Introduction

The 2022 Home Garden Conference will take us to Munich, Germany on 31st August - 1st September.

Invitation

Grüß Gott!
We are delighted to invite you to the 2022 Home Garden Conference, which will take place on 31st August and 1st September in the surroundings of Munich, Germany. The two-day programme provides an excellent opportunity to discover the latest trends in home gardening around the main theme 'Small Space Gardening' and to catch up with your industry colleagues. In close collaboration with Herbert Wehrle, Vice-Chair of the Fleuroselect Home Gardening Business Unit (B.U.), and Ralf Schräder of Graines Voltz, the programme has been carefully compiled to include a number of industry-leading speakers and company visits. 

Should you have any questions about the Home Garden Conference, please contact us at the Fleuroselect Secretariat.

We hope that you can join us for what promises to be an informative and exciting Home Garden Conference, and look forward to welcoming you to the surroundings of Munich!

 

Preliminary Programme

31st August 

09.30	Welcome and coffee for early arrivals at hotel
10.00	Opening & introduction theme ‘Gardening in Small Spaces’ Moderator: Herbert Wehrle, Vice-Chair B.U. Home Gardening
10.05	Update on Plant of the Year Speaker: Simon Crawford, Chairman B.U. Home Gardening
10.15	Presentation 1: ‘The German pictorial packet market: trends & customer profiles’ Speaker: Rolf Pohlen, Purchasing Manager Bruno Nebelung
10.40	Presentation 2: ‘Biodiversity in urban areas - Evaluation of perennials and ornamental plants for pollinators’ Speaker: Vera Joedecke, LVG | State Horticultural College and Research Institute Heidelberg
11.30	Coffee break
11.50	Presentation 3: 'Urban gardening in Bavaria: public initiatives to support home gardening in small spaces' Speaker: Florian Demling, The Bavarian State department for Agriculture
12.30	Presentation 4: ‘Weihenstephan University: institute, activities and unique relationship with local gardeners’ Speaker: Katrin Kell, Weihenstephan University
13.00	Lunch at hotel
14.00	Departure for Weihenstephan University
14.15	Arrival at Weihenstephan University
14.30	Welcome by Katrin Kell | Division into groups
14.40	Guided Tour 1 | Trial Garden or Allotment Garden
15.20	Guided Tour 2 | Trial Garden or Allotment Garden
16.00	Refreshments
16.30	Individual visit to specific areas of interest in the trial or allotment garden
17.00	Bus to Weihenstephan city centre
17.15	Walk along city gardens ‘Oberdieckgarten & Hofgarten'
18.00	Arrival at Brauhaus Weihenstephan
18.15	Drinks & Bites
19.00	Networking Dinner
21.30	Bus to hotel

 1st September

08.30	Departure for Pflanzen Kölle, Munich
09.30	Welcome by Herr Widmann, General Manager, Frau Rothhaar, Sustainability Manager and Herr Joas, Manager Pflanzen Kölle
09.50	Split in groups for visits to garden center and nursery
10.00	Guided Tour 1 | Garden Center or Nursery
10.30	Guided Tour 2 | Garden Center or Nursery
11.00	Individual coffee break in garden center & time for individual visit to garden center
12.00	Departure for hotel
13.00	Lunch at hotel
14.00	End

 

Highlights

Morning Presentations

The conference will kick off with an introduction to the theme of 'Small-Space Gardening' by Herbert Wehrle, followed by an update on the Plant of the Year from Simon Crawford, Chairman of the Home Gardening B.U. Subsequently, Rolf Pohlen from Bruno Nebelung will cover trends and customer profiles in the German pictorial packet market. Representing the State Horticultural College and Research Institute Heidelberg, Vera Joedecke will present the results of her research into biodiversity in the city, focussing on the pollinator friendliness of annuals and perennials in an urban context. After the coffee break, Florian Demling from the Bavarian State Department for Agriculture will inform us on the latest public initiatives to support community gardens and home gardening in small spaces. Finally, Katrin Kell from Weihenstephan University will introduce this educational institute, its industry-related activities and the unique relationship it maintains with the local hobby gardeners. 

Visit to Weihenstephan University

After lunch, we will head out to visit Weihenstephan University. Upon arrival, we will split up in groups for a guided tour of both the trial garden and the allotment garden. 

The trial garden, established in 1947, covers an area of more than five hectares and is used to test trees and shrubs, herbaceous perennials and new varieties of rose in terms of their practical use. An important aspect is planting herbaceous perennials in ecologically harmonious and aesthetically pleasing combinations in ways that suit local conditions. Especially for our visit, the Weihenstephan university will grow various varieties of Salvia to inspire our delegation to include our '2023, Year of the Salvia' project in the marketing plans. 

In the allotment garden, the focus is on cultivation of vegetables and herbs being grown in a range of both tried-and-tested and new varieties. From classic vegetables and raised beds to horizontally constructed container systems with a diverse range of plants which can even be found on small balconies and terraces. Within the framework of our '2022, Year of the Basil' initiative, the Weihenstephan university will grow over 40 basil varieties for us to admire and taste. 

After the coffee break, time has been allocated for personal visits to areas in the trial garden and the allotment garden that are of individual interest.

Short stroll along city gardens ‘Oberdieckgarten & Hofgarten‘ & Dinner at Brauhaus Weihenstephan

A short bus ride takes us from Weihenstephan University to the center of Freising, where we will stroll through the Oberdieckgarten, along the Hofgarten and on to our dinner venue. At the Weihenstephan State Brewery, the oldest brewery in the world, we will enjoy a traditional beer followed by dinner with local specialities. 

Visit to Pflanzen Kölle

Following a good night’s rest, the second day of the conference takes us to garden center Pflanzen Kölle in Munich. Pflanzen Kölle is a garden centre with history that dates back to 1818. Over the past 200+ years, this family business has progressed to a chain of garden centers with 13 locations and two owned nurseries across Germany. They pride themselves on the highest quality standards, responsible entrepreneurship and successful innovations and are considered a pioneer in organic cultivation while supporting reduced-pesticide cultivation.

Upon arrival, we will be welcomed by Mr. Widmann (General Manager), Mrs. Rothhaar (Sustainability Manager)  and Mr. Joas (Branch Manager) at Pflanzen Kölle Munich. After splitting into groups again, we will receive guided tours in both the garden center and the nursery. Some time has been scheduled for individual visits to the garden center, after which we will head back to the hotel for lunch and closure of the conference.

Hotel

Located in the Bavarian town of Freising, the Munich Airport Marriott Hotel is easily accessible by means of a complementary shuttle to and from Munich Airport. A group rate has been secured at Eur 99,- per night based on single occupancy and including breakfast. You are kindly requested to book your room directly with the hotel.

Costs

Conference:

The participation fee of EUR 295 for members and EUR 475 for non-members includes all logistics (meals and transport), for which you will receive an invoice after registration. You are requested to register your attendance below.  

Hotel: 

For this event, we have secured a room allotment for EUR 99,- per room/per night, breakfast included. We kindly invite you to reserve your room via the dedicated pages on the hotel website.