Reflections

IMG_1216 [Reflections]

Three years ago,

I felt the need for a short vacation,

even though summer had not yet arrived.

 

I was not asking for much:

just a cozy little hotel with a clean room,

a comfortable bed, good food,

and a "royal" breakfast by the swimming pool. 

Some beautiful reflections in the pool would have been a bonus,

as I have always enjoyed looking at them.

 

I am happy to say

that I found everything I was looking for,

including the reflections, at the hotel shown above.

 

If you too are fond of reflections,

click on the picture to view them in higher resolution.

 

The photograph was taken shortly after dawn,

when most guests were still asleep

and the only thing you could hear outside

was ... the silence!

  

Chrysanthemum coronarium

804_2687 [Chrysanthemum coronarium]

 

Chrysanthemum coronarium is a widely prevalent, annual plant

of the Mediterranean region.

It grows in fields and wastelands and becomes 20-80 mm tall.

It grows in large numbers, one close to the other,

and generates numerous, striking yellow flower heads

which create a strong contrast with the plant’s green leaves.

 

In Greece,

coronarium appears in two variations that are almost identical,

with the standard variation having all-yellow flower heads

 and a bi-color variation having yellow and white tepals.

Both variations bloom from March to May.

  

 

 

804_2695 [Chrysanthemum coronarium]

 The yellow flower heads of the most common variation.

They are 30-60 mm across.

 

 

 

804_2560 [Chrysanthemum coronarium]

The flower head of the bi-color variation.

 

 

 

804_2563 [Chrysanthemum coronarium]

 It is not unusual to see both variations grow next to each other.

 

Both variations are also cultivated in gardens.

 

 

 Photographed at the foot of Mt. Hymittos

 

 

Once on Skyros ...

 

IMG_6426 [seashell]
 

Once,

while on vacation on the Greek island of Skyros,

I was searching the beach for unique seashells to photograph.

 

I hadn't found anything more interesting than this lone shell,

so I snapped the photo and, slightly disappointed,

headed in a different direction while thinking of a change of plans.

 

  

DSCN0164 [leg shadow]

A bit later,

I was surprised to see the setting sun casting

a long shadow of my body right in front of me.

 

I instantly forgot about the seascape I was planning to shoot

and once again, I pressed the button

capturing my giant shadow and letting the seascape wait.

 

Looking at my long shadow-legs,

I thought for a moment

that I was one of those admirable people

who can walk on stilts!

 

By the way, 

you don’t remember when it was the last time

you saw someone walking on stilts?

That’s OK. Watch the short video below to see them in action!

 

 

 

 

Consolida tenuissima

804_2764 [Consolida tenuissima]

Consolida tenuissima is an annual plant endemic

to the mountains of Attica, Evia, and Skiros.

It becomes up to 50 cm tall

and can be seen in bloom from April to June.

It is usually found in Scrublands, Rocky slopes, Forest clearings,

and Uncultivated fields at heights from 200-900 m.

 

However,

when one sees it on the mountain,

it is good to remember that it is included

in the “Red Data Book of Rare and Endangered Plants of Greece (RDB 2009)”

and that it is designated as “Vulnerable”.

 

 

 

804_0018 [Consolida tenuissima]

 Flowers are small, about 10 mm across,

with a spur that reaches 15 mm in length.

 

 

Ornithogalum arabicum

IMG_7551 [Ornithogalum arabicum]

 

Greece is home to more than 20 species of Ornithogalum

but Ornithogalum arabicum is probably the largest and most distinctive.

 

Although it can normally reach the height of 80 cm,

the plant in the picture was hardly 30 cm tall.

 

It blooms from April to May

and produces a cluster of up to 25

bowl-shaped, pure-white flowers of about 5 cm across each.

 

It flourishes on rocky places and fallow grounds

of West and Central Mediterranean countries.

It is also cultivated in gardens.

 

 

IMG_7555 [Ornithogalum arabicum]

 A close-up of the flower revealing details.

 

The dark ovary dominating the center

makes arabicum easily recognizable.

 

The pictures were captured in an unused plot

within the residential area of Athens.

 

 

 

 

Anacamptis collina

302_4938 [Anacamptis collina]

 

Anacamptis collina (previously known as Orchis collina)

is a widespread, perennial wild orchid

native to the Mediterranean countries and to West Asia.

 

In Greece, however,

it is quite rare and found only sporadically

in Central Mainland, in Peloponnese, in some Aegean islands

and in Crete where it is more common.

 

It grows in diverse habitats,

including hilly areas, brushwood, meadows and open forests,

from low elevations to around 1300 m.

 

Depending on weather conditions,

it may appear in two consecutive periods; in January and in March.

Or it may not appear at all!

