About 20 minutes outside of Cologne, Germany, in the quaint little town of Weilerswist, we spent 4 days with my cousin and her husband.
He is an avid gardener, and has a beautiful garden We spent many hours on their lovely patio, taking in the view (and a little wine, and sauerbraten and herring salad and lots of other yummy traditional fare.)
While walking around the area, we saw many gorgeous gardens. I was surprised to find that most of the plants were actually familiar.
Their gardening style is quite different, and the gardens don’t look much like mine or my neighbors’, but I do know and grow most of the plants that I saw there.
Even though I am back home again, I thought I’d share with you a little sampling of my German garden tour!
Now that you’ve wandered through with me, do you recognize all of these — are you growing any of them in your garden today?
What a great trip you had! It makes me want to jump on a plane and travel these little towns and cities in Germany. My maiden name is Luther so there must be German there somewhere! I have many of the same flowers although the lupins are long gone. the balloon flowers are blooming though! Thank you for the tour!
Yes, these all look familiar and some I have in my garden. It looks like a beautiful garden to sit in and relax and enjoy.
Carol, May Dreams Gardens
I recognize most of these flowers from Wisconsin gardens. I always heard that WI had a lot of German settlers because the land and climate reminded them of home, but I never really believed it until I was in Germany. It felt very familiar to me in those ways.
How would you say that the garden styles are different? From my recollection, I’d guess that the biggest difference was in an informal lushness that you can’t really find in Texas except during a rainy spring.
I’m loving your Germany pictures, Diana– thanks for sharing! 😀
Layanee — It was a great trip. We saw some many beautiful things. I’m sure your roots are there with a name like Luther!
Carol – Having similar things in our gardens reminds me of what a small world it really is, after all.
Lori – There is a large population of Germans here in Central Texas,too – we even go to a Wurstfest (Oktoberfest)about an hour from Austin in the Fall. The gardens there are more of a English or cottage style, I guess, and smaller, but so layered with lots of things squeezed in there!
Lovely flowers – and yes, I grow some (rudbeckia, liatris and buddleia). I know you had a good time visiting and seeing the gardens. It makes me want to take a European garden tour. Someday . . . .
Kim – I know – I would love to take an English garden tour – specifically focused on that. Now that would be so fun!