Germany's Open Gardens attract visitors in Thuringia and offer July gardening advice in Bremen

Across Thuringia, the annual Open Gardens initiative invited the public to explore about 350 private gardens from May to July. The program, inspired by a 19th‑century English tradition, culminated with nine especially colorful sites in the Orlatal valley, drawing hundreds of visitors and showcasing a range of flowers, herbs, and garden designs.

In Bremen, Viola Falkenberg, chair of the regional garden association, provided July‑season guidance for hobby gardeners. She advised using rainwater for irrigation, highlighted ripe crops such as tomatoes, raspberries and radishes, and warned about pests like the oak processionary moth and ticks. Falkenberg also suggested pruning wilted perennials, making homemade fertilizer from nettles, and installing rain‑water tanks to conserve water.