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1262
1900
Frederik
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Frederik2025-06-25 14:12:062025-06-30 11:29:23A Postcard From @annakubelTucked away on a historic farmstead north of Stockholm, Swedish creative Anna Kubel lives a life steeped in nature, nostalgia and quiet beauty. In this edition of A Postcard From, Anna opens the gate to her garden and shares what summer means to her – from barefoot mornings and midsummer rituals to evenings in the outdoor kitchen and the comforting rhythm of growing, harvesting and gathering. Read on for a gentle glimpse into a season shaped by simplicity, creativity and connection.
Anna in her garden.
Could you introduce yourself and tell us a bit about your world?
I live in Norrtälje, about 45 minutes north of Stockholm. Home is an old farmhouse from 1790, where I live with my daughters Hollie (11) and Bianca (7), our dog Lucy, a few cats and three ponies.
I work as a creative and photographer, and I’m part of the creative team at Florea. All of my work revolves around creativity – which is both a joy and a challenge. That’s why my home is such a vital part of the process. I find that I’m often at my most inspired when I’m simply at home with a free day ahead of me.
I’m deeply affected by my surroundings – they need to inspire me. That’s why our home and garden are essential to my work. It’s the foundation for everything creative I do.
Anna Kubel
What inspires you in your work and in your way of living with nature and aesthetics around you?
I’m deeply affected by my surroundings – they need to inspire me. That’s why our home and garden are essential to my work. It’s the foundation for everything creative I do. I love gardening and spending time outdoors. Whether I’m tending to seedlings or planting something in one of the greenhouses, that time means everything. Even though it’s technically work, I try to treat it as a hobby too – that’s when I feel most recharged creatively.
Cradling armfuls of soft blush peonies beneath the greenhouse light.
The view from Anna’s window, with homegrown vegetables safe inside.
What does summer mean to you?
I love summer – it’s definitely my favourite season. I love the greenery, the light, and the long hours outdoors.
What feelings does the season awaken in you?
Summer fills me with joy. It’s often the small, everyday things that make me happiest – the green view from the windows, flowers in full bloom, or setting the garden table for dinner. Just thinking about it makes me giddy.
What scents, sounds or sights do you associate with a perfect summer day?
Strawberry cake, evening swims in the lake below our house, a warm pony grazing in the field, armfuls of flowers and late sunsets.
The view from Anna’s window, with homegrown vegetables safe inside.
What does summer mean to you?
I love summer – it’s definitely my favourite season. I love the greenery, the light, and the long hours outdoors.
What feelings does the season awaken in you?
Summer fills me with joy. It’s often the small, everyday things that make me happiest – the green view from the windows, flowers in full bloom, or setting the garden table for dinner. Just thinking about it makes me giddy.
What scents, sounds or sights do you associate with a perfect summer day?
Strawberry cake, evening swims in the lake below our house, a warm pony grazing in the field, armfuls of flowers and late sunsets.
Are there any rituals or traditions you return to each summer?
Midsummer is a beloved tradition. The evening before, we always gather flowers and make crowns. Then we spend the day with friends, food, swimming and games.
What does your ideal summer day look like – alone or with loved ones?
I prefer to stay home during the summer. I love the season here on the farm and rarely want to leave it. An ideal day starts with a cosy breakfast, doors wide open, and the children running back and forth between houses in the village. If it’s warm, we swim; if not, I’ll spend the day pottering in the garden – there’s always something to tend to. In the evening, I love cooking something delicious in our outdoor kitchen.
Anna is harvesting summer’s bounty, one leaf and bloom at a time.
Are there any rituals or traditions you return to each summer?
Midsummer is a beloved tradition. The evening before, we always gather flowers and make crowns. Then we spend the day with friends, food, swimming and games.
What does your ideal summer day look like – alone or with loved ones?
I prefer to stay home during the summer. I love the season here on the farm and rarely want to leave it. An ideal day starts with a cosy breakfast, doors wide open, and the children running back and forth between houses in the village. If it’s warm, we swim; if not, I’ll spend the day pottering in the garden – there’s always something to tend to. In the evening, I love cooking something delicious in our outdoor kitchen.
Harvesting summer’s bounty, one leaf and bloom at a time.
