Albert Schöchle – father of Blühendes Barock
(Baroque in Bloom)
Albert Schöchle was born in Kempten, Germany on 13 March 1905. After completing an apprenticeship as a gardener, he attended the Höhere Lehr- und Forschungsanstalt für Gartenbau (Higher Institute for Teaching and Research in Garden Design) in Weihenstephan, where he qualified after having taken his school-leaving certificate. He had got a taste for studying.
Schöchle took his Abitur (university entrance diploma) and later studied Natural Sciences and Architecture at the Universities of Munich, Stuttgart and Tübingen. After finishing his studies, he took a post as a probationary teacher at a grammar school in Stuttgart.
In 1933, he successfully applied for the position of Director of Wilhelma, Stuttgart's zoological and botanical gardens. In 1936, he was appointed Director of State Parks and Gardens in Stuttgart.
In 1948, Albert Schöchle took charge of the state gardens in Ludwigsburg and was head of the company Blühendes Barock from 1954 to 1975. He then remained a member of the Board of Directors of Blühendes Barock for many years and forged the direction of the horticultural show from behind the scenes.
He received a large number of awards, including the Grand Federal Cross of Merit and the Carl Haußmann Medal in gold from the Württemberg Gardening Association. He was also made honorary senator of the University of Hohenheim and an honorary member of the German Zoo Directors' Association.
On 9 May 1990, Albert Schöchle became an honorary citizen of Ludwigsburg: by creating "Blühendes Barock" (Baroque in Bloom) as a travel and leisure destination, Albert Schöchle had transformed Ludwigsburg into a tourist town.
Albert Schöchle died on 10 August 1998 – but his name will always be remembered, thanks to "his" Baroque in Bloom and "his" Fairy-Tale Garden.