2_1_ScanMag_79_August_2015_Text.qxp_Scan Magazine 1 06/08/2015 17:07 Page 76
Scan Magazine | Attraction of the Month | Denmark
Attraction of the Month, Denmark
Round the world and back The Geographical Garden in Kolding is home to more than 6,000 plants, a botanical attraction where you get to travel from one continent to the next, seeing wondrous animals and greenery in the process. Bring your picnic basket and make a day of it, there is a whole world to discover. By Caroline Edwards | Photos: Geografisk Have
Covering 12 hectares of land, the Geographical Garden in Kolding brings the world together in botanical mastery. Here all plants are divided into continents, and you know what the best part is? They can all be grown in your garden. “We only have plants from the temperate climate zone, so they are perfectly compatible with the Danish weather. Sometimes visitors recognise a flower from their home, realising that it has its origins for instance in China,” says Tine Meide Kierkegaard, Head of the Geographical Garden. She considers, along with the many local visitors, the place an oasis where quality and beauty goes hand in hand. As soon as you enter the gate of the garden, everything else is left behind. Wander through different botanical territories, take a look at a miniature version of Kold-
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ing City, visit the playground and jungle trail, or stop by the animal pens. “Everything you see is geographically connected, from plants to animals. Our Chinese squirrel is connected to our Chinese plants, while the South American llama, Alpaca, can be paired with our South American plant collection,” explains Kierkegaard. Visitors can even use an app during their visit. Get the story behind the legendary founder, Aksel Olsen, learn about the plants and their origins or get ready for an animal adventure. “We also have a Garden of Ideas, where green-fingered visitors can get inspired. Our most acclaimed one must be the Rose Garden that recently won the Award of Gar-
den Excellence 2015 from the International World Foundation of Rose Societies. With 150 different types of roses, it’s not a place you easily forget,” tells Kierkegaard, stressing that they have many others, including a lovely collection of Dahlias. Throughout the year, the Geographical Garden hosts several events such as a popular autumn market on 6 September, educational talks on bees, an evening dedicated to burning candles and an obstacle race for men. “Our events are just as diverse as the garden itself. Here you can combine fun with learning, the perfect activity on a sunny day,” concludes Kierkegaard - and with free entry for visitors under the age of 18, it’s certainly no budget breaker.
Open from 1 May – 30 September seven days a week from 10 am to 6 pm For more information, please visit: www.geografiskhave.kolding.dk/en