Garden visit: Torches, frost, and cozy corners at Hanne's in Oslo
A muted palette of white, gray, and brown tones characterizes Hanne's Nordic-style winter garden.
Briefly about the garden
Garden owner: Hanne Holsted, @hanneholsted on Instagram, her husband Rune, daughter Meline, and their cat Fia
Hardiness zone: H4 in Høyenhall, Oslo
Style: Nordic-style garden where stone, slate, and wood are combined with clean lines and structure. Varied foliage and grouped plants
Footprints in the snow lead us down the steps in the sloping garden. Tall, lit torches frame the garden path that takes you to the lowest levels of the outdoor space. The snow covering the pool forms a white carpet in the middle of the garden this March. The covered outdoor kitchen is surrounded by tall pine trees with snow-laden branches swaying in the wind.
Black torches along the steps down to the garden create atmosphere.
Calm and structure
– The winter garden offers a calm, almost meditative experience, while the summer garden is full of life and energy. Winter has its own beauty that sets it apart from the rest of the year. Frost on the trees and the blanket of snow over the garden create a truly special atmosphere. Structures and details emerge in new ways. And when the leaves are gone, the architectural lines of the trees and shrubs stand out more clearly, she says.
The sharp, green leaves of the evergreen bamboo are highlighted even more by a dusting of snow.
Winter coziness on the roof
Low sunlight casts long shadows and gives a golden glow in the middle of the day. When the sun sets, Hanne likes to use lights. She lets torches, lanterns, and string lights help brighten the darkest season.
– We like to settle in with sheepskins on the lowest level of the garden. From there, we have a beautiful view over the city and the fjord. Here, on Oslo’s rooftop, we often light the fire pit, grill sausages and marshmallows, and drink hot chocolate. It’s especially cozy when there’s snow in the air.
Here on Oslo’s rooftop, the family loves to lay out sheepskins, light the fire pit, and enjoy the view with a warm drink in hand.
Time for creativity
Winter also offers a break from gardening.
– After a busy growing season, it’s wonderful to have a period where I can dream and plan spring projects. When the garden is dormant, we have time to reflect on what worked well and what could be improved. I like to use the winter to sketch new ideas, read about plants, and find inspiration for making the garden even better. A new pond for our fish is on the spring agenda. They’ve had a small pond for a few years, but now that the trampoline is gone, they can have more space. The plan is for a design with clean angles and decorative stones, in a modern Nordic style, surrounded by lovely planting like Japanese maples, ornamental grasses, ferns, and some aquatic plants.
Hanne’s tips for enjoying the garden in winter
- Create a cozy seating area.
- A fire pit or patio heater lets you stay outside longer.
- Sausages, stick bread, or even grilled cheese wrapped in foil work well on the fire pit or grill.
- Have warm blankets and sheepskins ready so there’s something cozy to sit on.
- Bring a warm drink – hot chocolate, mulled wine, or tea tastes extra good in the fresh air.
- Light up the garden. Hang string lights in trees and shrubs. Use torches, lanterns, or solar lights to create warmth and atmosphere during the shortest days.
- Evergreens like bamboo, juniper, and boxwood give the garden life, structure, and interesting shapes even in winter.
The Nordic garden style combines interesting shapes with varied expressions. The round mirror against the clean lines creates an exciting contrast. In the mirror, you can see the garden’s snow-covered pool.
Follow the Nordic 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.
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