Tour 1: Experience garden empires

This tour takes you to some truly extraordinary gardens. Maybe you can get some new ideas, talk shop a little about tips and tricks or simply enjoy the beauty of nature.

The stops:

■ Rosenkranzgarten Rieste-Lage
The interior of the future Rosenkranzgarten location was redesigned between 1994 and 1995. A classical single square garden was integrated into the orchard. Shrub roses, climbing roses, lavender and sage blossoms now shape the garden. 15 wayside shrines, surrounded by roses, are reminiscent of the secrets of the rosary. They are additionally honoured with devotions in May and October. Opening hours: freely accessible: Cath. church "St. John the Baptist", Lage 7, 49597 Rieste

■ Rhodes Heuerhaus garden
Heuerhaus was built in 1627 and lovingly restored by the Rhode family in 1982. The typical cottage garden with 100 year old oak trees was also lavishly designed and planted with the characteristic shaped yews, round box trees and circular shrubs. A special eye catcher is the pavilion that is entwined with pink climbing roses. Visitors of the garden can sit down in Heuerhaus Café to enjoy tasty cake and a nice cup of coffee. Opening hours: Wed to Sun or by appointment, freely accessible
Admission: free
Address: Café "Rhodes Heuerhaus", Große Wittefelder Ort 10, 49597 Rieste, Tel. +49 (0)5464 5468

■ Show garden by Silke Schwarz
The markedly symmetrical and geometrical layout is interspersed with lush plants, particularly shrubs. A mixture of ornamental and crop plants reminds visitors of cottage gardens. The designer created an accessible garden so she would be able to enjoy and care for it from her wheelchair. Opening hours: May to October with telephone agreement Admission: free
Address: Planungsbüro Silke Schwarz, Am Kloster 2a (in the former Malgarten monastery), 49565 Bramsche - Malgarten,
Tel. +49 (0)5461 969 77 50

■ Rose garden by Marlis Mörker
The tranquil corners of this garden serves as a source of inspiration for Marlis Mörker’s paintings. The artist is especially taken by roses and loves to exhibit her watercolours and their natural models in the garden.
Opening hours: From May to September, by appointment, admission: free
Address: Theo.-Heuss-Ring 11, 49565 Bramsche

■ Garden at the memorial
The beautiful park on Bramsche mountain invites you to linger and rest. The memorial with its lavishly designed garden was built dedicated to the memory of the victims of the war and provides a wonderful view of Bramsche from the tower.

Duration: . . . . . . . . . . . 10 hours
Distance: . . . . . . . . . . . 41 km
Start and finish: . . . . Alfsee-Center
Way there: Alfsee Center
Way there: . . . . . . . . . . Rieste – Malgarten – Kalkriese
Way back: . . . . . . . . Kalkriese – Lappenstuhl – Rieste