My daughter lives in Norway, married to a Norwegian, and I’ve been fortunate enough to make a few visits there from America. On one of those early trips, her mother-in-law told me about a garden island near Stavanger called Flor & Fjære. She hadn’t been there herself, but the way she described it definitely aroused my curiosity and I tucked it away in the back of my mind as something to do someday on a return visit.
This summer, that “someday” finally arrived.
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Crossing the Fjord
With our tickets in hand, my husband and I made our way to Flor & Fjære’s dock in Stavanger and boarded the enclosed boat. The ride across the fjord felt like southern Norway at its best—water everywhere, rocky shores with red cottages and green hills along the edges. In less than half an hour, the island appeared ahead of us, bright with color.
A Warm Welcome
Once ashore, we were greeted and divided into English- and Norwegian-speaking groups. I joined the English group, led by Siri, one of the owners. To my surprise, I learned Siri had once lived in my husband’s hometown of St. Louis. That connection made me even more interested in how she came to be here and the story behind this place.
A Journey From Bare Rock to Blooms
Siri explained that her father-in-law bought a rocky piece of land in this fjord decades ago. At the time, Norway was about to change its laws to forbid cabins close to the water. He moved quickly and built a small summer cabin in record time—on bare rock with no trees in sight.
He owned a nursery in Stavanger and began bringing plants across the fjord. First came pine trees for shelter, then flowers. He even ferried customers out to see what he was growing.
When he retired, he spent more and more time planting. His son Olav took over the nursery and began designing large-scale flower displays. Eventually, the family opened the island to the public: 600 visitors the first year, 7,000 the second and this year a record 45,000+. Siri told us she used to cook the fish soup herself for those early guests!
A Garden Reborn Every Year
Today, the family plants 50,000 annuals each summer, with Olav, her husband, creating a brand-new design each year. As Siri led us through the gardens, I was amazed by the variety. I saw colorful flower gardens, waterfalls, a beach, a desert scape and even palm trees!
Before Siri and I parted ways, my love of flowers got the better of me and I asked if they ever take volunteers to help :). Siri smiled kindly and said they like to keep it in the family—and it’s clear why. Those gardens are their legacy.
A Gourmet Lunch
After the tour, we sat down at a table set aside for the two of us and served a three-course lunch. I didn’t know what to expect, but it was excellent.
We started with fish soup—the one cooked by Siri in the early days, now refined by their chef into a dish that was beautifully presented and full of flavor. The main course was halibut with vegetables and the meal finished with a light rhubarb panna cotta. Herbs and edible flowers from the island’s greenhouse were used to garnish the dishes, connecting the food to the gardens outside.
Lunch moved at an easy pace, giving us time to savor each dish. When we were done, there was still plenty of time to head back outside and explore the gardens again, camera in hand.
A Last Stroll
After exploring every inch I could, it was finally time to head back toward the dock. Before leaving, I bought a beautiful hardback book telling the Flor & Fjære story. Not only is it a keepsake and something I can share with the flower-loving people in my life, but I also learned more of the family story behind the gardens, details that add even more meaning to what I had just experienced.
Reflections
As the boat carried us back across the fjord, I thought about this family’s story: her father-in-law building a cabin on bare rock, hauling flowers from his Stavanger nursery, proudly bringing customers to see what he had planted; Olav’s artistry in designing new displays each year; the family planting all those flowers; Siri herself cooking fish soup for the first visitors and leading tours.
What had once been a simple idea I saved for someday on a return visit has become so much more. It’s a wonderful memory filled with color, flavor and connection—and a story I can share with others who love flowers, the bond of family and stories as much as I do!
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