Part science experiment, part public park

In early June, if it’s a ‘good’ year, people in Western Helsinki get treated to bursts of colour at the Haaga Rhododendron Park. Started in 1975 as a research location for the University of Helsinki, the plan was to create rhododendron plants that would thrive in Finland’s northern climate. And, boy, did they. Around 3,000 specimens of a Japanese variety of rhododendron were originally planted, then selectively bred to produce eight new varieties of ‘rhodies’ over the years.
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