Heidrun’s Garden
The garden was not planned in its entire scope, rather it grew by
adding planting after planting. When we acquired the property in 1972, it was
covered in meter-high weeds, forsythias, kerria, small fir trees and wild
blackberries. Parts were so water clogged, drainage had to be layed. The first
planting was a bed of then called 'modern' roses, partly to introduce some
flowers but also to stop the boys from following a ball and possibly falling
down onto the road. The thorns of the roses fulfilled this function perfectly.
To later underplant the roses making the bed less sterile was a first step in
development. Even though the roses of that time were not particularly healthy,
some are still there to mark the beginning. Over time the plantings grew as the
grassy areas became smaller, plants were divided to fill other corners. With the
experience came the knowledge to see the garden more critically, the time of
replanting had started. Physical energy becoming more limited now, allows for
the insight to grow that not all deviations from the ideal have to be acted upon
with the immediate fetching of the spade. That maybe it's time for a cup of tea
on the garden bench.
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In 2005 the Migros chose it as the most beautiful garden in Switzerland. The
Swiss magazine SCHWEIZER GARTEN featured it in its June 2011 issue.