A summer table somewhere in Norrtälje.
Your outdoor life looks almost fairytale-like – how do you use the garden in summer?
In summer, the garden becomes a natural extension of our home. We move furniture outside and eat nearly every meal in the open air.
What do you enjoy most about time spent in your garden?
The simple joy of harvesting homegrown vegetables and making a lovely meal. Nothing beats a sun-warmed tomato from the greenhouse or bringing in a big bouquet of flowers for the table – that’s pure happiness for me.
How do you hold on to that summer feeling as the season begins to turn?
I try to stretch summer out through September – sometimes the flowers are at their very best then. This is also the time of year when I harvest most of the vegetables. Of course, there’s always a hint of sadness when we begin to move indoors again, but I do love the late summer and early autumn too.
Do you bring in certain elements to keep the summer mood alive – like flowers, textiles, candlelight or garden meals?
Yes, and I try to continue gardening and eating outdoors as long as the weather allows.
A handful of green serenity – freshly gathered, gently held.
A quiet summer ritual: slicing, seasoning, savouring.
Your tablescapes and garden picnics are so special. What’s important to you when setting a table under the open sky?
I adore picnics. I like to keep things simple – a soft blanket, something tasty like a nice cheese, bread, fruit or berries, and a good drink. Everything just tastes better when eaten on a blanket in the grass.
Do you have any specific rituals or details you always return to? How do you think about mood, colours and materials?
It’s all about feeling – making it soft, easy and beautiful with very little.
Bringing nature’s beauty home in the slumbering summer evening.
Are there certain flowers or plants you grow every year without fail?
I love experimenting with new varieties, but I always return to cosmos, nasturtiums, sunflowers, sweet peas, delphiniums and poppies.
What do they mean to you – aesthetically or emotionally?
They bloom generously, they’re beautiful in the garden and perfect for cutting. They also come in so many colours and forms – there’s always room to play.
How do you work with flowers in the garden – and do you bring them indoors?
Yes, absolutely. I grow a lot of flowers both in the garden and inside. Some summer flowers I grow in pots on the windowsills, like nasturtiums or even cucumbers that climb up the panes – I find that incredibly charming.
How does nature inspire your work?
The seasons play a huge role in my work, especially since I do a lot of photography outdoors. It’s not always easy – you can’t control the weather – but when everything aligns, when the light and the atmosphere are just right, that’s when the magic happens. I think I appreciate summer even more because of the long, dark winters.
If you were to describe a perfect summer day in your garden – how would it unfold from morning to night?
Every day begins with feeding the horses and letting them out into their pasture. I cherish that quiet moment with them – it only takes 15–20 minutes, but it’s always a lovely start to the day.
Then we eat breakfast outside in the outdoor kitchen. The children pick raspberries and blackberries to go with their breakfast – I think that’s so cosy. After breakfast, I walk around the garden, checking on things, picking some flowers and maybe watering. Then we go for a swim – the children could stay in the water for hours. Lunch is usually pancakes, and the girls get to choose the toppings. I love mine with butter, lemon and sugar.
On a free day, I like having a little project to work on – maybe planting something or doing something creative. Then I go for a jog in the forest while Hollie rides one of the ponies. We finish the day with a lovely meal in the evening sun.
Childhood magic, hoof by barefoot step – a quiet bond on a golden path.
Harvest in the hush – where light and flavour meet.
And if you invited friends for dinner in the garden – what would you serve?
I love serving small dishes to share – good cuts of meat, fresh vegetables, delicious salads, and lots of dips and sauces for dunking. And of course, a few great cheeses. That’s my favourite kind of dinner.
Feeling inspired by Anna’s world?
Follow her creative journey on Instagram @annakubel for a deeper glimpse into her floral-filled farmhouse life, everyday garden rituals and beautifully styled moments – and gather ideas to bring a little more nature, light and joy into your own surroundings.
More moods from Annas world below…
Words: Bergs Potter & Anna Kubel. Photos: Anna Kubel
We are always curious and eager to learn how and what you grow in your corner of the world – and not at least how you are living with Bergs Potter. Please share your experience by tagging us on Instagram or Pinterest; #livingwithBergs, #bergspotter.
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