Eucommia ulmoides - gutta-percha tree
DGGL, Bavaria South Regional Association: Here, gardening enthusiasm is a tradition.
The DGGL (German Society for Garden Art and Landscape Culture) is an all-German association that was founded in Dresden as early as 1887. One of its 17 regional associations, the Bavaria South regional association, donated a rubber elm (Euconnia ulmoides), also known as the Chinese gutta-percha tree, for the arboretum.
"We were looking for something special for the DGGL among the climate trees up for election. We didn't want a run-of-the-mill tree," says Wolfgang Niemeyer, the 1st chair of the Bavarian National Association. Niemeyer admits, of course, that all the trees in the arboretum were chosen with care and expertise. Accordingly, the DGGL trusts that its sponsor tree will also be able to withstand the changing climate.
Niemeyer took over the honorary position of first chair about six years ago. He has been a member of the board for more than ten years and a member of the traditional non-profit association for more than 35 years, which, as a professionally and party-politically neutral organisation, would be open to all interested parties. Wolfgang Niemeyer celebrated his 70th birthday in early summer 2021. He still works as a landscape architect and has written three reference books. As part of his association work, he organises specialist lectures or excursions, among other things. These include for example, visits to private gardens as well as guided tours through historic castle gardens. "Our most important goal is to get people excited about our subject," he explains.
Against this background, the DGGL has been committed to garden art and landscape culture in public and private spaces for 134 years. However, it is not only about preserving and developing parks and gardens, historic sites, and cultural and natural landscapes but also about investigating future urban spaces and forms of land use and paving the way for new green open spaces.
With an eye on young talent, the DGGL awards the Ulrich Wolf Prize every two years. It publishes the trade journal "Garten + Landschaft". Networking is also a primary theme of the association, which sees itself as a forum for information exchange and further education. Every year, it places its events, campaigns and projects under a unique motto. In 2020, it was "Garden and Music" - much to the delight of music lover Niemeyer, who composes himself. In 2021, the annual theme is "Garden and Climate Change". Prof. Michael Goecke drew the attention of the national association to the tree-planting campaign of the HSWT. Niemeyer explains: "Taking on a sponsorship in connection with this year's motto is a highly coherent, meaningful and sustainable association campaign - especially since lectures or excursions cannot take place in the usual framework due to the Corona.
"Perhaps", the chairman hopes, "the DGGL tree in the arboretum can also be an invitation to all garden art and landscape lovers, for we would be delighted to have our association work enriched by young experts and talents."
Distribution
South China
Size
15 to 20 metres high
Leaves
deciduous, alternate, elongated, 7 to 20 cm long, 3 to 7 cm wide
Flower
inconspicuous, dioecious
Fruit
one-seeded, elliptical, elongated nutlets; winged
