Vincenz Berger was born in april 1883 in Komotau
(today Chomutov, Czech Republic). After his studies
he became inspector of the municipal gardens in his
hometown. From 1945 til 1950 he lived in Leipzig,
then moved to Bad Harzburg where he became director
of the municipal gardens. After his retirement he
moved to Landau (Palatia) then to Bonn where he died
in december 1974. He was married and had two children.
From the very beginning of his professional life til
his last days his main interest and love was cultivation
- he was known for his new dahlias and roses and
received numerous national and international prizes.
But he also worked with lilies, pelargonia, fuchsia,
japanese azalea, magnolia, paeonia arborea, syringa
villosa and lupine. In his eighties he reached for a
begonia hybride that should blossom in winter. His last
great joy as cultivator was a big-blossom yellow lilium
regale.
Here is a quote that expresses his attitude:
"Nur der wird den Hauch der ewigen Schöpfungskraft
Gottes wahrnehmen, der in geweihten Stunden das Erblühen
von Pflanzen erleben darf, die er als Züchter nach
eigenem Willen geschaffen hat." (Only that man will
feel the touch of god´s eternal creational power who
in blessed hours is granted to see the blossoming of
plants that he as a cultivator has created according
to his own will.)

Peter Philipp (p_philipp@t-online.de)
(Note: i am his grandson and apologize for my english
and poor botanic knowlegde.)