BOTANY

Lines of sight and spaces in the park
The modern day park was based on an old park layout that had overgrown. Landscape architect Vibeke Holscher headed the renovation work. She created lines of sight and views, established a series of open and varied spaces for permanent sculpture exhibits and added several new garden and landscape elements such as inner courtyards, the pergola area, a greenery corridor of beech hedges and a long and winding boulder wall on the boundary to Lake Ørnsø. The new park was opened in 1994.  

Rhododendron in the park
Close to the kindergarten playground by the Society Building and surrounding the pergola area in the middle of the park, there are large rhododendron originating from the health-resort era. The old plants were gathered here during the re-structuring of the park in 1993-94. The rhododendron theme was carried on by landscape architect Vibeke Holscher through the establishment of beds with new plants surrounding the round area of the driveway and along the Northern and Western faces of the Spa Building.

The blooming bed at the Forest Villa
Entirely new was the semi-circular azalea bed in front of the Forest Villa that produces the most wonderful sea of blossoms every year in the early summer. On sunny days, this is an exquisite seating place amidst the greenery, from which one can enjoy the view of Anton Rosen's beautiful Forest Villa. The bushes are various azalea types: Large and small with yellow, white, dark orange and orange blossoms. And there are different rhododendron: white, crème-coloured, and purple blossoms as well as ground covering cornus cannadensis and vaccinum myrtillus.

Rare trees and bushes
Take a walk in the park and experience the trees in a new way: 80 signs have been placed by trees and bushes throughout the park. The signs have Danish and Latin species names. Some of the signs have more information about the natural history of the tree in question or about the reasons for placing the tree at that exact position.

Sculptural trees
Landscape architect Vibeke Holscher explains about the sculptural properties of the trees:
"The solitary tree, i.e. a tree standing alone, distinguishes itself from the shaped trees, groups of trees, and the shrubbery by being viewable as an individual. The free-growing, solitary tree is, more than any other, able to make an impression on its surroundings, lending identity to a location…[…] The solitary tree is timeless.  It tells only of the weather and the passing of the year, of its own beauty, and it lends us endless scents, visual impressions, and experiences."

A very special and often impressively large tree in the area is the Douglas fir, introduced from North America. It shows an excellent growth-rate and yields good lumber. In the Southern part of the park area there is a very beautiful grouping of beech and such hundred year-old firs. Inside, the new floors in the Spa Building and the Forest Villa are made from Douglas fir.

The park never closes
The park and the surrounding forest areas have always played an important part for the "spirit" of the location. The park must be to the benefit and joy of the general public. Use of the park and movement on roads, footpaths, and laws are permitted 24 hrs.

You can hear more about trees and plants in the park in our audio guide, which you can borrow at the reception. Read more here