In Gütersloh district lies the captivating OWL Garden-Paradise, where a 53-year-old individual realizes a lifelong ambition.
In the heart of a residential area in Steinhagen, Germany, lies a 660 square meter plot that Petra Bach, a 53-year-old hobby gardener, calls her "little paradise."
Petra's love for gardening began with visits to Dutch garden markets with a friend. She finds inspiration for her garden in specialist magazines, Pinterest, and other gardens, particularly in Holland.
Her garden is a testament to her creativity and dedication. The terrace, previously made of washed concrete slabs, was not a reflection of her vision. Petra transformed it into a welcoming space by replacing the slabs with wooden decking.
The garden is a vibrant mix of plants, from heat-tolerant perennials and hydrangea arborescens to a variety of fruit, vegetables, and herbs. Among the greenery, Petra has a hydrangea variety called Limelight and Vanille-Fraise. Despite the sandy soil, she has a raised bed behind her 1970s bungalow where she grows cucumbers, salads, and zucchinis.
One unique feature of Petra's garden is a small fountain that bubbles beside the terrace, creating a decelerating sound along with the buzzing bees.
However, Petra's garden is not without its challenges. Last year, it was infested with box tree moth caterpillars, a nuisance for boxwood lovers. To combat this, Petra uses a biological preparation called Xentari. Effective methods to control box tree moth infestations include using pheromone traps, applying biological controls such as nematodes, and employing insecticides like Bacillus thuringiensis kurstaki (Btk) or targeted soaps.
Petra prunes her hydrangeas back a bit in spring. Despite the setbacks, her garden continues to thrive, with a hibiscus that has been growing since before the house purchase.
In the evenings, Petra uses spotlights to set her garden in scene, with the shrubs framing it in sweeping lines, an olive tree in the middle of the lawn, and a boxwood hedge surrounding the round bed.
Petra's garden is a testament to her love for gardening and her dedication to creating a beautiful, thriving space in her "little paradise."
Petra's garden, a reflection of her devotion and creativity, showcases her love for gardening within the realms of home-and-garden and lifestyle. The world of gardening inspires her, from Dutch garden markets to specialist magazines, Pinterest, and other gardens, with a particular affinity for those in Holland.
