Norway, Part 2: The European Floral Lifestyle

Flowers and Plants as Daily Essentials

Natural Elements Indoors
Norwegians choose to bring natural elements indoors. This live planting thrives in a public restroom at Oslo Gardermoen International Airport, using low-light varieties and supplemental lighting.

Plants and flowers should be a part of one's everyday life—not just reserved for extraordinary events. This philosophy is deeply ingrained in the Scandinavian lifestyle.

Traveling through Norway and Sweden, it was evident in every public space and home we visited that greenery is a daily priority. Plants graced restaurant tables and lined the countertops of public spaces. In the homes of friends and local apartments, deep windowsills were laden with as many plants as would fit.

Living with Greenery

A Jade Plant creating a natural screen.Topiary Ivy and herbs in the kitchen.

The European lifestyle includes shopping for groceries daily, and flowers are a regular item on that list. We found plants for sale in gas stations, train stations, shopping malls, and numerous outdoor markets. In Oslo, we discovered an entire city square, Stortorvet, devoted entirely to garden plants and cut flowers—no produce, just blooms.

The Floral Market Culture