From the Fringe | 21.05.2008
Chancellor Enjoys Waging War on Weeds
When she's not moving in the fast-paced world of international diplomacy, German Chancellor Angela Merkel likes to slow it down by exercising her green thumb. But woe to any weed that dares cross her garden path.
Chancellor Merkel has no qualms about reaping what she sows. As she revealed in a recent interview with German news magazine Stern, she's been an avid gardener ever since childhood.
"And what I planted also flourished," she said.
As a girl, Merkel always had her own flower bed to tend. Now, she has a small garden in the Uckermark region of Germany, northeast of Berlin. And, just like in her working life, she keeps things there in an orderly fashion.
"The few beds I have should at least be free of weeds," the chancellor said, adding that dandelions are a frequent offender.
How does her garden grow?
What would you be likely to find, then, if you were led down the garden path by Angela Merkel?
Bildunterschrift: Großansicht des Bildes mit der Bildunterschrift: One of the perks of being chancellor -- an abundance of fresh cut flowers
According to Stern, the chancellor has a weakness for larkspurs as well as wildflowers such as poppies and lupines.
Let's hope she's left space for some edible plants, too. After all, now that it's clear German politicians won't be getting a planned substantial pay rise, tending to home-grown veggies might be a useful hobby for the multi-faceted chancellor.
Oasis in the city
Back in the steel and concrete surroundings of her office, the country's most powerful woman clearly doesn't have much time to spend with a watering can in hand. But she admits to having created "a small oasis" of greenery made up of palms and a baobab, or monkey bread tree.
