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The National Linnaeus Tercentenary - gold

Designer: Ulf Nordfjell

This gold medal Swedish garden celebrates the tercentenary of renowned botanist Linnaeus, the 'Father of Taxonomy'. It is a contemporary garden for pleasure and reflects Swedish interest in architecture, art, design, nature and horticulture.

The garden uses traditional Swedish materials, such as granite, steel and timber, with simple plants, including Linnaean plants from Linnaeus' summer estate in Hammarby. It aims to be an enthralling setting, which draws attention to Swedish gardening seeking new expressions.

The basic structure of the garden is provided by hedges of Picea - a common hedge plant in Sweden and advocated by Linnaeus - on two sides. A modern pergola with generous openings provides interesting perspectives into the 'A Tribute to Carl Linnaeus' garden, where strong structural planting gives this garden its character.

The garden highlights different seasons; plants in simple arrangements create a spring feeling; white and icy shades of blue and yellow provide a winter atmosphere and summer is brought to the garden with common Swedish purple and green plants.

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

Trees (Pinus sylvestris and Betula) are planted in a formal grid to highlight the fact that they have been moved into a man-made environment. Roses and perennials contrast with the strong structure and shady areas are planted with Lilium martagon 'Album', Paeonia 'White Wings' and Digitalis 'Saltwood Summer'. There are also blocks of perennials with Aconitum along with groundcover of Brunnera macrophylla 'Betty Bowring'.

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

'A tribute to Linnaeus' was commissioned by the Swedish government and coordinated by The National Tercentenary Committee in Stockholm.