Rose Paradise in Karben since 1993
How it all began … early 1990s
During a visit to the rose garden at the Electoral Castle of Eltville, Ralf Berster discovered his love for historic roses. On walks in his new home town of Karben, he came across a meadow—a former rubble dump. Sitting on a bench overlooking the site, a vision began to form: since his own garden had become too small for his growing rose collection, he wanted to create a “wild” rose garden on this very meadow.
1993
In 1993, after receiving approval from the City of Karben, Ralf Berster planted the first roses on a 5,000 m² meadow in Klein-Karben. Over time, more than 800 different rose varieties followed.
The roses were allowed to grow freely and express their natural (sometimes overwhelming) growth habit. A meadow—once a recultivated rubble site filled with construction debris and soil above a former quarry — was transformed into a “wild” rose paradise. Narrow mown grass paths open up access to the rose labyrinth.
2001 - First Rose Festival
The first rose festival attracted numerous rose enthusiasts.
2009
For the first 15 years, Ralf Berster maintained the Rosenhang almost entirely on his own.
In 2009, a volunteer group formed around Ralf Berster and his collaborator Rosemarie Kärcher-Schack.
2018
In 2018, the Rosenhang in Karben celebrated its 25th anniversary with a cultural programme dedicated to roses.
The volunteer group also marked its 10-year anniversary of garden maintenance work.
2019
Gradually, many volunteers withdrew, mostly due to age.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, participants from the psychosocial centre of the Diakonie in Karben also stepped back.
2020
The City of Karben delegated mowing work to various landscaping companies.
2021
The maintenance style of these landscaping firms was suitable for golf courses, but not for a natural rose garden. Many rose varieties disappeared after being repeatedly mown down.
The garden began to overgrow, and brambles took over large areas.
It became urgent to raise the alarm and recruit new helpers.
2022
In late autumn 2022, a spruce tree visible in the photo had to be felled for safety reasons. As a result, the magnificent 'Venusta Pendula'—the “flagship plant” (as described by Ralf Berster) and long-standing visitor attraction—lost its climbing support. It was cut back almost to ground level during the works.
In the following year, it did not bloom, as Old Roses flower on two-year-old and older wood. However, from the second year after pruning onwards, its flowering became all the more spectacular.
2023
After several different landscaping companies between 2020 and 2023 proved unsuitable for the character of the Rosenhang — one visitor remarked, “The Rose Slope looks very tidy, but unfortunately also rather stripped” — the City of Karben took over mowing of the paths in the year of the garden's 30th anniversary. This is now carried out carefully by municipal maintenance staff. The “finer” tasks (such as removing brambles, dogwood, etc.) remain the responsibility of the volunteers.
2025-2026
In 2025-2026, numerous climbing roses (Rosa moschata and Rosa multiflora) were given supports after previously trailing along the ground and being repeatedly mown down. The roses gratefully accepted these climbing structures.
2026
In 2026, the Rose Festival also celebrated its 25th anniversary. The organisers received “royal” support: the First Wine Queen of Groß-Karben helped at the sparkling wine stand.
heute
A small group of volunteers continues to care for the Rosehang and hopes for support from new gardening enthusiasts and people with practical skills.
No gardening experience is required. Further information can be found here: Garden maintenance