The Flowering Pots of Norway

Ahh yes, Norwegian summer. It's actually what you would call the "perfect" weather day here in NC. It's not too hot, not too cold. Not humid, with a little bit of a breeze. The sun warms your face, instead of burning it in five seconds. It is truly the perfect day for both humans and flowering annuals.

Now, the last two summers I visited Northern Europe, I got lucky with the weather. Typically, it's more rainy. Regular rain does have its advantages, especially when it comes to pots. Even when I was there during a dry summer, I still saw more rain than I would've in NC.

Here in NC, we really have our cards stacked against us. Drought, extreme heat, high humidity, and then rain for 4-5 days straight because why not? Those that care for flowering annuals here in the South have to consistently put in the work to yield the same result that's pictured above. Flowers thrive on cool nights and warm days, and we don't get that very often, so who knows if we can even replicate what I saw there, but I am willing to try... maybe.

Heliotrope (Heliotropium arborescens) Left, I mean, look at this thing. This is the best I've seen this plant look. In NC, this rots overnight. I probably couldn't replicate that. There are just some things we just don't bother planting in the South. This is one of them.

Dahlia spp. Center, right. If you've grown these here, you know they love to rot. Look at how beautiful these are when you don't have swamp air. *Seriously thinking about gardening overseas...*

Petunia, left, center. Scaevola, right. A tower of flowers that spill onto the sidewalk and the street! The flowers really thrive in this climate. Also, the sun sets at 11 p.m., so plants are just bigger overall. That's definitely something I cannot do here in NC, although I'd love it if the days were longer. *Seriously thinking about gardening in the land of the midnight sun...*

There's something about a block of colorful flowers sandwiched between European stone. I love the simplicity and elegance it brings to the space, along with the anchor plants that flank the sides, softening the corners.

And look! Pansies are summer annuals here. You could probably guess that there are no winter annuals here, not even pansies. Pansies like to thaw at some point in the day; if they are frozen too long, they will sustain irreversible damage. In Norway, things can stay frozen most of the winter, depending on the region.

I have more on flowers to share from my trip, so stay tuned for part 2!

Written by: Natasha Poteet, NCNLA Certified Plant Professional, NCSU Horticulturist