 

On the other hand,

it may be a short plant (10 cm) at lower altitudes, such as Attica,

or a tall, robust one at higher altitudes

where it may reach a height of 40 cm!

 

The picture above was taken on the island of Irakleia

and shows the upper part of a tall and robust plant.

 

 

Cercis siliquastrum

803_1349 [Cercis siliquastrum]

 

Cercis siliquastrum is one of the most beautiful and impressive trees of Greek nature.

It reaches a height of 8-10 meters and blooms in March and April.

With its pink-purple flowers that appear in early spring,

it transforms the gray winter landscape into a wonderful feast of color.

It flourishes both in Semi-mountainous environments and in residential areas.

 

 

303_7005 [Cercis siliquastrum]

Its thousands of small flowers grow directly

from the trunk and the branches.

 

 

803_1350 [Cercis siliquastrum]

 The flowers, combined with the green leaves which appear at a later time,

compose a beautiful "mosaic" of nature.

 

 

804_2621 [Cercis siliquastrum]

  

Arranged in clusters, the flowers cover any free space available

on the trunk and the branches.

 

 

804_2707 HF [Cercis siliquastrum]

 A cluster of flowers in isolation.

 

 

804_2621 [Cercis siliquastrum]

The flowers slightly magnified for details to be visible

 

  

 

804_2633 [Cercis siliquastrum]

 

 

A single flower: 2 cm in length + the stalk

 

It could be seen as one of the tesserae

that compose the mosaic of nature mentioned above.

 

By the way,

the beautiful tree Cercis siliquastrum is connected to an old legend.

According to the story,

Judas—the disciple who betrayed Christ—

felt deep regret for what he had done

and hanged himself from a tree of Cercis siliquastrum.

For this reason,

people often call this tree the “Judas Tree.”

 

Campanula drabifolia

303_2452 [Campanula drabifolia]

 

Two pictures of Campanula drabifolia for you to hopefully enjoy looking at.

 

 

 

IMG_1803 [Campanula drabifolia]

 This is a short, fairly delicate, bristly annual plant

 with blue-violet flowers about 10-16 mm in diameter.

It grows in central and south mainland Greece

and the Aegean islands. It is not present in Crete.

It blooms from April to June in rocky grounds at low levels.

 

 The pictures were taken on Mt. Hymittos.

 

 

 

 

Ophrys argolica

304_5889 [Ophrys argolica]

This is a perennial, low-growing (15-35 cm), wild orchid

with a deep brown lip of about 12 mm in length

and two prominent, usually bluish, eyes

that make this beautiful species easily recognizable.

 

It is found in scrub, grassy hillsides and olive groves of East Mediterranean.

  

 

304_2060 [Ophrys argolica]

 

 In Greece,

it is found in South mainland and on the islands of Crete and Cythera.

It blooms in March to May at heights up to 1000 m.

 

 

Christ is Risen!

Photo by: Anonymous, Public domain. Downloaded from: https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=6451545 

 

 Χριστός Ανέστη! Χρόνια πολλά!

 

Some of my friends who don’t speak Greek

may not be familiar with the Greek script in the phrase above

and might find it difficult to understand its meaning,

so, here’s a brief explanation:

 

“Χριστός Ανέστη!” means “Christ is Risen!”

It is the phrase the Greeks use to greet each other for the next 40 days

beginning from the moment Jesus’ resurrection is declared by the priest

and is joyfully chanted in church at midnight of Holy Saturday to Easter Sunday. 

 

“Χρόνια Πολλά!” means “May you live for many years!”

It is a wish-phrase we express immediately after “Χριστός Ανέστη”

 

So,

Χριστός Ανέστη! Χρόνια Πολλά to you ALL!

[No matter what language you speak.]

from Tagton, the blogger.

  

***

  The above image is a photographic depiction

of a mosaic of the early 11th century (c. 1020–1030),

located in the Monastery of Hosios Loukas

[Google Maps: 38.395444, 22.746839].

 

It is titled ‘Anastasis’ [=Resurrection]

and depicts Jesus' descent into Hades (= Hell) after Crucifixion

to bring salvation to humanity.

 

It is a masterpiece bearing a lot of symbolism.

As a whole,

the image of Resurrection symbolizes Jesus' triumph over death.

The figure of Jesus, in particular, is placed in the center of the composition

triumphantly standing on the shattered gates of Hell

to symbolize the defeat of death.

He grasps Adam by the wrist and raises Adam and Eve from their tombs;

a symbolic gesture of universal salvation.

On the left,

two prominent figures from the Old Testament,

probably the Kings David and Solomon, as identified from their crowns,

witness the moment of redemption.

The dark, lower portion of the mosaic

represents the profound darkness of the underworld,

contrastingly highlighting Christ as the light. 

