Malin Persson

My garden is not about perfection, it's about feeling. I really love my garden and I grow because it slows me down.

There are no requirements here for everything to be perfect. What's important is how it feels to be here.

When I choose plants, I do it intuitively. Some thrive, others don't. And that's just the way it should be.

In the garden I try to listen, adjust and let it be an ongoing experiment. It changes with the seasons, just like me. No two years are the same, and that's what makes growing alive.

I love my garden. It's not too small and not too big. It's about using the space available in a smart way. I'm inspired by the French potager, where flowers and vegetables are allowed to live side by side. Sometimes in straight lines, sometimes a little messy. Order meets freedom.

Sometimes I dream of something bigger. More space to grow, more beds, more room for ideas. But I remind myself to settle for what I have. To be happy with the small space and make the most of it. I want my garden to give me energy, not consume all my time. So I settle for just right.

Being able to grow your own bouquets is one of the greatest joys. I love creating with what the garden has to offer, right here and right now. A simple vase on the table, or a few flowers that can be taken into the kitchen. Nasturtium is among the most beautiful things I know, just as obvious in a small vase as on a plate.

Every year I try to grow something new, but I also have my obvious favorites that always come back. Palm cabbage, tomatoes, cosmos, dahlias and sweet peas, of course.

This is my garden. My little place for presence and growth. Without perfection, but full of feeling.