Today, Mia and I are going on a trip to Colpach, a small village in the municipality of Ell with a beautiful castle and a large park.

“You can’t visit the castle,” says Dad, “but the park is open.”

Through the trees, we can see the castle in the distance. The sun shines through the leaves, and the wind rustles in the old branches. We walk along a small path by the castle. On the way, we also see lots of statues and displays.

“Famous artists used to exhibit their works here,” says Dad. “Emil Mayrisch, the former owner of the castle, collected statues and works of art with his wife, Aline Mayrisch. The park was like a huge open-air exhibition.”

As we arrive near the pond, I spot something between two branches.

“Look, Mia!”

A sheet of paper is tucked there, as if someone had deliberately hidden it. At the top, in flowing script, it reads:

The Secret of the Garden Keeper

I stand here still in the garden so green,
for many long years I’ve watched every scene.
I guard all the trees, the blossoms, the fruit,
and know every sunbeam, each scent at its root.
Though made out of stone, in the garden I stay,
and those who look closely will find me one day.

So follow the clues and trace them with care—
at the end, my name will be waiting there.

“A keeper of the garden?” I ask in surprise. “I wonder which statue that is?”

“Great, a proper art adventure,” Mia exclaims enthusiastically, already rummaging through her rucksack for a sheet of paper and a pen.

So off we go in search of the answers—and, step by step, a picture takes shape on our paper. When we’re finally done, we compare our drawings. And then we recognize her.

Dad looks over our shoulders. “Great, you’ve solved the mystery of the garden keeper, and we’ve even got a lovely souvenir to take home with us.”

With our very own Colpach artwork as a souvenir, we proudly leave the park, and I feel just a tiny bit like a real artist.