On the trail of Saxony's fruit varieties
Exhibition with variety identification and programme at the Museum of Natural History
From Friday 28 October to Sunday 30 October, the Museum für Naturkunde im TIETZ and the Saxony regional group of the Pomologen-Verein invite you to a variety show with a lecture, variety identification and an accompanying programme for children. The extensive exhibition with almost 100 apple varieties and winning pictures from the photo competition "The apple through the seasons" provides an insight into Saxony's fruit culture.
The fruit variety show will open on Friday under the motto "Discover Saxony's fruit culture". From 4 to 5 p.m., Chemnitz pomologist Manfred Schrambke will give a public lecture providing insights into his almost 40 years of work as a fruit variety identifier and expert advisor.
Representatives of the media are also cordially invited to attend.
On Saturday and Sunday mornings, from 10.30 am to 12.30 pm, tree warden Manja Fischer and Catrin Just from the Pomologenverein e. V. Landesgruppe Sachsen will guide children through the accompanying programme: The motto at a photo station is "Make yourself an apple". A young apple tree will be the meeting point for the apple quiz for children. And finally, something healthy and refined will be produced for snacking. The colours and shapes of the fruit are as varied as their taste and use. With the transition to intensive cultivation methods, many of these varieties, especially those that only occur regionally, are now acutely endangered. However, these old fruit varieties are just as much a cultural asset as historical buildings, songs and customs. The accompanying programme for children addresses this.
On both days, from 2 to 4.30 pm, gardening enthusiasts can also have the fruit they have brought with them identified. Manfred Schrambke will be in charge of the variety identification directly at the exhibition. To determine an apple variety on the basis of the fruit, three to five typical, well-coloured and undamaged fruits should be available. The stalk, core and seed must be intact.
In addition to the varieties Gelbe Sächsische Renette, Safranapfel, Maibiers Parmäne, Kleiner Herrenapfel, Sächsischer Königsapfel, Oberlausitzer Muskatrenette and the pear variety Minister Doktor Lucius, the Saxon fruit variety of the year 2022, the Böhmische Rosenapfel, will also be on display at the variety show. It is of Saxon origin. The apple variety was described and propagated in Bohemia by Mathias Rößler before 1800. In Saxony, the variety has been propagated by the Royal Nursery in the Great Garden in Dresden since 1819.
The event format is to be continued until at least 2025, thus visualising the diversity of the historically grown fruit culture.
Opening hours of the Museum of Natural History Chemnitz:
Monday: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Tuesday: 9 am to 5 pm
Wednesday: closed
Thursday: 9 am to 5 pm
Friday: 9 am to 5 pm
Saturday, Sunday and public holidays: 10 am to 6 pm