Katja

Vienna (i)

37 I have a fuzzy memory of reading that every nail in this tree in the Botanic Garden of the University of Vienna was nailed there by different writers, as good luck or inspiration. But I can’t find my notes from that day. So, I might just have made it up. Still, it was prettyContinue reading “Vienna (i)”

Göttingen (i)

36 Göttingen has three botanic gardens: the historic one in the city center and two others, situated outside the city close to one of the university campuses. When I visited in 2017, my friend Esther told me that the university doesn’t want to manage the old garden, since no research to speak of is conductedContinue reading “Göttingen (i)”

Zürich (i)

35 I think the botanic garden in Zürich is a good place to learn care. It is small, but well kept, with winding trails across the hills and through the groves of beeches and lime-trees. The dome-shaped greenhouses were both architecturally interesting and intensely lush inside. A really nice hidden corner of Zürich. Yet anotherContinue reading “Zürich (i)”

words of botany (i & ii)

33 & 34 I’ve been trying to figure it out. Where this interest comes from. My obsession with botanic gardens. I’d like to say there’s something profound about it – but maybe it’s just a type of collection. I come from a family of collectors, list-makers and chroniclers. I tick gardens off my list andContinue reading “words of botany (i & ii)”

Cambridge (i)

32 It’s midsummer’s eve 2013 and I’m sitting in a little hidden corner of the limestone garden in the Cambridge University Botanic Garden, a bench with a seat shaped like a half circle, sheltered by high rock walls covered in purple flowers on three sides. The bees seem to love the purple flowers, because theContinue reading “Cambridge (i)”

balcony gardening (ii)

31 From the notebook, late May: “Opening the balcony door this morning, I founda a thin layer of a cream-colored dust on the leaves of the tomato plants. It stuck to my bare feet, felt like flour between my toes. And looking up, at the crown of the pine, my tree friend, eating spot forContinue reading “balcony gardening (ii)”

Montpellier (i)

30 Narrow streets and cheese are definitely some of the most enjoyable things with Montpellier – but, not surprisingly, what I liked the most about this university town when I visited in 2016 was the botanic garden. Jardin des Plantes was established in 1593, making it the oldest botanic garden in France. It is aContinue reading “Montpellier (i)”

balcony gardening (i)

29 For the first time in my life, I live in a home where I alone am responsible. To be honest, I think it has gone to my head. All the possibilities for making stuff! Included in this home is a balcony. In March, I started planting seeds. And I got so excited, I mightContinue reading “balcony gardening (i)”

Swedish ethnobotany (viii)

28 [Elder / Fläder (S) / Sambucus nigra] Elder was Freya’s (Nordic tradition) and Holda’s (Germanic tradition) plant, and it was the protective tree of households and women’s crafts. It guarded against witches and other evil magic, and was often planted around the house for protection – although the potency of the tree became strongestContinue reading “Swedish ethnobotany (viii)”

Swedish ethnobotany (vii)

27 [Norwegian angelica / Fjällkvanne (S) / Angelica archangelica] The story tells that during the Black Plague in medieval Europe, a monk in a Swedish monastery had a dream. In this dream, an archangel came to him and said that the Norwegian angelica wards off all evil, and that he should use it to cureContinue reading “Swedish ethnobotany (vii)”