Flower Island Mainau
The island belongs to the district of Litzelstetten-Mainau the city of Konstanz and is since 1974 owned by the Count Lennart Bernadotte founded, non-profit "Lennart Bernadotte Foundation". The count's family is still an important part of Mainau's attraction. The island is located on the Upper Swabian Baroque Road.
At the heart of the flower island is the park-like arboretum, built by Grand Duke Friedrich I in 1856, with its 500 different species of partly rare and very valuable deciduous and conifers. Among them is one of the "oldest" dawn redwoods (Metasequoia glyptostroboides) of Germany. The tree originating from China had been planted in the bank garden in 1952 as a 70-centimeter-sized tree. Particularly impressive are some specimens of the giant sequoia (Sequoiadendron giganteum). The seeds of these trees came from California in 1853, and in 1864 Frederick I had many trees planted on Mainau. This makes them among the oldest of their kind in Europe. In addition to the giant sequoia trees are precious cedars, metasequoias and tulip trees. The arboretum expands northwest of the castle on the plateau.
In spring at the end of March / beginning of April, the flower year in the Palm House begins on Mainau with a large orchid show. From late March to mid-May tulips, daffodils and hyacinths bloom on Mainau. For this purpose, thousands of tulip, daffodil and hyacinth bulbs were planted in the eastern part of the island on the so-called Spring Allee parallel to the path. Also in spring pansies, forget-me-nots and primroses thrive on the island.
In the transition period of May and June, the flowers of the 200 rhododendron and azalea varieties show up. West of the Comturey cellar you come to the rose garden, which was also designed by Grand Duke Frederick I in Italian style. The so-called Italian Rose Garden is a strictly geometrical complex with pergolas, sculptures and fountains. In summer, the fragrance of about 500 different types of roses, especially bed roses, beguiles. There are about 30,000 rose bushes of 1200 varieties on the island. A Baroque staircase leads up to the scenic castle terrace.
The Spring Avenue leads to the Mediterranean Terraces with their exotic potted plants, where palm trees, agaves, cacti and bougainvilleas exude Mediterranean flair in summer. From here you have a panorama of the Bodensee landscape and the Alps. In July, the flowers of the angel trumpets and the hibiscus show up on the Mainau, in August the flowers of the passion.
To the south, the south garden spreads, where in autumn from September to October the dahlia fields with about 20,000 dahlia bushes of 250 varieties shine in beautiful colors. Spring garden and summer flowers grow in the adjoining shore garden, including a collection of different fuchsia species. A popular photo motif is the Bodensee relief, a flower picture in the shape of Lake Constance, designed differently according to the season.
On the north side of the island is the small harbor with boat landing stage, where the excursion boats dock and there is another entrance
Info Source: Wikipedia