A Tribute to Linnaeus - RHS Chelsea 2007

Sponsor: The National Linnaeus Tercentenary Committee, Stockholm
Designer: Ulf Nordfjell
Plant list

This exciting Swedish garden celebrates the tercentenary of renowned botanist Linnaeus – the 'Father of Taxonomy' – and is designed by Ulf Nordfjell, a leading landscape architect working partly in his own private practice and also for Ramboll Sweden Stockholm.

The garden is a contemporary design for pleasure and reflects Swedish interest in architecture, art and design, nature and horticulture. Highlighting different seasons, the garden has a basic structure provided by hedges of Picea on two sides, a modern pergola with openings providing interesting perspectives into the 'A Tribute to Carl Linnaeus' garden, where strong structural planting gives the garden its character.

A deep forest atmosphere is created by clear water trickling from a spring, framed in a circle of golden maindenhair. Linnaeus’ affection for maidenhair has been documented – he used it as a mattress and cover when he slept in the woods during journeys across Sweden.

The Linnaean plants, which grow in Carol von Linnaeus’ garden in Hamarby, include Lilium martagon ‘Album’ Asarum europium, Fritaillaria meleagris and Linnaeus signature, Linnaea borealis.

The garden has been commissioned by the Swedish government and co-ordinated by The National Tercentenary Committee in Stockholm. Ulf is well known for his landscape work for public spaces including Silverdal housing and Pfizer HQ both in Stockholm. He also designs public parks as well as private gardens all over the country.

He feels that the Swedish nature is always present in his garden designs. "I grew up in the north of Sweden and spent my childhood surrounded by huge woods and streaming rivers." He says. "From our house we could feel the scent of the Linnaeus favourite flower the twin flower Linnaea borealis as when they were in bloom under the pine trees in the wood there were carpets of them which is rare even for Sweden."

Ulf is delighted and honoured to be exhibiting at Chelsea and to be able to create this tribute to Linnaeus.