A Floral Symphony On The Island Of The Flowers (NAPSA)—TIf you love looking at and savoringflowers, the island of Martinique blooms with possibilities. Known as one of the most beautiful islands of the Caribbean, Martinique has a warmclimate that’s ideal for tropical plants and blossoms. The Carib Indians called Martinique “Madinina,” which means ‘Isle of Flowers,” a nickname that remainsto this day. Theisland’s natural bounty can be enjoyed in gardens such as The Balata Botanical Gardens, MacIn- Montagne Pele is one of the world’s most famous volcanoes. tosh Plantation and “Les Ombrages” Botanical and Floral Path. Patchouli, ylang-ylang, vetiver and citronelle are just a few of the beautiful floral scents that envelop strollers as they wander through the Balata Garden. Balata is a garden of delights carpeted with enchanting red and white anthuriums and sun-drenched flower beds and shadowed with magnificent tropical trees. Visitors are moved by the strange beauty of the amazing hibiscus flowers, which are visited by an endless successionofiridescent-plumed hummingbirds. In the ornamental lakes, exotic water lilies and lotus blossoms Photos courtesy of Martinique Promotion Bureaw/CMT USA The seven-acre Les Ombrages park is ideal for hiking. compete for the greatest elegance of form and hue. Clusters of heliconia and cane plants, begonias, gaudy screw pines, orchids and cordylina follow one another in a magnificentfloral symphony. Les Ombrages is a seven-acre park, a 20-minute drive from the Montagne Pele volcano. The garden park has footpaths andtrails through a variety of botanical environmentsrich in wild flowers, giant bamboo, canna2 plants tree ferns and delicate carpets of moss undera forest canopy. Martinique is famous for its flowers but the island’s fauna also delights the eye. There are beautiful butterflies, coral reefs teeming with sea life, a marsupial named the manicou, the mongoose and a variety of birds with brilliant foliage. Those who enjoy seeing vibrant clouds of butterfly wings may want to visit the Anse Latouche Butterfly Garden in Carbet, created by JeanPhilippe Thoze, who also designed the Balata Botanical Gardens. For more information, visit www.martinique.org. How To BookA Trip To Martinique American Express/1-800-941-2639 www.americanexpressvacations.com Choose Martinique/Fort de France for “destination” Delta Air Lines/www.delta.com Non-stop from Atlanta as of 12/16/06 AAA Travel/1-800-841-2544 www.oatravel.com Liberty Travel/1-888-271-1584 wwwlibertytravel.com CheapCaribbean.com/Interlsland Tours 1-800-245-3434 Floral scents envelop strollers in the Balata Botanical Gardens. Atlantic is Ocean % 5 Cozumel Belize =a uba’ -- Cayman isloncs aes a Heit Caribbean Sea Borlnicon fueste Martinique torr s, mS Aaentnds “Antilles m@a™*: www.bookmartinique.com Vacation Travel Mart/1-800-288-1435 www.vacmart.com Club Med/1-800-CLUB-MED www.cubmed.us INT Vacations/1-800-225-7678 www.intvacations.com
