Garden visit: A taste of the Mediterranean at Anniken's

Kristin Tanderø Brekke,,@hagebonanza,,Tanja Hauge Reine,,@rekkehusbonden

Garden owner: Anniken Lühr Hovstad, @lavendelhagen on Instagram, her husband Ken and their children Magnus and Benjamin,Garden: Combination of ornamental and vegetable garden on approximately 1.6 acres with various zones in Mediterranean style,Hardiness zone: H3 in Holmestrand,Anniken loves France and Spain and wants to recreate the same feeling in her garden.

Bright and golden color accents inspired by sand and olive groves are recurring in the family's outdoor space. "It's so beautiful with the lovely natural colors with hints of mint and plants in pots. It creates a vacation feeling in our garden," says Anniken. Their white greenhouse has cobblestones both as a foundation and framing, a material often seen further south in Europe. The look is mixed with rustic furniture. Pots in various sizes in ceramics and terracotta are placed in groups outside the greenhouse like a small square in France. Some of the pots and furniture have been painted mint green to include the Mediterranean in the summer celebration. As soon as the risk of frost nights is over, the family's citrus trees are moved into the greenhouse. Here in the warmth and light they thrive all summer.

Anniken loves the purple, drought-tolerant plant that smells so soothing. - Lavender in rustic terracotta pots - is there anything more beautiful? There is little that beats that expression in my eyes. It never goes wrong no matter how the surroundings look, she says. A large terracotta pot stands in the middle of the lavender bed, creating an exciting focal point and an immediate Mediterranean feeling at the entrance to the garden.

Anniken has planted lavender in all the flower beds, and at the entrance, large purple clumps of lavender welcome you around a big terracotta pot. They are extra beautiful at the edge of the beds as they gracefully spill over the edge, and the brightly colored flowers really stand out. Lavender that lives in pots at my place usually blooms towards the end of June, so every year it's tempting to buy some new pots from Plantasjen since they bloom a little earlier, she says. After a few years in pots, they get to move out into the beds so they can grow even bigger. Anniken removes ugly branches as needed. Otherwise, she doesn't do much with them, and every year they bloom just as beautifully. Every spring I am equally fascinated by this plant that looks tired and half-dead after a long winter. Suddenly, it perks up, becomes green and lush, and offers a sea of buds. Eventually, a purple-colored, buzzing cloud of flowers takes over. Little makes me happier, she says. Catnip is a good alternative to lavender. It gives much the same expression and is beautiful both in clumps, as a border plant in beds, and in pots.

Lavender is Anniken's favorite perennial because it is beautiful and gives the garden a taste of the Mediterranean. It is easy to succeed with and blooms faithfully year after year. Thrives in both flower beds and pots. It can withstand the Norwegian winter up to hardiness zone H4, but it is safest to plant it in the ground.,,Lavender likes to stand a little barren so feel free to mix in some gravel and a lot of sand in the soil. Plant it in a sunny and warm place.,,Lavender can thrive up to hardiness zone H4. If it doesn't thrive with you, catmint is a fantastic replacement that thrives up to H6. Catmint gives much of the same expression and is beautiful as clumps and edging plants.,,Move rosemary and basil indoors in the winter. These sun-loving herbs cannot withstand the Norwegian winter and must be moved indoors before the cold temperatures arrive, just like lemon and olive trees and palms. Anniken stores hers in the garage. Here they get little light and are watered sparingly. The watering is gradually increased again in spring until they can be moved back into the garden.,,Invite the colors of the Mediterranean into the garden. Anniken loves the touch of green mint color in the outdoor space. It is lovely in combination with materials such as terracotta and cobblestone. She has painted stools, benches, pots, and the side door to the garage in laurel green color. It gives a real Mediterranean feeling and is creative and economical.,,There is little doubt that the Mediterranean is a great source of inspiration in this garden. Insets of yellow lemons weave the warmth of Southern Europe into the garden style.

Trees with bright yellow lemons and clear green foliage also make thoughts wander south towards the sun and warmth. Lemon trees live in the greenhouse all summer. Here they can enjoy the cozy and warm atmosphere that reminds them of the climate they come from. They bloom several times throughout the year, and the flowers smell absolutely delightful. I let the lemons hang for as long as possible because they are so decorative! Eventually, they fall off, and then it's time for lemonade, she says. Olive trees of various heights and sizes are also repeated in the outdoor space. An olive tree in a beautiful terracotta pot does wonders for an outdoor area. With their silver-green leaves and knotty trunk, they provide a beautiful and sculptural form to the garden. The trees can be pruned to fit whether you have a large or small garden, Anniken advises. Just remember that the trees must be moved indoors before the frost comes. Anniken stores hers in the garage. Pots of rosemary and basil add a touch to cooking in the outdoor kitchen. The lemons also contribute with flavor and a sense of Southern Europe.

The branches of a stag's horn sumac bend over the greenhouse, adding an exotic feel. The tree produces burgundy-red fruits that hang on throughout the winter and has become one of Anniken's favorites. Just like the other Mediterranean plants, it thrives in dry soil. The family's palms thrive as indoor plants in the living room during winter and contribute to a delightful tropical atmosphere outdoors in the summer. Anniken makes sure to harden them off when they move outside. This means they start their outdoor life in the shade for a few weeks before being moved into the sun.

Touches of mint green represent the Mediterranean throughout the garden, often in combination with terracotta pots.

Do you like Anniken's style? Here are some suggestions for plants you can use in your garden to get that Mediterranean feeling at home. Lavender, Catmint, Russian Sage, Lemon Tree, Citrus Microcarpa, Olive Tree, Siberian Pear Tree (Northern Olive Tree), Eucalyptus, Agave, Grapevine, Sumac, Basil, Rosemary. TIPS! Planting lavender or catmint with their light foliage together with purple Russian sage with dark stems is a beautiful combination. It creates an exciting color contrast, and they overlap by blooming at slightly different times.

Herbs add an extra kick to summer food, and sun-loving basil is one of the family's favorites. "We use it for everything! Both in dishes, in various types of salt we make ourselves, and right on top of sandwiches. We love both the classic version and the bush basil 'Magic Blue'. The bush variety has a slightly stronger flavor than the classic basil and can handle blooming with lovely purple flowers, so it also has a high ornamental value," she says. Rosemary is another favorite herb the family grows in pots. "It smells lovely, has light purple flowers already in May, and is a must on top of focaccia and when we make beer bread in a Dutch oven. It's also great to dry and store in jars for use throughout the winter." Rustic terracotta pots with perennials decorate an old sewing machine table outside the greenhouse. Personal and charming.

The family loves cooking outdoors on the outdoor kitchen. A separate pizza oven is high on the wish list. - I dream of one with a round dome framed by green, glossy tiles. Proper Italian. Imagine how wonderful it would be to make the sauce yourself from your own tomatoes, sprinkle over basil from your own pots and smell the pizza spreading in the outdoor space! Bliss! Anniken enjoys drinking her morning coffee on the stairs surrounded by a purple carpet of fragrant lavender.

TEXT AND PHOTO,,Kristin Tanderø Brekke, aka @hagebonanza, garden enthusiast writer and content producer who has visited over 100 of Norway's most beautiful outdoor spaces to spread garden joy and inspiration.,,,Tanja Hauge Reine, aka @rekkehusbonden, garden enthusiast and writer who is passionate about the joy of growing, with a special love for everything that can be eaten.