Flor og Fjære, A Garden Paradise

Have you ever stepped into a place and had your jaw drop, your heart race, and all your emotions just burst?

That happened to me the moment I walked into Flor og Fjære. I couldn’t stop myself from blurting out, “No way! I can’t believe this place even exists!!!” Stavanger was a town I barely knew, but when I googled “what to do near Stavanger,” I found Flor og Fjære—and never expected it would spark deep reflections about life and what really matters.

Flor og Fjære is a privately-owned island just a 20-minute ferry ride from Stavanger. A family has tended it for three generations, and from May through September it’s open to visitors. The whole island is a floral wonderland blooming with colorful, fragrant plants sourced from around the world. Not just a garden—the entire island is one giant living garden. It felt like a grown-up Disneyland or the opening scene of Wicked!

We took the ferry from Stavanger’s port, and when we arrived, tour guides in both English and Norwegian were ready for us. Our English guide was funny, charming, and full of stories—about the island’s history, the family’s values, the flowers, and the themed garden areas. It was the most engaging, joyful guide tour I’ve ever had!

Here’s the story I loved most:

The island was originally purchased by a couple who ran a gardening shop in Stavanger, as a place for the husband to rest and recover from an injury. When they first bought it, the island was barren—no plants, nothing. But the husband really liked spending time there, even though the rest of the family didn’t show much interest at first.

Using his gardening knowledge, he started planting trees. Feeling a bit lonely, he thought, “Maybe if I plant the flowers my wife loves, she’ll come here more often.” So he began planting flowers, and just as he hoped, his wife started coming to the island to help. Over time, the once-empty island was transformed into a lush, green paradise.

Even though Norway is a snowy country where it’s not easy to grow plants, thanks to the couple’s expertise and a lot of trial and error, the island became something truly rare. For them, as gardening professionals, it also became like a living portfolio.

One year, they invited friends and loyal customers to the island and served the wife’s famous fish soup. That became the beginning of what is now Flor og Fjære.

It all started from love—for each other and for their family—and grew into something they began sharing with others in a way that felt natural to them. I felt like I got to learn a little piece of this family’s life philosophy.

The tour lasted about five hours—from boarding the ferry to return—including a stunning three-course meal that felt like fine dining, plus open time to explore. I couldn’t resist heading back to the beach to relax—so peaceful.

Here are a few things I found particularly fascinating:

• Seasonal focus: The island opens only May–September so it’s always in full bloom. The rest of the year is spent clearing, moving plants to greenhouses, scouting, and redesigning for next season.
• No signage: There were no plant name tags anywhere. The family believes people should enjoy the flowers themselves—not read Latin names. That idea really struck me: we often look at labels instead of seeing what’s right in front of us.
• Cold-hardy cactus: They even managed to grow huge cacti from Arizona in this chilly climate—using clever gardening techniques. (Photos got left behind 😅)

When it was time to catch the return ferry, I felt so reluctant to leave—I honestly wanted to miss it on purpose. But my husband gently took my hand, and we made it onboard safely. As we sailed away, I thought: I want to keep cherishing the love I have for my family and those close to me, and gently keep expanding the circle where I can share my own talents and knowledge—spreading joy in a way that feels natural to me.