Zelkova serrata - Japanese Zelkova

This life first took him abroad in 1961 - as a resident landscape architect in the Bahamas. During his studies, he received a grant for talented students of German Agriculture, Arno Sighart Schmid explains. His commitment abroad allowed him to quickly repay the "student debt". The couple married in 1963, and he brought his wife to live with him. In 1973, the Schmid couple returned to Europe where Arno Sighart Schmid joined a landscape architecture firm he co-managed as a partner from 1974. After Gerold Eppinger's retirement, Eppinger und Schmid became Schmid-Treiber-Partner - and Arno Sighart Schmid continued to accompany the office as an advisor until the 2010s. In addition to his tasks and projects as a landscape architect, Prof. Arno Sighart Schmid shaped not only the national professional image for many years as president of both the Federal Chamber of Architects (BAK) and the International Federation of Landscape Architects. He was awarded the Federal Cross of Merit on Ribbon for his extraordinary social commitment in 2010. Today, Schmid is retired, but he is closely connected to his profession not only through his honorary memberships, for example, in the Association of German Landscape Architects (BDLA) or the American Society of Landscape Architects (ASLA).

The 84-year-old owes Weihenstephan not only his professional career but also his private happiness. "Moreover, it is a beautiful and meaningful action to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the University of Applied Sciences with 50 planted trees," he thinks. These trees in the Arboretum made it possible for future visitors to experience the diversity of nature. Against the background of his expertise, Schmid sees each tree as an outstanding individual with its own character and as a reflection of life itself. "Deciduous trees, in particular, show us their annual cycle in the growing and flowering, shedding and dying of their leaves in a remarkably unique way," says the landscape architect, who was awarded the honorary prize by the Association of Weihenstephan Engineers in 1981 in recognition of his services to the University of applied sciences. As an "old hand", Arno Sighart Schmid is, of course, a member of the association - and special occasions in the past have always brought him back to the old campus.

The Schmid couple live in Leonberg in Baden-Württemberg and regret that they will probably not be able to visit the Arboretum so often in person - although they are both fortunately healthy and fit. Their sponsor tree, a Japanese zelkova (Zelkova serrata), will positively occupy a beautiful place within the lively and diverse campus grove. It will develop its individual personality there, and will not only commemorate the anniversary of the University of Applied Sciences, but - above all - the two former horticulture students Christiane and Arno Sighart Schmid.