We drove past Sanddorngarten in Ferch and were drawn in by the unusual name of this attraction and, in equal measure, with the hope of finding a café/toilet. It had been raining when we stepped out of the car our shoes sank into the sandy soil. Through the trees Lake Glindow glistened; gently rocked by the same breeze that carried the scent of lavender and roses coming from the herb garden and a gorgeous perfumed waft of a lime tree in bloom. The sense of quiet was palpable as we walked towards a group of brightly coloured buildings and, picking up a leaflet about the place, we sat on a bench and read about our surroundings.
Sanddorn translated means sea buckthorn. What’s sea buckthorn I hear you ask? Well, it looks a bit like gorse, with bright orange berries when ripe. It’s one of the ‘super fruits’ in that it contains vitamins C, A, E and K and is labelled as the ‘Lemon of the North.’
Founded by Christine Berger, the Sanddorn berry has been used to create soft drinks, liqueurs, chocolate, ice cream, cosmetics and paper products with pictures of the Sanddorn on them. You name it and there is sure to be a Sanddorn variation. We tried a (huge) ice cream sundae made with all things Sanddorn and the taste was a cross between citrus and, well, Sanddorn. Very good it was too. The café has a lovely terrace with views of Lake Glindow and there is a leafy walk from the café down to the water’s edge.
The aforementioned buildings were individual shops selling, guess what, Sanddorn everything. We bought some jam and chocolate, telling ourselves they would make unusual gifts (who were we kidding?). The wrapper came off the chocolate about two minutes after returning to the car. It might have been sooner actually.
Sanddorn garden was a delightful find in a beautiful and tranquil setting. It is slightly off the beaten track but we were so pleased we stumbled upon it as it was an unexpected delight and we learnt something into the bargain. If you need a marker to find the place, Postdam outside Berlin is not that far away on the motorway. Ferch itself is in the region of Petzow. There is no entrance fee and parking is free.
