Garden visit: Classic and timeless garden at Therese's

Therese and her husband Jo have built the garden from scratch. There were only a few trees here originally; everything else they have landscaped and planted themselves.

“I drew inspiration from my own childhood in the process. Lilacs and peonies were the first plants I put in. They carry the scents of my upbringing and bring back memories of long, bright summer evenings, sleepovers in the playhouse, and rabbits hopping freely around my childhood garden,” she says.

For Therese, peonies carry the scent of childhood, bright summer evenings, and sleepovers in the playhouse. That’s why they were among the first perennials she planted in her own garden.

The outdoor space is designed to complement the traditional white wooden house from the 1950s and the neighborhood, which is why it features both old apple trees and classic Norwegian shrubs such as mock orange and common snowberry.

Pure delight! Being able to decorate the table and cakes for the summer party with flowers from your own garden is sheer luxury.

Therese’s pots are overflowing, featuring a classic color palette of white, pink, and purple.

A romantic garden arch covered with clematis 'Summer Snow' leads into the garden.

Over the summer, the vigorous climbers will cover the entire arch, forming a cloud of small white flowers.

From here, a garden path of slate slabs winds through the lawn past a pergola surrounded by beds of sun-loving perennials and summer flowers. A climbing grapevine and vigorous black-eyed Susans (‘Susanne with the Black Eye’) climb up the pergola and, over the summer, will create living, lush ceilings and walls.

Life under the cozy pergola roof is wonderful in the summer. This is the family’s favorite reading nook. Sometimes they even hang up mosquito netting and sleep outdoors on the comfortable daybed.

Life under the cozy roof of the pergola is wonderful in the summer. This is the family’s favorite reading nook. Sometimes they even hang up mosquito netting and sleep outdoors on the comfortable daybed.

Therese has designed the garden so that the blooms follow one another from spring to autumn.

June is the prime time for several shrubs. Mock orange and lilacs are among those providing a floral feast and wonderful fragrance right now.

“I choose plants that are beautiful to look at, that make me happy, and that attract insects,” says Therese.

An old wine crate adds a touch of classic nostalgia. It’s hung on the wall and used as a shelf for the summer plant 'Silver Falls' and a garden bouquet.

Traditional perennials like columbine, sage, ornamental catmint, and peonies are mixed with newer varieties such as anise hyssop, yarrow, and silver-leafed agastache. She started growing the summer flowers indoors from January, and cosmos, sweet peas, sunflowers, and giant verbena have all been planted wherever she found empty spots in the beds. Some were even planted to help camouflage the children’s trampoline as much as possible. Soon, they will create a lush floral display where Therese can go wild with her scissors and make bouquets.

On the terrace, it’s a pot bonanza. Therese chooses plants that make both her and the insects happy. Here you’ll find, among others, spirea, lavender, anemone, and sage.

“The great thing about having perennials in pots is that they can be moved around,” she says.

The perennials catmint, aquilegia, and camassia are charming and create romantic vibes in the flowerbed.

On the terrace, wooden crates are filled with dahlia tubers. They don’t show much now, but by late summer they will grow into a densely flowering hedge with large blooms—so beautiful it almost doesn’t look real. Patience is key.

A charming rope swing with cushions hangs from an old apple tree, creating a cozy spot to retreat with a good book under the protective canopy. From here, they can view the garden from a new perspective and have a clear overview of all the zones, tied together with wood, slate slabs, and black steel.

On the rope swing hanging from the old apple tree, it’s lovely to dangle a little and hit the pause button.

In the summer, the family often prepares dinner in the outdoor kitchen, with herbs and other ingredients just steps away. Salads and desserts are often decorated with colorful edible flowers from the garden. When dusk falls, Therese enjoys lighting all the lanterns placed around the outdoor space.

“It’s wonderful to have such easy access to a great nature experience and the sound of birdsong. You just have to open the terrace door. We feel very lucky,” she says.

Therese enjoys moving the kitchen outdoors into the greenery during the summer. Herbs and tomatoes in pots make for convenient, homegrown cooking.

Follow the classic garden through the seasons:

• Garden visit: Late summer in Therese’s classic garden
• Garden visit: White snow against green leaves at Therese’s

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