Munich garden fest lasts all summer

***image1***Put on your walking shoes, sling on a backpack and stroll around the Bundesgartenschau – the National Garden Fair of the Federal Republic of Germany held in Munich.

The show is a sea of flowers with two million bulbs, 30,000 trees, 8,650 bushes, and 260,000 perennials. It’s a garden party, a cultural event, a great place for families, a children’s paradise, a wellness center and a place to experience nature.

The fair, which runs through Oct. 9, is located in München-Riem, on the former international airport of Munich. Americans should ask for a flyer in English with a map of the show grounds, and for a map of Munich’s beer gardens, which are a nice way to spend a relaxing evening in Bavaria.
Start the tour at the west or east gate where information booths are set up. The booths have brochures containing a wealth of information about the storied land of Bavaria and Munich, Bavaria’s capital city.

One day at the fair is really not enough to see everything. Be sure to check out the famous Cell Garden first. It shows visitors nature like they’ve never seen it before. Small becomes huge, the familiar becomes amazingly unfamiliar. Then visit the Houses of Knowledge where you will find the answers to your questions.

***image2***You can also take a cable car to look down at the show and get a fantastic view of the Alps in the southern horizon. The car’s exit is at the blue lake where you can swim or just have a look at water plants, blooming meadows, mixed borders and light woods.

Near the east gate there is a huge flower market. And in the southern area, there is another main area with blooming flowers and vegetable fields, small gardens and the German Pavilion.

Fair booths sell typical German foods: bread and pretzels, wurst and Bavarian cheese. There are plenty of nearby restaurants and a Bavarian beer tent captures the atmosphere of Octoberfest. You can also picnic in the beautiful meadows.

On the garden grounds you have two transportation possibilities: discover the show by foot or take a rikscha.

***image3***To get there check out the special arrangements offered by the German Bahn AG railway. Tickets cost €14 for adults. There are also parking facilities for those who come by car. Visit www.buga05.de for details and daily fair activities.