The Carmelite Monastery receives the 2020 Cleanliness Award

The beauty game honoured in Hafnarfjörður

The Carmelite Monastery at Ölduslóð received the 2020 Tidiness Award, which was presented at a ceremony at the Þöll Nursery at the weekend. Nine homeowners received awards for beautiful and well-maintained gardens, and of these, two gardens received a special commendation as they are among the first gardens to be ready in Skarðshlíð, Hafnarfjörður's newest housing estate. Sólgarður at Óseyrarbraut 27b received an award for being the tidiest business garden. Sólgarður features a diverse selection of plants and various types of slabs and stones, which is a particularly welcome sight in an otherwise grey area. It also boasts a beautiful view over both Hvaleyri and the lón.

Birkiberg is the star-studded street for the second time – consensus on tidiness not a given

This year's Star Street is Birkiberg. It is a particular pleasure to drive along this beautiful street in Setberg and see how well the residents work together to maintain the gardens, as this street was also chosen as a Star Street in 2007. Wherever you look, the tidiness is exemplary, the planting is varied, and the entire street scene is truly beautiful. There are many beautiful gardens on this street, and one of them is also receiving an award this year. It is not a given that residents will pull together so well, but the residents of Birkiberg deserve praise for their unity and for being a fantastic example to others.

The honorary shield is awarded to the Carmelite Monastery in Hafnarfjörður.

In 1939, Dutch Carmelite nuns founded a convent in Hafnarfjörður, but in 1984, Carmelite nuns from Poland took over the convent, and there are twelve of them today. In the cloister garden, there is a lovely garden which the nuns have more or less created themselves. In the middle of the garden is Mount Carmel, which is in Palestine. It was on this mountain that the settlement of hermits began, who lived according to an organised rule that was the beginning of the order as it is today. Carmel means 'garden'. In the 13th century, the Carmelite Order spread throughout Europe. The sisters brought innovations in vegetable cultivation to the country, initially growing varieties of vegetables that few people in Hafnarfjörður had seen, as at that time potatoes and turnips were mainly grown here.

A particular ideology is clearly evident in the garden, but it provides a sanctuary for each and every nun, along with small chapels. A great sense of peace and tranquillity rests over this beautiful cloister garden, and it is admirable to see how much diligence it has taken to bring this garden to fruition. There is great diversity in the trees and plants, alongside the cultivation of vegetables and berry bushes for their own use. Strawberries can also be found there, and their greenhouse grows grapes and fruit trees. It is clear to everyone what a great impact the nuns at Ölduslóð have had on our community here in Hafnarfjörður. They have been woven into our culture and lives for almost 80 years. They dedicate their lives to the faith in Jesus Christ, and our town has held a special place in their hearts. This is something to be thankful for, and it is with great joy that the City of Hafnarfjörður presents the Carmelite Sisters with this year's honour shield.

An overview of the most beautiful and well-kept gardens of 2020

The most beautiful and tidiest gardens in Hafnarfjörður 2020 are as follows, and we have included the review written for each garden.

Blómvellir 13

The garden is considered exceptionally beautiful and has been so for many years. The approach to the house is open and welcomes visitors and passers-by. The design is modern, featuring extensive paved areas with beautiful furniture, potted plants, lovely urns and cut flowers in vases. Everywhere you look, tidiness is a priority, and the owners have also taken care of their immediate surroundings, which are an excellent example. This is an exceptionally beautiful garden in a new neighbourhood in the town.

Clock Rock 1a

When the town's reporter entered this garden in heavy rain, the tidiness immediately caught the eye. The pathway to the house was so neat, with a variety of plants in raised beds, that it was easy to forget where you were in the rain. In front of the entrance door were pots with beautiful plants, and upon entering the garden, it was immediately apparent that the owners were clearly passionate about making their garden beautiful and keeping it tidy. The seating areas were varied, with grass, paving stones, gravel and wooden walkways, and there were influences from Japanese gardens, where simplicity is the guiding principle and natural materials are used in the design. This is certainly a good place to do some yoga exercises.

North Wing 29

In the North End, this beautiful garden lies, which is exceptionally tidy and beautifully maintained. Amongst lava mounds and craters, a diverse range of plants has been planted, a pond created, and it is easy to find peace and comfort in sitting down and enjoying the proximity to the lava fields and cliffs. The seating areas are beautiful and tidy, and it is clear that a lot of hard work has gone into it, as you can also find a very impressive vegetable patch. There are also free-range chickens who clearly seem to be very well looked after. The garden is a lovely place to visit and experience the passion for gardening that shines through.

Birkiberg 42

The entrance immediately caught the eye. Cobblestones at the property boundary with beautiful roses and other plants. The paving slabs had just been swept and the lawn was particularly beautiful, as the edges had been neatly trimmed, allowing the plants to flourish on the lawn. Upon entering the garden, the immaculate tidiness was immediately apparent; the entire decking area was exemplary and well-maintained. The gravel was particularly beautiful, and a variety of plants had been placed here that blend in well with the surroundings. Flowers in pots and planters add a lovely splash of colour against the grey gravel.

37 Austurgata

This is a beautiful gem in the old town, surrounded by cliffs and lava outcrops. A wonderfully beautiful adventure garden that has been a pleasure to visit on the 17th of June, as the owners have been so generous in inviting visitors to come into this garden. There is a wonderful synergy between nature and the man-made environment, as the lava plays a significant part in the garden's success. A small greenhouse, complete with a shower head emerging from the rock, is part of this enchanted world.

40 Austurgata

A magnificent garden where all maintenance is exemplary; the plants are well cared for, all the beds are tidy and all the edges are neatly trimmed in straight lines. This is one of the most beautiful gardens in the town, along with the house itself. The owners have clearly taken great care of both the house and garden, and it shows. Exceptional tidiness and ambition are evident in everything seen here. This garden is like a park and is a great credit to the town.

Middle Row 102

A very beautiful garden in the North End. The entrance garden is large, with an exceptionally beautiful lawn, low-growing plants and amusing figures by the street that greet passers-by. The immaculate presentation is complemented by a beautiful back garden, which features an extensive collection of roses alongside a sheltered seating area with furniture and planters. A small birdhouse in the tall trees with a feeding bowl attracts the small birds. The flower pots are designed by the housewife and make the garden even more delightful.

Malarskarð 13-15

It is with great pleasure that these two semi-detached gardens are recognised, as they are a mirror image of each other and therefore identical. A really lovely young garden where young people have taken great pride in creating a beautiful garden around their house. There are seating areas with a hot tub, beautiful planting and a lovely wall that blends in well with its surroundings. This garden receives a special commendation as it is one of the first to be completed in this newest neighbourhood of Hafnarfjörður, thus providing inspiration and encouragement to its neighbours.

Selection for the Beauty Pageant is based entirely on submitted nominations.

The selection for the Tidy Town is based entirely on nominations from residents and friends of Hafnarfjörður, and nominations were open all summer. A large number of suggestions were received this summer, and it is clear that the people of Hafnarfjörður have been enjoying their homes and tidying up their local surroundings.

We sincerely congratulate the residents and owners of these gardens on their recognition!