If in the last week you've visited the Riverside International Gardens in La Crosse you may have noticed a new addition, an oversized pocket watch sculpture sitting in the German garden.Garden sections for each of La Crosse's sister cities represent our city's special ties to Dubna, Russia, Espinal, France, Forde, Norway, Luoyang, China, Bantry, Ireland and Friedberg, Germany. It is the latter German city of Friedberg, some 4355 miles away who gifted this sculpture to the gardens.
The pocket watch represents the friendship/ Freundschaft of a 13 year high school exchange program uniting the two cities where many young residents, now adults, studied.
It turns out Friedberg was known in Baroque times for its pocket watches. The sculpture created over 3 months by artist Wolfgang Auer includes the skyline of Friedberg in gold and silver in the upper portion and the bottom part unites the two cities.
An international delegation was present to recognize its installation a week ago Saturday. Among community residents were also members of the Bluff County Master Gardeners who devote their time caring for the gardens.
International Friendship Gardens President Chuck Hanson stated "Once you have visited another country, once you have visited someone's home, once you've seen what their life was like, is that we are far more alike than we are different. And while we have differences, we can accept those as cultural differences and understand that there is beauty in difference."
One thing is for certain many residents and guests to our city have been enjoying the seasonal beauty of these gardens as both friendships and gardens continue maturing when nurtured.
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