This weekend marks this years annual Planzentage, or plant festival, in the city Stadtpark of Hannover. Every year, for one weekend in May, over one hundred specialist plant suppliers, farmers and companies from all over Germany congregate in Hannover to present their products. Having just spent an enjoyable day at the festival, I wanted to write an account of my experience!
You might think that an event like this is really only for serious gardeners or plant buffs. I can tell you that I am neither, I really don't know very much about plants at all, but it was still a fantastic day! Firstly the location in the city park is really beautiful, and on a gorgeous May day like today, it is really the ONLY place to be in Hannover! The plant festival takes up one large section of the park, but the rest of the area is really nice to just lounge in for a while and sun bathe. I would also say that this aspect makes it a great place to bring kids too - plenty of room to run around and play.
There is really every kind of plant and herb that you could possibly imagine available to see and buy at the festival. I saw so many that I had never heard of, including 'Orange Thyme', 'After 8 Mint', 'Hot and Spicy Oregano', 'Cola Plant' and more varieties of Tomatoes than I could count or knew even existed! Whether you like flowers, vegetables, herbs, succulents - there is definitely a lot to see, and the smells that engulf you as you walk around are really incredible too. I ended up coming away from the festival with a 'Lemon Verbena', 'Bay Leaf Plant', 'Lemon Thyme' and 'Lovage'.
Rucola/Rocket/Arugula
Chili Habeneros
Peppers
Lemons and Oranges
Beautiful Roses
It is definitely worth mentioning too that the hosts of each stall are extremely nice and helpful - they are very happy to advise you on which plant to get, and how to care for it. There generally seems to be a lot of conversation going around between customers and stall owners.
I was particularly interested to learn about the 'Venus Flytrap' and 'Pitcher Plants'. The 'Venus Flytrap' is a small plant in a kind of taco shape with hairs on the outside. On the inside, the plant produces a sticky nectar which is very attractive to flies, and when a fly accidentally nudges one of the plant's hairs while going for the nectar, a trigger sets the plant to snap shut, trapping the fly inside. The plant then stays like that for about 10 days, until it opens again the waits for it's next victim. The 'Pitcher Plant' has a similar use, except that it can also trap larger slugs and snails. You might recognise the tall tube shape of the plant. Inside the tube is also this sticky nectar which is so attractive to the insects and animals, whose sorry destiny is to fall down the tube. I guess these plants, which actually look very interesting, would be perfect for anyone with a fly problem at home! It is so interesting that these are plants that effectively eat meat, just as we are animals that eat plants!
Venus Flytrap
Pitcher Plant
Along with all the plant stalls, you can also find seed-selling stalls, where you can simply buy packets of seeds to plant if you prefer that. Also, it would not be a German event without a 'würstchen' stall! There are lots of snack and ice-cream vendors, and many picnic tables to sit down and have a rest during your visit.
Some practicalities
Admission to the festival is 4 Euros (Children under 14 go free).
Opening hours are 10-17h.
If you plan to buy several plants it might be worth bringing a basket or wheelbarrow - I noticed many people there had a cart of some sort to transport their purchases. I made do with the bags provided by the individual stalls, but would consider bringing my own basket next year.
Coffee Plant
Labels: Culture, Travel
