
they normally survive the winter.
Not always, but perhaps around
90% survive.”
An international focus
It ’s hard not to be struck by
the sheer variety of plants. The
grounds are a riot of colour, with
poppies, lilies and lavender pro-
viding a dazzling contrast to the
muted greens and greys one tends
to expect from Icelandic plant
life. While there are over 400 na-
tive species, the garden also or-
ders a great variety of seeds from
abroad, constantly testing which
plants can survive.
One key partner in this process
is the Reykjavík Botanical Garden.
“We work closely with the Reyk-
javík gardens,” explains Guðrún.
“Our botanist is in contact with
them frequently. We often share
seeds and information.” The gar-
den in Akureyri is also a member
of IPEN, the International Plant
Exchange Network, which helps
facilitate the worldwide exchange
of seeds. Though small, Akureyri
botanical garden maintains an in-
ternational presence.
A special place
As we wander through the garden,
listening to the sound of the small
fountain and visitors enjoying a
day out, you get the sense that this
is a very special place for the town.
Guðrún certainly speaks fondly of
her job. “I love being outside and
working in nature,” she says. “And
it’s really nice to hear people say-
ing positive things about the gar-
den—they say ‘Oh it’s so beautiful,
it’s just like paradise.’”
We couldn’t agree more.
Travel Distance from Reykjavík: 388 km How to get there: Route One North to AkureyriAccommodation provided by: akureyribackpackers.isCar provided by: hertz.is
A riot of colour near the Arctic Circle
Head gardener Guðrún Kristín Björgvinsdóttir
“Snow acts like a
blanket over the
plants. It protects
them over the
winter.”
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