NEWS RELEASE

For Immediate Release                         11 January 2007

2007 is the tercentenary of the Swedish botanist, scientist and explorer, Carl Linnaeus.  His life and work will be celebrated through numerous activities and exhibitions, especially in his native Sweden but his passion for the natural world will be celebrated at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show 2007 with two events, the first of which has been commissioned by the Swedish Government and coordinated by the Linnaeus National Tercentenary Committee in Stockholm and is the ‘Tribute to Linnaeus’ show garden - designed by eminent Swedish landscape architect Ulf Nordfjell. 

The second event, organised by the Linnean Society of London is a display in the floral marquee entitled "Linnaeus' Legacy - 300 years of naming nature. The theme of the exhibit will be the continuing legacy begun by Linnaeus - naming of plants and its importance and relevance in today's world.

The show garden is a contemporary design.  Its composition, materials chosen and plant selections all pay tribute to particular aspects of Linnaeus and his native landscape.  Many of the themes explored in the garden design are deeply rooted in the cultural heritage and identity of Sweden.  The garden design celebrates both a modern interpretation and traditional values and also techniques including architecture and design.

Hedges of Picea, a traditional hedging plant, give basic structure and enclosure to the garden.  The primary tree species used are Pine and Birch, both iconic to the Swedish landscape.  Malus, cultivated by Linnaeus in his botanic gardens, is used with flat cut crowns to compliment the character of the Pine and Birch.

The plants used in the garden are a mix of those grown or cultivated by Linnaeus together with common plants grown in Swedish gardens.  Those plants used in the garden which were originally planted by Linnaeus in his own gardens at Hammarby outside Uppsala and are still growing there today include; Lilium martagon ‘Album’, Asarum eruopaeum and Jovibarba globifera (Semperivium soboliferum).

Several other plants chosen for the garden are known for being cultivated by Linnaeus at his botanical garden in Uppsala, these include; Lingustrum vulgaris, Viburnum opulus ‘Roseum’, Malus, Fritilaria melagris. Astrantia major, Digitalis purpurea, Iris sibirica, Osmunda regalis and of course the trademark Linnaea borealis.  the use of wild species which can be traced back to Linnaeus days include; Vaccinium vitis-idaea, Deschampsia cespitosa and Fragaria vesca.

The garden is partially divided diagonally by perforated timber walls, partly a pergola.  The openings within the walls frame more precise and specific views within the garden.  Encouraging different ways of looking into the garden reflects the enduring curiosity of Linnaeus and his scientific approach to nature.  The subdivisions made by the timber walls also define different plant micro climates for shady, sunny, drought or moisture loving plant species. 

The walls combing historical and modern construction techniques.  They are painted in colours similar to those used on barns and houses in the Swedish countryside, including red (made from red oxide) and silver grey, the colour most associated with the Gustavian style.

Water is used in the garden to represent its fundamental importance to the Swedish woodland landscape. The water within the garden does not mimic nature but refers to its many different characteristics:  The source of water from a spring, the collection of water in a dark woodland tarn, the violent flow of water as it rushes over native cobbles.

Granite is the native stone of Sweden.  It is one of the natural resources which has played an important part in the development of the Swedish economy.  The primary hard landscape material in the garden is granite from the Swedish West coast.

The bedroom walls of Linnaeus’ Summer house at Hammarby were decorated with illustrations from Plantae Selectae by Georg Dionysius Ehret. These images have been transformed into digital art on large vertical laser cut sheets of steel by the Norwegian artist Anne-Karin Furunes and are incorporated into the garden design.  [The Linnean Society of London holds a portrait of Ehret in its collections].

Notes to Editors:

• Ulf Nordfjell is available for interview

• For further media information contact Rosie Harkness @ Rose Tinted PR. Tel: 020 3076 1331 /32

E: info(at)rosetintedpr.org

• The garden ”A tribute to Linnaeus” will be part of the Swedish celebrations of 2007 Linnaeus tercentenary.  Exhibitor and sponsor are The National Tercentenary Committee in Sweden

• Designer: Ulf Nordfjell landscape architect Stockholm, Coordinator: Julie Toll, London, Contractor: Ricky Baxter, Bramles London

• The exhibit "Linnaeus' Legacy - 300 years of naming nature" will be part of the Linnean Society of London's Linnean Tercentenary programme (www.linnean.org). Contact Elaine Shaughnessy at Elaine(at)linnean.org

Photos

• The exhibit "Linnaeus' Legacy - 300 years of naming nature" will be part of the Linnean Society of London's Linnean Tercentenary programme (www.linnean.org). Contact Elaine Shaughnessy at 077 200 56 300 or Elaine(at)linnean.org

Photos:

Georg Dionysius Ehret. Held in the Linnean Society Collections  © The Linnean Society of London

Campanula serpyllifolia (as named by Caspar Bauhin in 1596) was later renamed Linnaea borealis by Gronovius, in honour of Linnaeus' contribution to the fledging science of taxonomy. Full story