As I have been away from Finland for the last ten summers I have missed quite a few highlights of the Finnish summer. One of the events I have always dreamt of participating is Open Gates in our neighbouring town, Kristinestad. So, this year we started early yesterday and saw almost all the open gardens there were to be seen. The event will still go on today, so be reminded!
There were plenty of people walking through the places. The nature of the event, however, came as a surprise to me. I had assumed there to be gardens to be introduced by their owners. There were some gardens, yes, but mainly it all seemed a sales event with endless flea markets and coffee shops. The entrance to one garden marked on the map was blocked by a grill and a man selling sausages. So I was a bit disappointed.
The most interesting of the gardens in the town itself was a garden in a house from the 1830's with an original stone pavement. Our house dates back to the same period, at least some parts of it. But no stone pavement, yet... The owner of the house was not present, but had left some written info about their projects, like transforming an old shed into a cosy summer room.
The most interesting places for us were not in the centre. I had wanted to go to see a farm with their own products and even wine. We drove to the place but we saw no farm, only a basement with arrows pointing the direction along a winding corridor, the empty walls of which looked like a lousy 1970's imitation of a log house in Lapland. At the end of the corridor, there was a room that shone yellow under some special lights that were supposed to keep some exotic plants alive. Some of the plants looked half dead. There were two men eating meat soup and a plate on the wall telling that alcoholic beverages are not sold there. Quite mysterious.
Having driven far out of town we decided to go and see another farm with animals and a pop up restaurant. We didn't lunch at their restaurant but saw some newly born bunnies, a goat, a lamb that had been bottle-fed, so it was following people all the time, a dog, a cat and also we could smell and hear the cows. The family was very friendly, too. Close to this place there was another totally different, a garden that was described a paradise. In their backyard there was a heated pool, a jacuzzi, a tipi-like hut for grilling as well as luxurious sunbeds where a toddler was asleep. The lady of the house told us to take photos, so I did.
Last of all we went to see Galleri Gottorp on our way home to Kaskinen. And that was mind-blowing! A proper source of inspiration in every respect. The owner was present and told a bit about all the exhibitions there were in the various buildings. She is an artist and a writer and we saw the paintings for her latest book. The garden was just lovely with details that showed creativity and interest in various ways of doing things. No copying of trendy garden magazines in this garden. The most interesting part was an exhibition on witchcraft and witch hunt in Kristinestad. The owner had planned and made the exhibition with her two sisters who live in Kaskinen. It was an amazing experience.
On the way back, however, we wondered whether it was totally fair to rip 10€/day for a sales event. Or if that is OK, why don't we sell tickets for the flea market day in Kaskinen. Or charge anyone entering the town for that matter, as our fences are so low that you will see all the gardens anyway. That should be easy to organise. Just fence the bridges and sell tickets for any outsider wanting to see our paradise!
Ei kommentteja:
Lähetä kommentti