Concrete sculptures, fika, and Pia’s garden
Stroll around the garden, say hi to the tortoises, cast a concrete candlestick and have a fika in the garden with bread made of flour from Lockö Mill and jam from the Skafferiet in Hyssna.
About Your Host, Pia
I’m an optimistic retired teacher interested in nature, animals, gardening, cookery, baking and crafts. The garden is my oasis with space for my concrete garden sculptures, for meetings between people and animals, as well as training courses. I grow without using pesticides and make room for insects and pollinators. My husband is a jazz music loving technician.
Who this is for
Anyone interested in nature, gardens or cementing who is keen to know more.
When?
Anytime – the visit lasts about two hours.
Where?
The bus ride from Gothenburg takes around 1 hour. I’ll meet you at the Hyssna Handel bus stop. By car it takes about 40 minutes depending on where in Gothenburg you start from.
Price
100 SEK for the fika and cementing
Languages Spoken
Swedish and English good, and can get by in German, Danish and Norwegian too.
Tips from Locals
Pia’s four tips for things to see when you visit Hyssna:
- Örestens Fortress in Kinna – historic site
- Bageriet i Fritsla – a great local bakery
- Ramhulta Falls by foot or by boat tour on Isa af Lygnern
- Hyssnaleden hiking trail with lots of possibilities for things to see and overnight accommodation
Find more exciting tips about the area around Hyssna on the Mark Municipality website.
Reviews
Meeting Pia was a delightful experience! She warmly guided us through her garden, showcasing her collection of concrete sculptures, which beautifully blend art and nature. We enjoyed the traditional Swedish fika with her, savoring the homemade bread and delicious apple crumble pie. Pia's passion for her garden shines through in every detail, reflecting her commitment to sustainability and biodiversity. Her garden is not just pleasant to the eyes; it's a vibrant ecosystem that supports pollinators and promotes pesticide-free gardening. Pia also shared insights about her journey in gardening and the importance of environmental consciousness, making our visit not only enjoyable but also educational. We left feeling inspired by Pia's dedication to nurturing both her garden and the local community through her workshops. We greatly recommend this visit to everyone! Albert
Gothenburg , CroatiaRead more
This was one of the best experiences. Pia was thoughtful, informative and very experienced about her garden. She was very kind to plan my experience with the other local - Gun- as I don't speak Swedish. They waited for me at the bus stop and walked me to their gardens. Gun's garden was charming with so many varieties of flowers, plants, vegetables, trees from all seasons. I had no idea that we can grow and maintain so many plants in this tiny cozy garden. They gave me many tips and ideas about maintaining them throughout all seasons and handling pests. The way that the plants were planted was also impressive. We then walked to Pia's garden via an old mill sitting on the river. The views all over the walk was simply stunning and picturesque. Pia's garden was a huge one with so many of her artistic cemented sculptures decorating it. She had all varieties of trees, plants, bushes, vegetables, flowers and berries. It was inspiring that she manages such a huge garden so beautifully. She served me a lovely fika - all from locally sourced suppliers which was very delicious. They were both took me even to see another friend of theirs who has a lovely homestead, garden and animals as I love animals. They gave me a beautiful picture of how peaceful and therapeutic a Swedish countryside can be. Hyssna is a lovely place and it is a must-see experience. Jennifer
Goteborg , SwedenRead more
My boyfriend and I were very excited to visit a local's garden in the Swedish countryside, but we had no idea how much fun was in store at Pia's Röda Stugans Njuteri. She and her husband met us at the bus stop, and we walked together while she explained the history of the area, on what used to be a textile factory. Pia says it like it is - the things she likes, doesn't like, and adores sharing stories of the local area and her life experiences. Each plant in her garden we got to see and learn about - in addition to meeting her 3 pet turtles, and her pet cat! She also laid out a fabulous fika spread - fresh gooseberries from the garden, local ingredients in everything, and STRONG Swedish coffee. Even with potential rain, we had a marvelous time chatting and enjoying local cheeses. We were even able to meet her neighbor Gun, who is also a "Local" and see her garden and furniture upholstery project - what a treat! There is also a beautiful church and historic logging mill that we were able to see, thanks to Pia's guidance on a walk. While we thought we were all through with fika, Pia surprised us by having prepared a second set of treats in the afternoon, including a homemade cake made with duck eggs. Each moment we spent in Pia's company was an absolute pleasure, and it was one of the best days of our travels because of her. I can't think of a better day in Sweden than enjoying a conversation with Pia and sharing her wonderful homemade treats. I can't wait to return to beautiful Hyssna to do some secondhand shopping - maybe with Gun as well - the next time I'm in town! Sam
Worcester, MA , United StatesRead more
