Rhododendronpark Hobbie, Botanical garden in Westerstede, Germany.
Rhododendronpark Hobbie is a botanical garden in Westerstede featuring extensive collections of rhododendron species and mature trees throughout its grounds. The layout combines forest paths, open beds, and seating areas connected by a network of walking routes for visitors to navigate.
Dietrich Gerhard Hobbie (1899–1985), a farmer inspired by Karl Foerster's book "Vom Blütengarten der Zukunft", founded the park in 1928. From the 1920s he sowed wild rhododendron species in the family forest beneath pines and oaks, and after visiting English gardens such as Exbury, Kew and Wisley he selected and bred hardy, free-flowering varieties. He received the Bundesverdienstkreuz for his breeding work and the creation of the park.
The park hosts events during the April to mid-June bloom, including an Easter egg hunt, the Ammerländer Gartentage and "Rund ums Tier". The name Hobbie comes from the farmer Dietrich Gerhard Hobbie, who founded the garden in 1928. A sculpture garden surrounds the 10,000 m² pond during the flowering season.
The park is open all year, but an entrance fee is charged only during the flowering season from April to mid-June. The attached park café is open during that same period and otherwise only by prior arrangement. Events such as the Easter egg hunt and the Ammerländer Gartentage fall within the bloom.
The garden houses specialized collections including a dedicated Yakushimanum section, a rare rhododendron variety originating from Japan. These areas display cultivated forms from different countries, offering visitors a global perspective on the diversity of these plants.
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