The village’s famous flower garden had become badly overgrown—then it was rescued by a novice gardener who “couldn’t tell parsley from nettle”

In the photos, the yard of the small red cottage was just lawn. That was all Maikki Autio knew when she bought her new home. It was winter, and she had already spent some time searching for the right place. She ended up in Laitila in southwestern Finland for a new job, a town she had never visited before. Her former hometown, Lahti, had closed all higher education programs in the cultural field in 2015, so Maikki, who worked as a music pedagogue, had to look for a new position. She found one at the Vakka-Suomi Music Institute in Laitila, where she now teaches music theory subjects, such as composition.

“I was getting desperate to find a house, because I didn’t want one that was too big, ugly, or in an area I didn’t like. The moment I saw this house, I felt I could make it wonderful,” she recalls.

Maikki and Nekku the dog peek out from the cottage window. Below it is a warm spot where cherry tomatoes thrive.

Located in the idyllic rural landscape of a small village, the oldest log sections of this house date back to 1890. The property covers almost one hectare. Maikki herself can’t fully explain how, having always lived in a city, she felt bold enough to take on an old house that needed renovating. She was equally inexperienced at gardening.

“At first, I couldn’t tell parsley from nettle. The whole yard was overgrown, so that first summer I just cleared brush. I used common sense: if I didn’t want raspberries here, I pulled them out.”

Winding grass paths meander through the garden. Variegated-leaf ground elder grows alongside bergenias. Behind them are musk mallows and rhubarb.

Last summer, Maikki grew seven different varieties of sunflowers, but she got tired of staking them, so this summer she planted something else.

At first, the work felt hopeless. Sometimes Maikki was sure the plants reclaimed overnight all the ground she had cleared that day. But her enthusiasm grew quickly when, hidden in the brush, she found a rose bush, followed by peonies, daylilies, and other established garden plants. They had survived the previous owner’s time and persevered for years without care. Linda Laine lived in the house until she was over a hundred years old and passed away in 1999. People said the garden was always full of flowers in her time. Maikki decided the story of the region’s famous flower house should continue.

“I think the garden’s purpose is to welcome, invigorate, inspire, and bring joy. I believe nothing else affects a person more than a garden.”

The meadow areas were established using the no-dig method, meaning there’s cardboard on the ground with a layer of soil on top, where the meadow seeds were sown. Maikki weeds out mugwort and other unwanted species.

Daisies started popping up on their own when Maikki let the lawn grow tall. She leaves them be so they can go to seed for future years.

Maikki grew these autumn heleniums from seed. They need well-draining soil to survive winter.

Maikki started learning about gardening online. She initially joined some Facebook gardening groups, but the discussions often got too heated. She found English-language videos on YouTube with tips like the no-dig method, which she sees as a quick and easy way to create new beds without heavy digging.

The lush, laid-back garden flows around the house via grassy paths, like a captivating melody. Still, Maikki notes that unlike music, she can’t picture the finished result in advance. She believes the key is balancing plenty of free-form growth with contrast.

A welcoming entry is important to her. She loves how the original stones and slabs add a robust sense of contrast to the scene.

Of the two old apple trees, one has summer apples and the other ripens late.

Linda Laine’s cherished old plants have been joined by newer ones, like variegated-leaf ground elder and autumn heleniums. Maikki’s latest enthusiasm is wildflower meadows, with daisies dominating. They connect the garden even more with the countryside. As she learned about meadow care, she was surprised how much each summer affects the next year’s look. Starting out, she found that three seedlings of the same variety barely show up in a large garden—it’s better to buy thirty at once. Now she grows most of her plants from seed.

“Growing from seed is so exciting. When you fail, you learn patience. It’s humbling to realize you often have to wait an entire year before trying again.”

When a large spruce was cut down in the garden, Maikki decided to leave the stump to decompose in place. She built a summer flower bed around it and used straw and sheep’s wool for edging. Under the rag-rug bed is a mound of leftover dirt.

An old washing machine drum hangs from the apple tree as a lantern during darker times of the year.

Originally, the garden had orange lilies, but a harsh winter destroyed most of them. Maikki planted more lilies, including the tree lilies shown here.

Maikki often gathers bouquets from wildflowers and from her garden for her home, events, or gifts.

Over the years, Maikki has learned not to force things, because if you push too hard, it never turns out quite right. It’s easier to follow the plants’ natural tendencies. If a spot suits a plant, it will thrive with little fuss. She’s also amused to see how some plants behave like true divas—like the old rose that refuses to blossom if there’s even a hint of rain.

Maikki hopes to make Tipula, as she calls it, into a lively cultural venue, perhaps with a residency program. The old barn is already used as a summertime concert hall.

“It’s wonderful to imagine that someday a researcher or artist will say their work was created here.”

Throughout the summer, Tipula hosts events like sing-alongs and theater performances. The garden is open to visitors at those times.