Catalpa speciosa - Magnificent Trumpet Tree
Creativity and commitment to Landscape Architecture - and to HSWT: Rolf Lynen
Rolf Lynen is a landscape architect with heart and soul. At almost 70 years of age, he still works three days a week at the landscape architecture firm Lynen & Dittmar. But his commitment extends far beyond his profession: for more than 30 years now, he has supported the students, research activities and projects as chair of the Friends of the University of Applied Sciences Weihenstephan-Triesdorf. In the arboretum, he sponsors a trumpet tree (Catalpa speciosa).
"It was important to me that the tree had a beautiful blossom, a beautiful growth character," he says in conversation, and you can directly sense the love of nature that drives him. That he came to Freising in 1973 to study landscape management at the then Weihenstephan University of Applied Sciences also had a bit to do with his love of nature, he says. As an enthusiastic alpinist, he has always been more drawn to the mountains than the sea. Being able to experience nature and especially the change of seasons in it is a memorable experience for him.
Today, Freising is home for the native of North Rhine-Westphalia - also because he met his wife here during his studies and now has children and grandchildren. He also feels at home at the University of Applied Sciences Weihenstephan-Triesdorf: "Studying at Weihenstephan has brought me so much personally, so many wonderful experiences, so many friends, that I would like to give something back," he explains his grand commitment. "When I started, there were only three or four degree programmes. Today, there are almost 30, and I am grateful to be able to accompany this development." The University of Applied Sciences is dedicated to highly topical issues and is very progressive in its orientation. It wants to and can make a difference in the future. The sympathetic sponsor, a part-time lecturer at the University of Applied Sciences from 1983 to 1994, is convinced of this. In 2019, he was one of only five dignitaries in the 50-year history of the university to be awarded the honorary senatorship of the HSWT.
The HSWT, but also his field of expertise, will become increasingly important in the long term concerning the topic of climate change. This is also shown by the current Corona situation, in which people depend on well-planned and designed green spaces, especially in the city. He cites the newly renovated Südpark in Munich as an example. It is hoped that the enthusiastic landscape architect will be able to contribute his design qualities, creativity and experience to similar projects for a long time. The ideas for this often arise on relaxed walks with his Labrador dog Paula in the Freising hinterland. Paula is lying snorkelling with him in the office when we end our conversation. She is getting on a bit, says Rolf Lynen. He, however, is the best example of how much verve and commitment one can fill one's life even in old age - and enrich the lives of others with it.
Distribution: North America, alluvial along river and stream banks in northern Illinois and Indiana, further in western Kentucky, Tennessee, southeastern Missouri and northeastern Arkansas.
Size: 15 to 20 metres high
Leaves: heart-shaped, dark green 15 - 25 cm long
Flower: white, 16 cm wide panicles
Fruit: long, narrow legume, up to 50 cm long
