Every June in the small village of Stocksee in Schleswig-Holstein (the northernmost of the sixteen states of Germany), you will find the Park and Garden Show. This is nothing like our fairs in the US. There is an annual competition to create a Garden, according to an assigned theme. This year the them was “Lazy Gardens” or Stress-Free Gardens.

Participants sign up to take a small plot of land in which they create their gardens and compete for the top prize. My favorite garden this year was the garden created right in the center of the table. No need for table decorations or centerpieces. The Garden was the primary theme of this table setting.

Other highlights of the event were plants and flowers displayed for purchase – not in plastic bins, but on lace fabric, wild game sausages, and you could buy a beautiful cappuccino in a porcelain cup, not served in paper or plastic.

A delightful day visiting this small village of 450 residents and enjoying the competing stress-free gardens.