International Garden Show in Hamburg
International garden show in Hamburg
Around the world in 80 gardens
The Hamburg Garden Show is a blooming open-air exhibition boasting a huge variety of different gardens. The exhibition space, around the size of 100 football fields, is dedicated to a kaleidoscope of cultures and religions, as well as themes like environment and sustainability.
Green fingers create a sea of flowers
With pansies, forget-me-nots, and primroses, the gardeners can't fail to create a colorful diversity. Around 200,000 spring flowers have been planted for the 2.5 million expected visitors to enjoy.
Flower art
Gardeners, growers, and florists will compete for space in two large halls, where 25 flower shows will be on show. There are both artistic arrangements with classic roses and gerbera as well as exhibitions of more exotic flowers.
Working on the image
The garden show is also designed to show a different side to Wilhelmsburg, the Hamburg district otherwise known for its high unemployment and social problems. The area's paradoxical history has determined its appearance, marked by tower blocks, wasteland, and large main roads on the one hand, and idyllic canals and houses with thatched roofs on the other.
A green oasis
Wilhelmsburg boasts a multitude of allotment gardens that can be rented from the city for surprisingly little money. Many Hamburgers have invested a lot of time and effort in creating their own little green paradise in the city. Some of these oases can be seen at the garden show.
Run, climb, play
The theme of this year's garden show is "movement." Several new sports centers and a swimming pool have been built especially for the show. There is also a skate park and a "yoga walking garden."
The world from above
The garden show's high rope course reaches 11 meters high, and the wooden turtle pictured here belongs to the "Australia" section of the parcours. There also monkeys, cows, and rhinos to discover. Climbing fanatics might also want to clamber around in the specially built indoor climbing hall.
Floating above the flowers
Visitors who want to see the garden show from above but aren't keen on climbing can ride a train. The monorail track is three-and-a-half kilometers long and stops at four stations in the north, south, east, and west of the exhibition.
World of religion
A 5,000-square-meter section of the show has been dedicated to the five world religions. Christians, Jews, Muslims, Buddhists, and Hindus worked together here to create special exhibitions of their faiths. In the Buddhist garden, visitors can follow a meditation path that leads to trees wrapped in symbolic colors.
One Thousand and One Nights
Visitors can also visit sixteen gardens known as the "world of continents." Here, botanical and topographical features from various regions of the world are on display. The Middle East area includes a tent decorated with the night sky, where stories from One Thousand and One Nights can be heard.
Intergalactic garden
The garden show is not all about boulevards of roses, richly fragrant shrubs, and carefully tended beds of flowers. There is also an intergalactic garden with sculptures made from steel balls. Such startling features are all part of the concept of the exhibition, which is open until October 31.