European Stars And Stripes (Newspaper) - April 17, 1986, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Maina Flowers As Island in the Sun grand Duke Friedrich i of Baden started the arboretum on Maina Island. Story and photos by Joseph Owen Stuttgart Bureau in a country where Winter has so much fun beating up March that it often takes a few major swings at april a passion for Flowers is easy to understand. So it is in Germany. Where else can one find an entire Island devoted to horticulture Maina a 112-acre Island Park on a Northwestern Arm of Lake Constance has been a repository for unusual plants Ever since 1853, when grand Duke Friedrich i of Baden acquired the property and Laid out an arboretum there with imported Trees. His great grandson swedish count Lennart Bernadotte took Over the Island in 1932, restoring its 18th-Century baroque Castle and Clearing the land to make room for gardens and the people who would see them. The count and his wife still live there and they get plenty of company. We have almost 2 million visitors a year said Island administration spokeswoman Rosemarie Konig. The largest share come from German speaking  to make the visit Worth their while an army of gardeners plants about a million Flowers each fall including 400,000 Tulip bulbs. In the Spring they create Flower Laden Bird sculptures and dismantle huge temporary greenhouses which have sheltered tropical plants All Winter. The Island s other attractions include temporary exhibits in the Castle Art gallery a collection of exotic Birds the 251 year old Castle Church a Large playground an absence of cars and usually the blessings of moderate weather. We certainly have a relatively mild climate on Lake Constance said Konig explaining that the deep water absorbs the Sun s warmth in the summer and releases it gradually during the fall. Spring is less predictable however. The Lake a Mist covered Clothespin which fastens Germany to Switzerland and Austria did t shed its ice until the end of March according to Konig. Snow still covered parts of the Island until 10 Days before it reopened to the Public March 26, and snowflakes Island gardeners left Structure a Peacock made of Earth and Flowers on Maina Island. Below the Island s baroque Castle. Flew in the area again last week after Many of the tulips had started to Bloom. The tulips accompanied by 200,000 pansies and primroses open the outdoor season on Maina while an Orchid show brightens the Interior of the Palm Enhaus Palm House one of the temporary greenhouses. In the summer the italian Rose Garden sprouts about 30,000 roses in 1,300 varieties and the tropical Garden produces bananas and oranges. Dahlias Pepper the landscape in 200 varieties in the fall. The Island also hosts special events such As the old timer Parade a procession of antique cars scheduled for june 22 this year. Aside from its German speaking visitors Konig said the Island draws Many swedes who want to experience a Mediterranean style setting without driving to the sea and who Are familiar with the count s reputation. The dutch famed for their own horticultural interests frequent the Island As Well. Konig said Many people Stop at Maina As a Way of breaking up a Long vacation trip to the Swiss Alps. About half the visitors come to the Island regularly while the remainder Are newcomers. Maina is open this year until oct. 20. Admission to the Island costs 7 Marks about $3 per adult 2 Marks about 85 cents for each child Between the Ages of six and 16, 4 Marks about $1.75 for students with identification and 6 Marks about $2.60 for adults aged 65 and older. Season tickets also Are available. A tour of Maina Calls for comfortable shoes As walking is the Only Way to inspect the Island. Private vehicles Are not allowed to Cross the Island Bridge. Visitors May walk across or ride the Island bus which charges each adult passenger 1.50 Marks 60 cents and each child 1 Mark 40 cents. Maina is located a few Miles North of Konstanz the Lake s major City. Tourists from Stuttgart and Points North should drive to Singen on autobahn 81, then head East on Federal Highway 33, watching for signs leading to Maina. Visitors from Bavaria and Eastern Baden Wurttemberge May wish to drive to Meyersburg a town on the Lake s North Shore then ride a car ferry to Konstanz. The Island also is a port of Call for cruise ships on Lake Constance. Child floats Flower petals in the water of the indoor Orchid Garden of the Palm Enhaus. A magic nut tree from China blooms on Maina Island. 10 stripes Magazine april 17,1986 april 17,1986 stripes Magazine 7 i