 

In a nutshell,

this mosaic, executed in shimmering gold tesserae,

is a Byzantine mosaic of outstanding artistic quality;

as such, it is worth seen in person on the church wall

of a monastery considered a World Heritage monument by UNESCO.

 

 

Allium neapolitanum

804_2538 [Allium neapolitanum]

 

Allium neapolitanum is the most common species of wild garlic

both in Greece and in the rest of the Mediterranean.

It is a perennial flowering plant that grows from 20-50 cm

and is seen in bloom from February to May

in grassy and stony habitats, on cultivated and fallow grounds,

as well as on roadsides, bushy places and open pine forests.

It is also widely grown in gardens. 

 

 

IMG_0770 [Allium neapolitanum]

Its white flowers are 2 cm wide, star-shaped,

and have a mild smell of garlic.

   

 

303_7700 [Allium neapolitanum]

The flowers are arranged in the form of an untidy umbrella-like structure (umbel)

which extends up to 10 cm in diameter.

 

 

 

303_7700 [Allium neapolitanum]

  

An umbel of flowers fully in bloom.

 

 

Geranium molle

804_2489 [Geranium molle]

 

 Many people consider Geranium molle to be a weed,

possibly because it thrives and spreads rapidly in the correct conditions.

However, in spite of that rather contemptuous title,

it produces small but beautiful flowers

which beautify the whole area around,

especially when large numbers have bloomed.

 

The plant grows to a height of 35-40cm,

while the bloom is only 6-10mm in diameter.

It is widespread in all European countries,

except northern ones,

and likes grassland and rocky soil

at altitudes ranging from sea level to 1900m.

 

In Greece,

it grows on the mainland and on several islands,

blooming from February to May depending on altitude.

 

804_2521 [Geranium molle]

This image appears to accentuate

the shape of the leaves and the plant's short and long hairs,

two of the many characteristics

that separate Geranium molle from other species.

 

 

Delichon urbicum

304_5212 [Delichon urbicum]

 

Swallows are the harbingers of spring,

symbolizing the rebirth of nature

and the end of winter.

Since we’re officially entering spring today,

I’m sharing these timely photos with you.

 

 

304_5188 [Delichon urbicum]

 

304_5198 [Delichon urbicum]

 

I love swallows

but I haven’t seen them around yet this year.

 It’s probably because of the unusually unfavorable weather conditions

we are experiencing this year.

 So,

these older photos taken in Oropos a few years ago

will hopefully bring the spring message.

 

  

Ruscus aculeatus

 

[Ruscus aculeatus]

 

Ruscus aculeatus (commonly known as “Butcher’s boom” is an evergreen, short shrub

that hardly ever reaches 1 m in height.

 

From February to April, it produces greenish-white flowers

that grow solitary, or two together,

on the upper part of what looks like leaves (1-4 cm long)

but actually they are not.

They are flattened extensions of the stem functioning as leaves!

 

The flowers are very small (3-5 mm), star-shaped,

with male and female appearing on separate plants.

 

Successfully pollinated female flowers are initially green

but gradually they become bright red berries (10-15 mm across)

which remain on the plant for quite some time. [See berry below.]

 

The plant occurs in woodland, scrub, and shady rocky places

on altitudes up to 1000 m throughout much of Europe.

 

Wondering about the plant’s funny name?

Well, it is said that

butchers in older times used to tie branches of the plant together

and used it as a broom!

 

 

  

801_1370 [Ruscus aculeatus]

 A close-up of what seems to be perceived as leaves.

 

 

[Ruscus aculeatus]

 A close-up on a star-shaped tiny flower.

 

 

[Ruscus aculeatus]

 

A close-up of a berry in its final stage of development.

 

 

Himantoglossum robertianum

801_1546 [Himantoglossum robertianum]

 Himantoglossum robertianum at an early stage of its development

 

 Himantoglossum robertianum

is a widespread wild orchid of the Mediterranean,

typically short to medium in height, reaching up to about 50 cm.

It grows across all Mediterranean countries, including Greece

where it appears both on the mainland and throughout the islands,

at elevations up to roughly 1700 m.

Flowering begins early in the year - usually from February through April - 

and it can be seen in grassy habitats, scrub, roadsides, and open woodland.

Its blooms show remarkable variation,

appearing in many different colors and shades.

Several examples of prevalent shades can be seen

in earlier posts shared HERE.

 

 

 

IMG_0655 [Himantoglossum robertianum]

 

 the plant in a state of maturity

 

 

 

801_3405 [Himantoglossum robertianum]

flowers densely packed in a spike-like inflorescence

 

 

 

 a cropped section of the picture above revealing details

 

Please click on the last picture to have a better view of details. Thanks.