The secret of Ljubljana Botanic Garden

Do you remember the beautiful and almost magical garden from the Frances Hodgson Burnett's novel The Secret Garden? I always imagined that garden had its own personality and healing powers. When I think about the Ljubljana Botanic Garden, the secret garden is my association.

It’s located not more than 15 minutes' walk from the historical City Centre of Ljubljana and you can find it easily. Take a walk (or use a bike) along the Gruberjevo embankment by the River Ljubljanica. At the end, there is Špica. Cross the footbridge, cross a small road and you’ll find yourself in front of the Ljubljana Botanic Garden.

If you want to escape from the touristic centre, the summer heat, the winter chills or you just want to read a book or explore the green Ljubljana, the Botanic Garden is the place to go.

The Ljubljana Botanic Garden is not big. It contains around 4,500 different species and subspecies in different sections – Arboretum with trees, Plant system where plants are arranged in the form of the tree of life according to their evolutionary relationships, Ecological and Geographical groups and tropical Glasshouse.

In early spring, I’m always amazed by the numerus snowdrops everywhere! Around March, the Botanic Garden is literally covered with them. To mark this wonderful awakening of the nature there is a 3-day Snowdrops Festival organized every year in the beginning of March. You can participate in the lectures, snowdrop exhibitions or go to field excursions. Of course, there are also many other flowers you can admire in springtime.

Summers in the Botanic Garden are great because it is not as hot as in the City Centre. All the trees keep the ground cool and the air fresh.

Autumn is spectacular because of all colourful combinations the nature creates. In the middle of the garden, there is a special Marmont’s Linder Tree. It was planted for the opening of the Botanic Garden in 1810. The garden is open uninterruptedly since then.

If it is too cold outside, there is a solution! The Glasshouse is a section housing mainly tropical plants. More than 500 plants can be seen there. They require a lot of moist and temperature around 26 °C. So, if it is cold outside or the weather is bad, take off your coat and visit the Glasshouse.

Thirsty or hungry during the visit of this secret garden? In that case Čajnica Primula (Tearoom Primula) offers a perfect solution! In the shade of the trees they serve coffee, tea, also some food but my favourites are tasty fruit and vegetable smoothies. I noticed that they even have their own beer!

There is also a story. Čajnica Primula is run by the Biotechnical Educational Centre Ljubljana. It means that students – supervised by their mentors – prepare all food (cakes, ice creams, crapes …) following their mission to be as local, seasonal and sustainable as possible.