Country Garden

Last Saturday was warm and sunny. I know I say that often enough, but it seems that when we get warm and sunny here in Bremen, wet and gray soon follows and then warm and sunny is suddenly a faded memory. So you understand why when we get the warm and sunny part, we head out-of-doors! Saturday, it was a bike trip to the area of Elsfleth, about 25 k from here - so a relatively easy 50 k round trip.

We'd heard about this private garden that is open to visitors in the summer. And they sell a few plants as well. It is just far enough to be a good trip but not tooo far. So after the morning market, off we went.

Along the way we saw a "structure" in the fields. What in the world? It reminded me of a high school football stadium, but as we got closer, I recognized it - it'll be the framework for a solar array. Out in cow country. Very cool and very green.

And we saw cows,too. They're happy to be out in the pastures after a long winter indoors. The folks in the background are happy to be outdoors, too - cooling their toes in the stream. On a warmer day, they'd for sure be swimming.

Just before arriving at the garden we ran into a Floh Markt - Flea Market! Gotta stop. Don't gotta buy. This place was chock full of nothing that we wanted, but it interesting to look at anyway.

Finally to the garden. It's a perennial garden arranged around a wonderfully restored and maintained farmhouse. It's still a bit early to see all of what's in bloom, but we had more than an impression of the wonders of it - hostas and columbine and peonies and roses and so many other plants I recognize but can't name. It is clearly a labor of love.

After some coffee and Butterkuchen we headed back home. The view of Vegesack from the other side of the Weser is lovely and, to my eye, always welcoming.

And perhaps because it was such a lovely day, and the weekend, and it's a tourist area, we saw something new to us, someone on a horse-drawn tour of the harbor. I wonder if I need to try that someday!