DAY 1

Our first day is all about dahlias, imperfection that’s actually pretty perfect as well as locally grown vegetables

Lundens trädgård, Lunden 2, 511 94 Älekulla
Eksäter Trädgård, Övralidsvägen 9, 51993 Kungsäter (Gunnarsjö)
 

We start our garden tour by heading to lovely Älekulla in the county of Mark. Our first destination is Lunden’s Garden, a paradise for dahlia lovers. Pretty stone paths wind through the garden and we walk round admiring the magnificent floral display. Every year around 1000 dahlia tubers are planted here, which flower captivatingly during late summer. Apart from the dahlias, we’re impressed by the beautifully designed beds and the pond with its waterlilies. As we stand on the little wooden bridge Monet’s garden springs to mind. What a start to our trip! 

^{Dahlia border in Lundens Garden.}  
After about half an hour's drive, we arrive at today's second and last destination, which is Eksäter Garden. Inspiration and the joy of change are the bywords here. Nature sets the tone and perfection and tight control are not sought after. We walk around among the themed garden rooms, all of which are separated by tall hedges. One moment we’re in the Hard Rock room and the next enter an Asian inspired area. We go from room to room and each time we turn a corner there’s a surprise. In addition to the lovely flowers, ponds and fruit trees, there are also vegetable beds full of tempting specimens. And luckily some of the harvest is for sale. It’s time for a fika, so we find a seat and enjoy coffee from our flask, whilst reading up on the story of Hilda at Eksäter, who looked after the garden in the 40s. It feels good to honour her with a visit here.

^{Footbridge in Eksäter Garden.}

DAY 2

Today we’ll visit a pollinators’ paradise, enjoy gardens surrounded by a beech forest and buy top quality plants. A wonderful second day on our journey!

Källdalens Trädgårdar, Gödeby 71, 311 61 Ullared
Eriksgård i Tvååker, Brogård 10, 432 77 Tvååker
Lilla Gröna, Ästad 13, 432 77 Tvååker
Hörsåsens Plantskola, Fastarp 9, 432 77 Tvååker
 

We now find ourselves in the heart of Halland, more specifically in Källdalens Gardens, which is today's first destination. The place buzzes with activity and biodiversity and organic farming fans will  feel they have come to the right place. The garden is surrounded by beech forests in a beautiful cultural landscape. Fortunately, we have plenty of time to spend here because there is so much to see and enjoy. We visit the nursery, the herb garden, the greenhouses and finally the forest garden. The latter is a peaceful spot to rest for a while, and the way it is designed invites you to sit and just be. We get out our picnic. Anyone who doesn’t have their own food can buy light refreshments from the farm shop, as well as vegetables and flowers, which we are obviously tempted by. Relaxed and happy, we’re ready to move on.

^{Herb pots in Källdalens Gardens.}
After about 20 minutes’ drive, we arrive at Eriksgård in Tvååker, today's third destination. As we have pre-booked a tour of their private garden, a guide takes us around their unusual trees, many shrubs, hedges, perennial flower beds, a plant tunnel and impressive pool area. In addition to the private garden there is a large perennial nursery growing varieties that can withstand the Swedish climate. These are sold to wholesalers, so private customers are encouraged to look for the perennials sold in plant shops and garden centres. A visit here gives us a unique insight into what happens before the plants reach us in the stores.

^{Garden art at Eriksgård.}
Now we head to Ästad and Lilla Gröna. This is a garden that only opens up for visitors a few times per season, so we’re glad that the timing was on our side today. A garden designer with over 20 years’ experience of creating gardens lives here, and it shows! The garden is built on a slope which has been terraced using natural stone walls. We wander around the ponds, greenhouse and fantastic beds. 

^{Lilla Gröna}

Now we all feel the need to buy some plants so it’s convenient that our next stop is Höråsens Nursery in Tvååker. Excellent quality plants of are sold here, everything from the smallest perennial to the largest tree. Their love of horticulture is obvious and our shopping basket fills up quickly. Hope everything fits in the car boot! The nursery is in a beautiful setting not far from the sea and the Åkulla beech forest.

^{Aquilegia at Höråsen’s Nursery.}

With the car full of plants, vegetables and flowers we finish our garden journey around the heart of Halland.