Anyone who talks about rarities must also think in terms of diversity. The Kartause Ittingen north of Frauenfeld in the canton of Thurgau is emblematic of this. The time-honored walls of the monastery building are lined with a garden that is just as steeped in history and whose operators have been dedicated to rose cultivation since the Middle Ages. The rich wealth of experience has resulted in the largest collection of historic rose varieties in Switzerland to date.
About 250 different varieties on over 1000 canes bloom in every imaginable color. Even a special scented rose garden can be found in the scope of the Kartause Ittingen. Such a sheer quantity of plants - even if they obviously all belong to the same genus - requires a solid cultivation concept. Damascene, Alba or moss roses: each variety has its preferences. Some like shade, others sun; these grow up high, those on flat bushes. Therefore, garden planning in the Kartause Ittingen is meticulous, yet fascinating micro-work. The impressive, centuries-old rose garden can be admired on guided tours.
Meanwhile, for a look at the cultivation of flowers, herbs and vegetables, it is worth taking a detour to the respective gardens as well as to the seed garden in Ittingen. In the latter, seeds of valuable cultivated plants are harvested and re-sown. This is done in collaboration with Hortiplus, an organization dedicated to the preservation and propagation of rare and vanished varieties.
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