Flor & Fjære is a tropical garden on the island of Sør-Hidle, a 20-minute boat ride northeast of Stavanger. The story starts in 1965 when Åsmund and Else Marie Bryn bought a windswept homestead on the northern tip of the island and built a family cabin. In 1987, Åsmund went on disability and started planting seriously. Pine trees first, to block the wind. Then more and more exotic species.
In 1995 their son Olav and his wife Siri opened a restaurant and the garden to the public. What started as one man's obsession on a bare island is now a full-day experience with four restaurants, guided tours, and gardens ranging from roses to cacti and palms. The third generation of the family runs it today.
The visit includes the boat from Skagenkaien in Stavanger, a garden tour, and a three-course meal. It is not cheap: expect around 1,900-2,200 NOK per person depending on the day. The season runs from May to September. Book well in advance; summer dates sell out quickly, especially Saturdays.
It is genuinely surprising. The scale and lushness of the planting on what was a bare, windswept island is hard to believe until you see it. The island sits in a sheltered position that creates a warmer microclimate than Stavanger itself.
In 1995 their son Olav and his wife Siri opened a restaurant and the garden to the public. What started as one man's obsession on a bare island is now a full-day experience with four restaurants, guided tours, and gardens ranging from roses to cacti and palms. The third generation of the family runs it today.
The visit includes the boat from Skagenkaien in Stavanger, a garden tour, and a three-course meal. It is not cheap: expect around 1,900-2,200 NOK per person depending on the day. The season runs from May to September. Book well in advance; summer dates sell out quickly, especially Saturdays.
It is genuinely surprising. The scale and lushness of the planting on what was a bare, windswept island is hard to believe until you see it. The island sits in a sheltered position that creates a warmer microclimate than Stavanger itself.