In this, my third informal illustrated report of the Society visit and meeting to Denmark and Germany in 2022, postponed twice from 2020 and 2021 due to the COVID pandemic. A full set of articles by members of the group will be published in the next journal, Clematis International 2023. To all attendees, I hope the wait was worth it and this set of personal reports will bring back happy memories. To others, perhaps it will encourage you to join us on a future visit and meeting. In this third report I will cover our visits on the third and fourth days of our meeting, Tuesday 12th and Wednesday 13th July 2022. Unfortunately, "Staudeblomsten" will have to wait until next month as various personal activities have limited the time I could devote to this report. However, I can give you the answer to my question about Elmer's "hanging bells", mentioned in Denmark/Germany 2022 - Part 2. Each one is from an old-fashioned cast-iron toilet cistern. The cistern was mounted high on a wall with a chain hanging down. Pulling down on the chain lifted, via a lever, one of these bells. Releasing the chain let the bell drop and the water flush the toilet. If you wish to read the first report, please click Denmark/Germany 2022 - Part 1. For the second report, please click Denmark/Germany 2022 - Part 2. The fourth report can be found at Denmark/Germany 2022 - Part 4.
Kongernes Jelling, UNESCO World Heritage Site
Lille Malunds' Have
The garden of Margit and Vagn Elgaard
Kongernes Jelling, UNESCO World Heritage Site
Kongernes Jelling is an UNESCO World Heritage Site and an outstanding example of pagan Nordic culture. Jelling was a royal monument during the reigns of Gorm, and his son Harald Bluetooth, in the 10th century, and may possibly pre-date this era. The complex consists of two flat topped mounds, 70 metres in diameter and up to 11 metres high, which are almost identical in shape, size and construction, being built of turf, carefully stacked in even layers, with the grass side facing downwards. After introducing Christianity into Denmark and integrating Norway with the country, Harald Bluetooth proclaimed his achievements by erecting an inscribed stone between the two mounds. He also built the first wooden church at Jelling. On the south-west face is the earliest depiction of Christ in Scandinavia, with an inscription relating to the conversion of the Danes to Christianity between 953 and 965. A small simple church of whitewashed stone is currently on the site, at least three earlier wooden churches having all been were destroyed by fire. Excavations in 2006 have revealed evidence of a magnificent palisade surrounding the monument, and parts of a ship setting of unknown dimensions. The location of the palisade is now indicated by white posts, giving an impressive vision of the size of the original site, especially from on top of the mounds. Two large stones inscribed with runic symbols have been found on the site and are on display. There may be more archaeology yet to be discovered. On one side of the site is a museum, exhibition hall and shop.
Panoramic view of the Jelling site
Church at the centre of the site
One of the Jelling Runic Stones
View from one of the mounds with the palisade markers in the distance
Graveyard next to the church with the museum building in the background
Lille Malunds' Have
This is one of Denmarkâs oldest gardens open to the public. It was started as an ordinary farm garden belonging to the farm, Lille Malund. The owners first became interested in gardening after visiting gardens in England. In 1975 the garden was opened to the public. It is a large garden of approx. 25,000 sq. metres and has a large plant collection of more than 10,000 different plants, arranged harmoniously in a predominantly English garden style including a number of mature roses and clematis in a rose garden with a pergola and seats to enjoy the garden. There are other areas of seasonal interest such as spring flowering plants, alpine stone beds, a lake with water lilies and also a small Japanese meditation garden. There is a room with tables and chairs where garden visitors are welcome sit and relax, and we enjoyed our packed lunches here. There is also a large plant nursery nearby where many of the plants grown in the garden can be found. The garden has a number of discreet areas, some open with views across the flower beds, others with winding paths that reveal unexpected delights. It was very sunny and hot on our visit so shaded areas were also very welcome.
Winding paths through the flowerbeds
Pergola with roses and some clematis
There are plenty of places to sit and enjoy the view
C. 'Fujimusumi'
C. 'Romantika'
Decoration steel panel
C. 'Eetika'
Beautiful Japanese garden hidden away in a corner of the garden
The garden of Margit and Vagn Elgaard
On Wednesday morning we visit the garden of Margit and Vagn Elgaard, the parents of Jette Larson. We had visited the garden of Jette and Lars Jensen on Monday, see Denmark/Germany 2022 - Part 1. Margit and Vagn Elgaard have a large garden with a lawn, sweeping up to the house and flower beds on either side containing shrubs and perennials. It was started once they finished building the house in 1991 and is described as a 'farm' garden. There is also a protected area on one side to prevent more precious plants from wild animals, such as rabbits. There are a number of clematis planted within the garden. When Fiona and I visited Denmark in 2020 to plan the Society meeting, we visited this garden. At the time, Jette and Lars were in the middle of moving house and they had stored much of their large collection of clematis here. Whilst most of these are now in their new garden, it appeared to us that a number had remained with Margit and Vagn. As well as enjoying their beautiful garden, we were also treated to home baking by Margit, including her Danish Kringle cake! It was delicious.In Part 4, Fiona will describe our visits to Staudeblomsten - the "petal" garden, Have Idyllen, the garden of Hanne and Leon Braüner, Münster Baumschulen, the mainly wholesale nursery of I.Cl.S. member, Mathias Münster, the Garten der Horizonte, an amazing garden "hidden" behind an ordinary house belonging to Maria Luer, and Clematiskulturen, the clematis nursery of I.Cl.S. member, Manfred Westphal. You can find this at Denmark/Germany 2022 - Part 4. If you wish to read the first report, please click Denmark/Germany 2022 - Part 1. For the second report, please click Denmark/Germany 2022 - Part 2.
Looking up the garden towards the house
The drive, with a protected growing area on the left
Somewhere to sit and contemplate the garden
Flowerbed in front of the pond
View across the garden from the pond
Looking down the garden
C. 'Sabine'
C. 'Kommerei'
C. 'Boskoop Beauty'
C. 'Richard's Picotee'
C. integrifolia 'Ozawa's Blue'
Jeff Jabco with Margit and Vagn Elgaard
