MUSÉHAGEN
BERGEN BOTANISKE HAGE
ARBORETET
• IN THE ARBORETUM •
• IN THE RHODODENDRON EXHIBIT •
Writings about the gardens
Location: Bergen, Norway• • • Visit: Multiple occasions in 2022
Bergen has three botanic gardens. The Museum Garden (Museihagen) is small and meticulously kept, surrounding the University Museum close to the city center. South of the city, 45 minutes by bus in Milde, lie the two other gardens. The botanic garden and the arboretum. Vast, incredibly well planned but also: perfect for winding explorations.
It was one of the first trips I made after having settled down in my apartment, to the gardens in Milde. Enjoying the Viking garden, which showcased heritage species of forest strawberries, kale, flax and apple trees. I also really appreciated their display of invasive and endangered garden species. The botanic gardens are managed by the University Museum, as part of the university, and it is easy to tell that the plant displays are carefully curated to spread knowledge about plants and ecology. They do a great job with their educational mission.
Across the road from the botanic garden lies the Arboretum – the tree garden. It is gorgeous. Such a lush, diverse collection of trees and groves from all around the temperate parts of the globe. The topography of the garden adds to its allure: surrounded by the fjord, with small cliff outcrops and secluded valleys creating the feeling that beyond each twist in the trail emerges a completely new ecosystem.
Some snippets of wonder: The coastal sequoia, hidden away along a small, secluded trail – a tree with eyes. The rhododendrons – I never knew how diverse they could be, large, like growing out of fairy tales. The heather garden, so calm, colorful but subdued, relaxing for the senses – losing time while following a bumble bee from flower to flower.
The second time I visited the gardens in Milde was just a couple weeks later, with my friend Hannes who was visiting from Sweden. It was one of the rare sunny weekends, and we sat in the grass, me knitting, enjoying the warmth, watching butterflies and squirrels pass.
There are so many different ways to enjoy the botanic gardens in Bergen.
Katja Malmborg 