A Sunday morning visit to the Westfalenpark Dortmund

[Gerdk]

Yesterday morning I visited the Westfalenpark of Dortmund. Among other things this park is famous for its artificial heated ponds (minimum 26 ° C) with tropical waterplants

 1.  The Floriantower - symbol of the park, 211 m, with a restaurant for
      about 100 persons
 2.  Colocasia cultivar and nymphaeas
 3.  Nymphaea spec. and Victoria regia
 4.  to 9.   different water-lilies
10. Nymphaea 'King of Siam' - unfortunately not fully open - I was told
      it was too early - but what a dark blue!

Gerd Knoche, Solingen
Germany

[Paul T]

Gerd,

Great pics.  The waterlilies are fantastic.  And of course the Victoria regia has the most amazing leaves!!  Excellent!! 

[Gerdk]

Westfalenpark - part 2

 1.  Nymphaea x daubenyana
 2.  Hippo
 3.  Taxodium distichum
 4.  and 5.  brewers - Dortmund is famous for its old brewing tradition
 6.  Fountain  - a memorial for the famous brew houses of Dortmund
      - unfortunately there is water running - no beer
 7.   and 8.   Dahlia cultivars
 9.  Clerodendron trichotomum
10.  Beds with Ageratum etc.

Gerd

[Gerdk]

Westfalenpark
- the rest (and a question)

unknown species planted in the beds with silvery foliage - I would be grateful for identification

Gerd Knoche, Solingen
Germany

[ranunculus]

Super shots Gerd, many thanks.  Brewer1 looks like an away day for the SRGC drinking brigade.

[Paddy Tobin]

Great photographs Gerd, obviously a lovely park.

I'm afraid I cannot help with identification of the silver-leafed plant.

A question: We grow a nice hydrangea in the garden which has strong purplish-red blooms and is called 'Westfalen'. I wonder if there is some connection with the park or with this area?

Paddy

[Brian Ellis]

What a lovely way to spend the morning, great shots Gerd.  Glad to see the Hippo wasn't emerging from the waterlilies

[Paul T]

Gerd,

The silver leaf plant is a Dichondra, sold here in Aus as "Silver Falls" or something like that.  Very drought and sun hardy apparently, but it does need water occasionally (says he who forgot to water it one too many times and lost it.  I really must buy it again as I loved it).  Looks fantastic as a hanging basket, as it can hang down 1.5m quite happilly as a silver curtain of leaves.  Dichondra is sometimes used as a lawn subsitute in shady areas from memory.

[Gerdk]

Thank you alltogether for the kind comments.

Paul: Thanks for the identification - some years ago a friend gave me just this plant (the green version) - collected as a ' round leaved violet ' in China - I am developing weakness of the memory!

Paddy: Yes, there is a connection with this area.
Hydrangea macrophylla 'Westfalen' was raised in 1913 by Josef Wintergalen of Münster which is situated in Westfalen.

Gerd

[Paul T]

Gerd,

No problemo.  Happy to help.