But not everybody enjoys these glorious days, especially the Greeks that celebrated May 1st on the island and expected to go to the beach (!) But the plants and flowers thrive now, before the sizzling sun dries everything…

Our pink Cistus parviflorus is in full bloom, and the Lomelosia cretica (above) is following along.

As our neighbor’s goats observe, Costas whacks the dried greens very carefully, among the fragrant thyme and savory bushes, and the vivid yellow blossoming phlomis.

Flowering plants are not many in our property, we only spotted four wild orchids under the olive trees this year. They seem as if they are speeding up their pace to catch up, blooming as fast as they can among the already yellowing greens.  

We harvested the last tender edible winter greens and some fava beans, of which we still have plenty to last for a couple more weeks.

The many green almonds promise an abundant crop, and the quince tree is spectacular in its large pink-white flowers.  

Our unusually plush rose bushes will flourish soon, and we are also looking and waiting for the budding wisteria to bloom. We had the first flowers around Greek Easter, Sunday April 24. 

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But even in this wintry weather certain plants thrive, triumphantly marking the beginning of spring.  

Most of the flowers this time of year are yellow, and only our favas break the rule with their delicate whitish blossoms.

Next to them, native to Greece but easily cultivated all over the world, grows Cheiranthus cheiri, a kind of wallflower that thrives in rocky areas. We have the yellow brown version with its discreet sweet scent that some find reminiscent of anise or vanilla.  

Our very aromatic irises are yellow too, as are the blooms of the huge Euphorbia dendroides that fills the southern slopes of Kea, along with the imposing Ferula communis that reaches the blue of the clear windy skies up above.  

The rhizome Asplenium ceterach sprouts out from slots in the calcareous rocks and stonewalls of our property.  Not impressive but with a strong character, you can admire their unassuming presence only if you know where to look for them.  

Next to it, the tiny fern Allosurus acrosticus gently unfolds its new stalks.  They will dry up in the hot summer months, and with the first rains and the return of humidity they will become green again, impressing us with their inconspicuous grace.

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