Rothenburg ob der Tauber, Germany

This medieval town was founded in 1170.  The architecture makes you feel like you have stepped back in time.

Sky blue morning glories climb an ancient wall.

The city is surrounded by an ancient wall that protected it from attack.  Now this tree from outside the wall is invading the town.

As we walked the narrow lanes, we heard a loud clatter.  Looking up, we saw two storks - the kind that bring babies to the house.

Hohenschwangau, Germany

This castle is where King Ludwig II of Bavaria grew up.  My first impression is that it seems much more friendly and lived-in than Neuschwanstein, the castle he spent 20 years building.  Why was he not satisfied with this one?

The walls are a warm pale yellow, the gardens are lovely, and it is much more accessible to the town below.

This arch is built right into the mountain, and offers a lovely view of a second arch.

This fountain actually has three lions supporting a large bowl, with a view of the rugged peaks behind.

Neuschwanstein, Germany

King Ludwig II of Bavaria started construction of this fairy-tale castle in 1868.  It was never finished, and he lived there for only a short time.  His attention drifted to building other fanciful creations before he drowned under mysterious circumstances.  This pile of mortar and stone is set in a beautiful natural setting within sight of the castle where he grew up.

The trek up the mountain from the town of Schwanau is a punishing 45-minute walk up a steep hill.  But the view of this castle and the view of the surrounding countryside is worth the effort.

The water is a milky turquoise, but very clear up close.

Munich, Germany

Munch is  huge city, but it is surprisingly green.  The English Garden is a large park with kilometers of walking paths through mature trees, and a fast-flowing river that people actually surf.

There are flowers everywhere.  Beautifully tended window boxes and flower beds left me gasping.

A statue of Juliette (from Romeo and Juliette) stands in a square. Women who wish for luck in love tuck flowers into the crook of her arm. Men who wish for romance - well, guess why her boob is so shiny!

Munich is the home of the Nymphenburg Palace and Botanical Garden.  The palace was very beautiful (it's the birthplace of Mad King Ludwig II) but what really impressed me was the long long border of colourful annuals which ring every lawn.  The commitment and expense and labour involved in planting and maintaining this border truly staggers the mind.

As I looked more closely at the plantings, I was very surprised to see a metal grid about 10 cm high and 30 cm wide that supports all those plants to keep them upright, and creates a permanent outline of the beds.



Here is a bed tucked into an inconspicuous corner in the back of the palace, but still as lovingly designed and maintained as the front beds.

A grey goose mows the front lawn.

Past the extensive gardens and walking paths and ornamental lakes of the palace grounds is Munich's Botanical Gardens.  It has beautifully arranged plantings of mature trees, perennials and annuals, greenhouses, and even a lovely cafe where you can eat on the patio.

Hallstatt, Austria

My husband and I visited Germany and Austria in July.  Just wanted to talk about some of the amazing flora and fauna we discovered.
Hallstatt is the site of a 7,000 year-old salt mine, the oldest in the world.  It is built on the side of a mountain, and has breathtaking views of old churches, narrow streets, and a deep blue lake.

The most interesting animals we saw were huge brown slugs that crawled along the old stone steps.

This rainbow coloured beetle caught my eye.

Astrantia, which is difficult to grow in my garden, is like a weed in Austria an Switzerland.

Mullein growing out of a crack in a rock.  Those plants are tough!

More plants growing right in a wall.