Garden visit: Crisp lines against soft snow at Sylvia’s
When winter lays its white blanket, Sylvia’s garden takes on a very special character. Behind a black-painted fence awaits a harmonious Japanese design where crisp lines meet the soft forms of the snow. Here, graphic design graduate Sylvia Elisabeth Kupkow creates a garden that captures the eye – from the pergola in the middle of the garden to the carefully placed planting boxes and evergreen sculptures. Winter gives the garden a structured and elegant look, but it’s clear that the playful movement of summer lies waiting beneath the snow.
About the garden
Garden owner: Sylvia Elisabeth Kupkow, @hagenminilarkollen on Instagram, her husband Tore, and their dog Oskar
Garden: Box-based ornamental garden in Japanese style, approximately 490 square meters
Hardiness zone: H1–H2 in Larkollen
The white wisteria over the pergola has donned its winter coat, creating a clean and enchanting canopy over the terrace. The seed pods dance in the wind.
Bold edges meet the soft blanket of snow in Sylvia’s garden
A dusting of white snow softens the black-painted fence that frames Sylvia’s garden. The Japanese style is known for its clear forms, where minimalist design meets nature.
Snow-covered paving stones lead under the large pergola in the middle of the garden. It is surrounded by square planting boxes, round gray pots, and wooden crates, creating striking contrasts against the white, fluffy snow. Sylvia is a trained graphic designer with a keen eye for visuals and creating beautiful sightlines.
– In summer, the garden is freer and more playful in shape, with swaying stems and trees dancing in the wind. Now in winter, it has a more structured expression, with most elements wrapped in soft, white forms, she says.
Evergreen elegance
One of the reasons Sylvia’s garden is so beautiful in winter is all the elements with evergreen plants combined with the interesting shapes of the materials. Columnar thujas, dried and ball-shaped lilac hydrangea flowers, bare branches, and tall ornamental grasses are all highlighted by a dusting of snow. The varying appearances of the plants create beautiful sculptures when they get a layer of frost. Sylvia also makes sure to vary the height of the plants to create interest and variation.
Sylvia trims the thujas a couple of times each season to ensure they maintain their beautiful columnar shape.
Magical moments outdoors
“It’s wonderful to stroll around the garden in winter when everything is quiet, untouched, and absolutely beautiful,” she says. The family often sits outside under the pergola with sheepskins and hot chocolate, enjoying time together.
“On Christmas Day last year, we enjoyed the winter sun out here with the children who were visiting. You have to make the most of the nice days and dress warmly. Our dog, Oskar, is over the moon whenever we’re all gathered outside in winter.”
Allium-shaped decorative stakes in rust-colored metal break up the white expanse and serve as decorative elements in the winter garden.
Breathing space
“The best thing about this time of year is getting a ‘winter break’ from the little tidying up in the garden and just letting the outdoor space live its own ‘secret life.’ But when there’s a lot of snow, we have to go out and shake off the bushes and plants so the branches don’t break,” she says.
In recent years, Sylvia has used this time to plan upcoming projects. Now that the couple is almost finished with the outdoor space, it’s more about maintenance plans.
The fruits on the sea buckthorn bush look especially beautiful with a dusting of fresh snow.
Old Man Winter has left his mark on the gate leading into the garden.
A winter-beautiful entrance
Since the garden is located behind the house, it’s the entrance that gets the most attention in winter. Sylvia likes to create a welcoming atmosphere and something beautiful for both the family and passersby to enjoy. A large wreath made of branches, along with small and large pots of heather and winter greenery, creates a warm impression. Sylvia has placed planks over two recycled crates, which serve as a table.
“This is where I enjoy styling and lighting lanterns in the evening. I change the look many times throughout the year.”
The entrance changes its look throughout the year. In winter, small evergreen trees in pots, heather, and a large wreath of twigs add decoration.
Waiting to do the spring cleaning
During the autumn, Sylvia rakes leaves from the gravel and places them at the bottom of the crates where there’s some space. She lets the leaves remain until it gets warm enough in spring for the small insects to manage on their own without hiding places.
“Many people clean up their gardens too early in the spring. I like to champion our little helpers who are so important. Wait to remove garden waste until after the frost. That way, you’re doing a good deed!”
Follow the Japandi garden through the seasons:
- aka @rekkehusbonden, copywriter, content producer and gardening enthusiast who is passionate about the joy of growing, with a love for everything edible.
- aka @hagebonanza, garden-crazy writer and content producer who has visited over 100 of Norway's most beautiful outdoor spaces to spread gardening joy and inspiration.
More from our world of gardens:
You are here: