The whole experience lasts five hours and starts with the boat trip from central Stavanger. After approx 20 minutes we arrived the island called Sør-Hilde. The guides were ready to take us for a walk as soon as we arrived. Several groups will arrive at different times during the day, so it does not feel crowded. The gardens are divided into sectors with different themes: The Japanese garden, the cypress garden, the cactus mound, the garden beach etc. Our first stop was the cactus mound where our guide started to tell us the story of how Flor & Fjære came to be.
Our guide
The Cactus mound
FROM NAKED ROCKS TO A COLORFUL OASIS
The guide explained how three generations have developed the place. It all started in 1965. The first generation – Åsmund and Else Marie Bryn bought a homestead on the island. This is where they then built their cabin where the family could spend summers. There were not one single tree here. Because of a northern wind which made it feel cold, Åsmund desided to plant 3000 trees. Only 300 survided. When you look at my photos with lots of trees, it's hard to imagine the place without a single tree. But in 1987 Åsmund also started to plant flowers. He wanted to make the place more attractive to his wife, so that she would want to spend more time here. The gardens developed and grew bigger and bigger. Rumors of the beautiful garden spread and people started to come to see the place. This led to the son of Åsmund and his wife to open a restaurant in 1995. She cooked a fish soup for the visiters. That first summer 600 people came to visit. Last year the number was a little over 40.000. Now it is the third generation who runs Flor& Fjære.
The Bambo garden
A quick look at the Garden beachThe garden keeps developing each year. The guide told us that the garden looks different every year. Especially the colors. The annual summer flowers will chance each year, making the colors different each season. If you wonder how palm trees and cactus can grow in this climate, the reason is that this island has a warmer-than-average climate. That's why tropical plants will grow here. But the guide did tell us that many of the excotic plants are planted in pots into the soil. Before the winter they will be dug up and stored in the green house until next spring.
The Cypress garden
THE JUNGLE RESTAURANT
We end the guided tour by walking through the cypress garden. The huge greenhouse is where we are going to have our three-course dinner. I did feel like being in a jungle! Lots of palm trees. This resataurant opened in 2022, because they needed a bigger restaurant. The Chef André Mulder has been on the island for more than 20 seasons. He focuses on home-grown, unprocessed vegetables and herbs. When the season ends he will go to Thailand to spend winter. Then when he comes back, he will bring a team of Thai personal to work in the kitchen.
The Cloister garden
Outside the greenhouse / Jungle restaurantAfter the delicious dinner we had time to walk around and enjoy the gardens on our own. It was partly cloudy when we arrived, but now it was full sun. There was plenty of time to take an extra tour of all the themed gardens and also sit on a bench and just enjoy the view.
The Japanese garden
Afterwards I continue through the tropical garden which has both banana palms and lemon trees.
The Garden beachA tropical looking beach is not what you expect to see in Norway! It comes fully equipped with beach chairs and even an open beach bar.
When you walk around you will walk through ten different themed gardens. Flor & Fjære is open only during the summer. From mid May until end of September. During the winter season the gardenar Olav Bryn will travel around the world to get inspired and get some new ideas. The familily already has new plans for hoe to expand the gardens.
Time to return to StavangerThe 50-acre garden does give a unique insight into the passion of this family who has managed to create what I believe must be the most beautiful garden in Norway. I definitly feel this Flor & Fjære has a tropical feel I hadn't expected to find here in Norway. I am glad I finally payed the island a visit.
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