GREEN GOTLAND
Gardens
Ah, Gotland… many garden lovers get a special shine in their eyes when they imagine what it would be like to have a garden on Gotland. Gotland is part of zone 1, but in many sheltered places there grow flowers and trees from considerably more southern latitudes. Visby is such a place. The city is founded on stone, which retains its heat far into the winter and means that many plants do particularly well, if only they are sheltered from the wind.
So what could be more appropriate than to lay out a botanical garden by the sea, but still in the lee?
Gardens
Ah, Gotland… many garden lovers get a special shine in their eyes when they imagine what it would be like to have a garden on Gotland. Gotland is part of zone 1, but in many sheltered places there grow flowers and trees from considerably more southern latitudes. Visby is such a place. The city is founded on stone, which retains its heat far into the winter and means that many plants do particularly well, if only they are sheltered from the wind.
So what could be more appropriate than to lay out a botanical garden by the sea, but still in the lee?
DBW’s Botanical Garden
The Badande Wännernas botanical garden was laid out in 1855 at the suggestion of magister Hans Petter Gustafsson, who wanted to give the coming generations a practical knowledge of nature.
The garden soon became a popular place for walks, as it is to this day. When the Japanese handkerchief tree is in flower, Gotlanders and visitors congregate in the ”Botanic”, as it is often known. Visby’s own rose also blossoms here, a pink and white beauty that the Danish Poulsen bothers produced for the 150th anniversary in 2005. Just two examples from a perpetually dazzling garden – spring, autumn, winter and summer alike.
Read more about DBW’s botanical garden 
Garden week
Get inside instead of standing at the fence,
guessing what is growing in that lovely border inside. Every summer Gotland
Trädgårdsön organises lectures, visits to both public and
private gardens of every style, and a great deal else. Through the association
you can find accommodation for garden lovers and events throughout the summer.
Extra many events take place during Garden Week. Read more here
Herb gardens
Who does not dream of a real herb garden?
To strew around the corridors and sense the perfume of thyme, lavender and
basil? Run your hands through a plant and see how the whole hand smells of
herbs.
Kapitelhusgården
Kapitelhusgården
We’ll stay in Visby for a bit. The Kapitelhusgården museum lies a stone’s throw from the botanical garden. Besides exhibitions, a café in a mediaeval vault and knight and princess activities for children, there is also a herb garden of ancient ancestry.
Read more about Kapitelhusgården
Read more about Kapitelhusgården
Krusmyntagården
Krusmyntagården lies just by the
sea some 10 kilometres north of Visby. Here you can wander in the herb
garden, buy spices in the shop, enjoy the views or the flavours in the
restaurant. Krusmyntagården’s website has loads of exciting recipes!
To Krusmyntagården
To Krusmyntagården
Roma Royal Demesne
Back in the 12th century the Cistercian
monks of Roma monastery laid out a herb garden. They grew plants and herbs
that were probably very uncommon on Gotland at that time. To this day there
is a herb garden there, silent and peaceful, away from the bubbling activity
that prevails elsewhere in the royal demesne, with its craft centre, theatre
and exhibitions. Read
more about Roma Royal Demesne
Nursery gardens
Linds Greenhouse is the biggest in Visby.
Linds is a nursery garden full of plants for gardens, window boxes and
vases. Seeds, gardening equipment, pots… everything to do with the
green things of life. Read
more here
