Many treasures lie hidden: viewed from the street, the closed facade of the house in Westhofen looks just as inconspicuous as many others in Rheinhessen. Even when you walk through the house into the paved courtyard with its half-timbered walls and potted plants, visitors are still within the realm of the expected. But those who climb the steep stone steps up to the garden will be surprised and enter another world: an intoxicating, timeless garden paradise enchants the senses.

During the growing season, thousands of flowers from the exuberant perennial planting flood the Baroque garden, which was designed based on historical models. "The garden found us!" says Iris Leonhardt.

Together with Jürgen Süß, she bought the garden and the historic 17th-century house in 2007. Usually, property buyers look for a "house with a garden" – here, the order was deliberately reversed: the passionate gardening enthusiasts were looking for an attractive garden with a house. And the couple found it in Rheinhessen in the old farmstead with an inner courtyard and garden plot, a typical so-called "Hofreite." Modelled on historic Baroque gardens, the product designer and the globally active chemist created an enchanted garden. With precisely planned structures: straight paths, clear spaces. They planted countless perennials between an old cherry tree, a very old almond tree, an old walnut tree and a French Renette apple tree.

Around 80 peonies alone now grow in the enchanted garden, protected by a meter-high quarry stone wall. Iris Leonhardt and Jürgen Süß have planted historical varieties in different colors. The plants come from selected breeders – formerly more often from England, but now from German suppliers such as the Royal Garden Academy in Berlin. When buying plants, Iris and Jürgen pay attention to traditional ecological propagation. Environmentally conscious plant and soil cultivation is also a priority when gardening. Insect-friendly, ecological garden maintenance ensures a clearly perceptible background noise during the growing season: there is buzzing and humming in every corner and on every plant in the lively garden. Color spaces are created across a thousand square meters: there is the red area, the white-blue area, and the green area. A sophisticated lighting concept also allows the quarry stone wall to shine in different colors. A garden to marvel at and relax in—a counterpoint to stressful everyday working life: for gardeners and visitors alike.

The cherry tree has a basement—a perfect exhibition space for artist Iris Leonhardt. The freely designed, partially painted clay sculptures are impressively showcased here. Her expressive paintings hang in other rooms. Art and culture, nature and recipes, architecture and wine: the beautiful things in life are tastefully combined in Westhofen. Summer blossoms and painting, exhibitions, garden experiences and wine tastings: "rheingrün" offers a unique, plant-rich stage for art, culture, sensory experiences and emotions, where visitors can indulge in pleasure. The Rhineland-Palatinate Cultural Summer supports the diverse events in Westhofen. "rheingrün" is a special place: rooted in the region, with a charisma that extends far beyond it.

The Rheingrün Hofgarten more than deserved the Great Wine Capitals Best of Wine Tourism Award 2023 in the category "Architecture, Parks, and Gardens" at the national level. The successful concept of lively gardens, contemporary art, readings, and concerts also impressed the international jury and was therefore also honored with the global Best of Wine Tourism Award.