Visiting Akureyri Botanical Garden.

Day 9 of our Iceland Cruise in Akureyri,
we visited the Botanical Gardens of Akureyri.

The highest garden near the Arctic Circle.

You wouldn't think the anything could grow this far North.

During our Spring visit, we were

surprised at flowers in bloom.

From the Internet:

The park is located just below the arctic circle (65.7°N), is around 3.7 ha in size and lies at altitude of 40-50 m amsl. The average rainfall in summer growing season is around 35mm per month.

Being at the sea bottom of Eyjafjord, one of the longest fjords in Iceland, the mountains encircling the garden provide interesting conditions for plant growth. The garden has a section dedicated to native and naturalised Icelandic flora and in addition we are able to grow a surprising number of hardy perrenial species, over 6400 in total. Colour is added each year by planting a plethora of annuals.

The main aim of the botanic garden is to test the hardiness of tree, shrub and herbaceous perennial species in the demanding climate of northern Iceland, which is characterized by pronounced seasonality and day length. Though primarily intended for recreation, the garden is also active in seed-exchange, public information and education.

My sister Annie

Free entry

The Main Trail of the Gardens was made in 1910

A Water garden

Siberian-tea and Rhododendrons

We stopped in here for a snack

The cat took to Sabrina

We continue our walk through the garden

Elephant-Eared Saxifrage

from the Bergenia family

Himalayan Blue Poppy

English Daisy

 Sulphur Poppy

Coastal Waterrhyssop

Poppy

Nootka Lupine

Yellow Daisy

Evergreen Candytuft

Svalbard Poppy

Aster

Devil's Club - Alaskan Ginseng

Violets

A popular myth in these gardens, that elves inhabit here.

Clematisn Alpina, native to Europe.

Trollius, beautiful, 

related to the Ranunculus plant.

Delphiniums

Lupins are plentiful in Norther Europe

Originated in Alaska

Creeping Speedwell

This garden is the highest North

 in elevation in the world.

Purple Rock Cress

Yew Tree

Leopard's-Bane 

(From the sunflower family)

Leopard's-Bane along the path

Peonies

Oxalis

Saxifrage, Androsace, Lewisia, Primula rosea, etc.

On the way out....A Turpentine Tree,

native to Australia. 

A view of our ship from the gardens.

Rumex Occidentailis, 

commonly known and Western Dock

This Spring garden is beautiful.

I can't imagine how beautiful 

this garden would be in Summer.

Back to our ship and on our way to

Isafjördur.

Thanks for your visit

My next blog will be our second 

stop in Iceland at 

Isafjordur, Iceland.

💚💛💚