Visiting Finland: A Botanist's Quick View

forest in Finland

In July 2012 I spent a week in southern Finland after visiting Iceland. At the opposite end of Scandinavia, Finland is very different from Iceland. 

At 130,666 sq. miles, Finland is a slightly larger area than the state of New Mexico, but longer north-south and not as wide. The northern third is inside the Arctic Circle and the south on the Baltic Sea's Gulf of Finland. Unlike Sweden and Norway, it is not mountainous. The population is 5.4 million, making it one of the least densely populated European countries.

We visited the southern part of the country just after the summer solstice when the days were very long. 

Finland has conserved its forests and you don't have to go far from Helsinki for the country  to look uninhabited.

Lake Päijänne, central Finland

The country is rich in lakes.

We saw tall forests and blue lakes, and summer wildflowers.

waterlilies, Finland

Aquatic plants such as water lilies grew in the quiet edges of the lake. 

forest, Finland

There were extensive pine forests. Not by accident: timber is one of Finland's major exports and they are careful to conserve it.

forest edge wildflowers, Finland
(yes, that's fireweed)

Rich stands of bright flowers were on the forest edges and in light gaps.

wildflowers, Finland

campion, Finland

wildflowers in the lawn, central Finland

Given a chance, wildflowers bloomed in the lawns. 

dandelion, Taraxacum officinale, Helsinki

Of course there were cosmopolitan weeds like dandelions.




I have omitted the rich language and literature, historic buildings, castles, modern architecture and design, and dozens of other things in favor of the plants. But hey, that's my bias.



As you can see from my pictures, it was very beautiful!

Gulf of Finland 

Comments and corrections welcomed.

Kathy Keeler

www.awanderingbotanist.com

and on Facebook: www.facebook.com/AWanderingBotanist