In the heart of downtown Gothenburg, Sweden is one of the best-preserved 19th century parks in Europe. The Garden Society of Gothenburg (Trädgårdföreningen) was  created at a time when garden societies were all the rage in Europe. Captain Hendric von Normann was inspired by the botanical gardens of Europe, and the Royal Horticultural Society in England served as the model for the one in Gothenburg which was formed in 1842. It is listed as a historical site and is maintained using organic gardening principles. No pesticides are used, but birds are encouraged to keep the insects in check. 

The entrance to The Garden Society of Gothenburg.
The entrance to The Garden Society of Gothenburg. 

Throughout the park, there are woodlands, a rock garden, rose gardens with wild, modern and older variety roses, a butterfly garden, different types of borders and plenty of park benches where you can sit and enjoy the nature around you. There is a playground for children and modern and classic sculptures on the grounds. 

Aconitum, also known as monk’s hood or aconite along a herbaceous border.
Aconitum, also known as monk’s hood or aconite along a herbaceous border. 
Spectacular autumn leaves in the park.
Spectacular autumn leaves in the park. 
A place to sit and enjoy nature.
A place to sit and enjoy nature. 
Autumn leaves
Autumn leaves
Yellow foxgloves.
Yellow foxgloves. 
Common snowberries.
Common snowberries. 
Japanese maples
Japanese maples
Pink rose.
Pink rose. 
Wild roses.
Wild roses. 
Pale pink roses
Pale pink roses
Native pincushion flower.
Native pincushion flower. 
This copy of August Kiss’ “Amazon in Battle With Panthers” was made in 1850 and is housed behind glass to protect it. The original is in Berlin, Germany.
This copy of August Kiss’ “Amazon in Battle With Panthers” was made in 1850 and is housed behind glass to protect it. The original is in Berlin, Germany. 
A modern wooden sculpture in the park.
A modern wooden sculpture  in the park. 


At the very center of the Park is the Palm House, a massive greenhouse  which was modeled  on London’s Crystal Palace. With its five different sections, ( the Mediterranean House, the Tropical House, the Camelia House , the Nave and the Water House) it was a great place to enjoy some tropical heat on the dreary November days I visited! For a few hours I was transported back to Florida with  the flowers and trees I am used to seeing every day. Somehow it felt rather magical even for me, so I can imagine how the people of Gothenburg felt when they escaped into the tropical heat on dreary days back in the 1800’s. 

The interior of the Palm House.
The interior of the Palm House. 
A fan palm frond.
A fan palm frond. 
A bench in the Palm House.
A bench in the Palm House. 
A fountain in the Palm House.
A fountain in the Palm House. 
Citrus fruit in the Palm House.
Citrus fruit  in the Palm House. 
A Japanese Camellia in the Palm House.
A Japanese Camellia in the Palm House. 
A bloom of the Spineless Prickly Pear Cactus in the Palm House.
A bloom of the Spineless Prickly Pear Cactus in the Palm House. 
Haemanthus albiflos (also known as paintbrush plant) in the Palm House.
Haemanthus albiflos (also known as paintbrush plant) in the Palm House. 
Palms in the Palm House.
Palms in the Palm  House. 

The building itself, made of wrought iron and glass, was built in my native Scotland and transported piece by piece by sea. It was completed in 1878. At the time, it caused quite a sensation and the people of Gothenburg were willing to pay high admission fees to experience something out of the ordinary for them. Nowadays, there is no entry fee, so if you plan to visit Gothenburg, this is a must-visit place! I have paid around $30 in the past to visit botanical gardens with tropical houses that are on a par with this one! 

I visited in November, so I can only imagine  how beautiful the gardens are in spring and summer when more flowers are in bloom. Perhaps then I’ll return some summer and I will no longer have to imagine!


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All photography is my own work. The collage for the thumbnail image was made using PIC-COLLAGE and my own images. 

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