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It is rather small, the botanic garden in Lund. Situated behind a solid brick wall on the outskirts of the old town, it is like a green little universe of its own. The high, old trees shelter the garden from the noises outside, and it is easy to forget you are in the second oldest university town in Sweden once you’ve entered through the gates. It was late May when I visited in 2017, and summer was just about to arrive. I ate strawberries and chocolate under a northern red oak, strolled through the beech and linden groves, the width of the trunks revealing the great age of the garden. It has been in its current location since 1862, after being relocated from the spot where it was originally established in 1690. The beds of herbs behind the greenhouses reminiscing of a fully-stocked medicinal garden.
(Thinking: Elin Wägner probably visited here here, strolled on these same paths, next to the same, but much younger trees. She was born in Lund. Lived and traveled all over Sweden and Europe throughout her life – but was finally returned to Lund, buried at the North Cemetery.)
Photo: Botaniska trädgården vid Lunds Universitet, Sweden, May 2017. Posted on Instagram August 14, 2020.
Katja Malmborg 