Mainau Island
Image by Edwin Surbeck from Pixabay
A teardrop-shaped island connected to the mainland by a bridge, Mainau Island holds the wonders of flora and fauna on display for a world of visitors eager to marvel at nature’s variety. In the mid-1800’s, Friedrich I, Grand Duke of Baden, collected and imported more than 500 exotic and valuable coniferous and deciduous trees. A rare Dawn Redwood stands as the oldest of these at only 70 centimeters (27.5 inches) tall, and was brought in from China. Giant Redwoods from California were planted in 1864, and are now the oldest of their kind in all of Europe.
The variety of species on the island is astonishing, with 200 kinds of Rhododendrons and Azaleas, 250 varieties of dahlia bushes, and 1,200 kinds of roses. Every season brings its own blooms, with orchids and Primroses flowering in Spring, hibiscus flowers blossoming in July, and Passion flowers greeting the world in August.
The Butterfly House, or Schmetterlingshaus, is a popular sight throughout the whole year, where a tropical landscape provides a home for more than 70 colorful species of butterfly. At any given time of the year, visitors can walk through more 700 to 1,000 butterflies, most of which come from South America. 400 butterfly cocoons are delivered from areas such as Costa Rica, England, and the Netherlands. 150 scented plants that are indigenous to the area surround the butterfly sanctuary.
The variety of species on the island is astonishing, with 200 kinds of Rhododendrons and Azaleas, 250 varieties of dahlia bushes, and 1,200 kinds of roses. Every season brings its own blooms, with orchids and Primroses flowering in Spring, hibiscus flowers blossoming in July, and Passion flowers greeting the world in August.
The Butterfly House, or Schmetterlingshaus, is a popular sight throughout the whole year, where a tropical landscape provides a home for more than 70 colorful species of butterfly. At any given time of the year, visitors can walk through more 700 to 1,000 butterflies, most of which come from South America. 400 butterfly cocoons are delivered from areas such as Costa Rica, England, and the Netherlands. 150 scented plants that are indigenous to the area surround the butterfly sanctuary.
