In Copenhagen - The King's Garden

Close to the Copenhagen Botanical Gardens is the 400 year old King's Garden, one of Copenhagen's most visited parks. But back in the early years it was reserved for the king and royal court only. It opened to the public in 1771.

The mixed borders were inspired by English flower borders and are 240 meters long with stunning flower displays from early spring through autumn.

The King's Garden, built for Christian IV in the early 1600's in the style of a French Renaissance garden, was from the very beginning a garden for the King's pleasure and for growing vegetables and fruit for the Royal household. 

Back then the garden looked very different, designed in Renaissance style with garden rooms in basic geometry, squares and circles. Even with the transformations over time the original structure of the King's Garden remains almost intact, and starting in the 1960's the lost elements are being brought back and with it the spirit of the Renaissance.

Christian IV was greatly interested in plants, he collected rare plants, and exotics such as myrtles, orange and pomegranate trees, but also herbs for cooking and medicine. He of course employed a botanist, and had more than 1,300 different plants in his garden.

Three birds hanging out together, enjoying the beautiful weather. Under the shrub is a Magpie, the gray one is a Hooded Crow, and the one in front, I am guessing is a Blackbird. They were slowly strolling along and softly talking to each other, just like good friends. 

A bronze statue of Hans Christian Andersen from 1880 in honor of his 70th birthday

The King's Garden is set up in different rooms or gardens, the rose garden, folly garden, Ball game area, Hercules pavilion, just to name a few, and then of course the Kinder garden. Dragons are everywhere in Copenhagen, so here is a dragon and a beautiful shiny dragon egg in the Kinder garden.

After all this walking through the Botanical Garden and the King's Garden, we sure were hungry and decided to take the hop on hop off bus to the Torvehallerne market hall.

Scary fish. I don't think I will be swimming in that region. 

Not sure if I would have the nerve to buy this fish AND cook it. /shudder/

We went for the safe choice of  local beer and smorrebrod, an open-faced sandwich of a thick slice of dense bread with butter and piled high with delicacies such as shrimp salad, smoked salmon, cooked eggs, caviar, and all beautifully decorated with herbs and edible flowers. I did write down some of the combinations we had on our vacation to recreate for lunches at home. 

Back at the hotel we enjoyed a cocktail at the bar on the waterfront, watching people jump in and swim in the 12 C (53 F) cold seawater.... I am thinking of those dangerous looking fishes from the market...