Haaga Rhododendron Park Jun 7, 2022

Haaga Rhododendron Park

In early June, if it"s a "good" year, people in Western Helsinki get treated to bursts of color 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.

© Samuli Vainionpää/Getty Images

palette

Today in History

Jun 7, 2018Humpbacks return to the Inside Passage
Jun 7, 2019Holey moley–it’s National Doughnut Day!
Jun 7, 2020A hermitage with a view
Jun 7, 2021Dressed to impress
Jun 7, 2023Chaco Culture National Historical Park, New Mexico
Jun 7, 2024World Oceans Day
Jun 7, 2025National Trails Day

More Desktop Wallpapers:

Apr 2, 2019Books for children of all ages
May 21, 2023Pont dArcole over the Seine river, Paris, France
Jan 3, 2026J.R.R. Tolkien Day
Feb 18, 2020Too awesome to be a planet
Apr 25, 2025World Penguin Day
Sep 23, 2018Ahh-tumn
Jan 30, 2026St. Michaels Mount in Marazion, Cornwall, England
Nov 24, 2021Chocolate Hills
Apr 7, 2025Happy International Beaver Day!
Oct 18, 2018Fall comes to the Last Frontier
Nov 30, 2025Christmas market in Leipzig, Germany
Jun 28, 2022Tafilalet oasis in Morocco
Aug 25, 2020Punakaiki on South Island, New Zealand
Jan 6, 2025Flooded crypt, Basilica of San Francesco, Ravenna, Italy
Sep 7, 2023Camels in the desert, United Arab Emirates
May 10, 2019Looking back on 150 years of rail travel
May 25, 2020Here we mark the price of freedom
Oct 18, 2025Silbury Hill for International Archaeology Day
Jun 17, 2018Papa was a flightless bird
May 15, 2018Celebrating the UN’s International Day of Families
Jun 9, 2020Gem State views
Dec 14, 2020I see one!
Dec 24, 2021Smoking nights in Austria
Dec 21, 2024Happy winter solstice!
Sep 22, 2019Barcelona bids farewell to summer
Jun 25, 2022Brown bears, Katmai National Park and Preserve, Alaska
May 21, 2025International Tea Day
Dec 10, 2025Mosque-Cathedral of Córdoba, Andalusia, Spain
May 9, 2020Here’s looking at you, teachers
Apr 1, 2022April Fools Day