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.”

 

Acacia dealbata

IMG_0048 [Acacia dealbata]

 

A cropped section of the previous picture.
 

 

Acacia dealbata, commonly known as Mimosa,

is not a tree I often see in my area

but whenever I see one, especially when they are in full bloom,

I stop and enjoy the look of it, as I find it unusual and impressive.

Probably because of the beautiful contrast

between its green leaves and the fragrant, bright yellow flowers.

 

It starts blooming in February when other flowering plants are still dormant.

 

This medium-size tree is native to Australia

but has also naturalized in Mediterranean countries.

 

 

 

804_2387 [Acacia dealbata]

A closeup of dealbata flowers.

Each yellow bead-like flower is about 5mm wide. 

  

Nicotiana glauca

804_2325 [Nicotiana glauca]

Nicotiana glauca, commonly known as “tree tobacco”,

is a species of a small flowering tree native to South America

but it’s also widespread and naturalized globally

as an introduced species on other continents.

 

It normally grows to over 2m

and is considered a roadside weed, poisonous to humans and livestock.

 

Its yellow tubular flowers are about 5 cm long and 1 cm wide.

 

[Info derived and adapted from Wikipedia.]

 

 

 

IMG_6786 [Nicotiana glauca]

 The pictures were taken at the foot of Mt. Hymittos.

 

 

Ceratonia siliqua

803_3590 [Ceratonia siliqua]

 

The picture above shows a tree (called Ceratonia siliqua)

that I don’t see very often but it has attracted my photographic attention.

It is long-lived, evergreen and can become 5-10 m tall.

It originated from the eastern Mediterranean region

but it has gradually spread to the rest of the Mediterranean countries

and even further into Europe.

 

In Greece,

it is mainly found in Attica, in the Peloponnese and in many Aegean islands.

 

Here are some additional pictures

that may be justifying why it attracted my attention.

 

 

IMG_6373 [Ceratonia siliqua]

 Ceratonia’s leaves are deep green and shiny on the top

but underside, they are light-green.

 

 

803_5594 [Ceratonia siliqua]

Its flowers grow and hang from the tree-trunk and from branches.

 

In this picture, the flowers are in their initial stage of development

during September.

 

 

WPVV9109 [Ceratonia siliqua]

As they grow, they look like bunches of grapes!

 

 

803_5578 [Ceratonia siliqua]
 

 A close-up shot of mature flowers.

Ceratonia’s flowers are very small, have no petals, have a heavy smell

and can consist of male, female or both male and female reproduction organs

on the same tree.

 

 

IMG_3633 [Ceratonia siliqua]

 Fertilized flowers turn into fully shaped green fruit (10-30 cm x 1.5-3 cm) …

 

 

803_3596 [Ceratonia siliqua]

 

 

 … and gradually (when ripe) they become dark brown.

 

The process lasts almost a year, from Fall to the end of August!

 

At the age of 25-30 years,

a tree can give about 850 kg of nutritious fruit,

suitable for both animal and human consumption.

 

 

Ferula communis

IMG_0935 [Ferula communis]

 

Ferula communis is a perennial plant

that grows on stony slopes and uncultivated areas

on altitudes of up to 600 m and blooms from March to June.

 It can grow more than 4 meters in height.

 

Its stem, that sometimes can be wider than 10 cm at its base,

is hollow and filled with a soft white substance

which – when it is set on fire – burns very slowly without a flame.

 

According to the Greek Mythology,

Prometheus took advantage of this property of the plant

to hide the fire when he stole it from Zeus

and brought it to the mortals.

 

IMG_0938 [Ferula communis]

The upper part of the plant above.

It was captured from a shorter distance

for details to be seen more clearly.

 

Photographed on Mt. Hymittos

 

 

IMG_1109 [Ferula communis]

mature plants near Sounio

 

 

303_1858 [Ferula communis]

 

Focus on the flowers, also from Sounio

 

 

Pyracantha coccinea

IMG_0962 [Pyracantha coccinea]

This evergreen thorny shrub grows in countries of southern Europe and western Asia

not only in the wild but also in gardens and hedges in urban areas.

 

Beware of the thorns!

 

 

804_0514 [Pyracantha coccinea]

 

Pyracantha’s (fruit-) berries are bitter and astringent.

They may look like big tomatoes in this closeup picture

but they are actually only 6-7 mm wide.

Ficus carica

IMG_1304 [Ficus carica]

 

Ficus carica: Our well-known fig tree.

 

I found it standing at the side of a road on Mt. Hymittos. It was “dressed” in its autumn colors 

and was creating a striking contrast with the all-green environment around.

 

It had no figs to offer. Only a strong “color coded message” that we were heading to the center of Winter. 

 

 

IMG_1307 [Ficus carica]

One of its lowest branches.

IMG_1309 [Ficus carica]

Four leaves at the foot of the tree seemed to refuse to accept

that Winter was unavoidably coming.

 

Photographed on October 27, 2022

Two Trees at the Town Hall

a 023 [dead tree]

The tree above, located in the exterior area of the Town Hall of Papagos-Holargos in Athens, had been providing its “services” to the people in the area for decades when, unfortunately, for some reason, it died. After serious consideration, the Council decided to have it removed.

Recently, a new, promising little tree was planted to replace the dead one.

 

The picture was taken in August 2004, a short time before the dead tree was removed.

 

 

803_9835 [olive tree]

 On the other hand, this olive tree - estimated to be about 300 years old - a few days ago was transplanted to the exterior area of the same Town Hall. It used to live somewhere in north Peloponnese (200 km away) but since it was hindering the extension of a new railway line in the area, it was decided to be removed and be offered as a gift to our Municipality where it could be transplanted!

 

Today, it is standing in its new home from where it reminds passers-by that technological progress and environment conservation are not mutually exclusive.

 

The picture was taken on March 27, 2022.

 

[Clicking on the picture, you can have a better view.]

 

 

Mola

Mola is an area of outstanding natural beauty at an altitude of 1000 m. on Mount Parnitha in Attica

and is a pole of attraction for every visitor of the mountain.

There are beautiful meadows with springs of water, organized places of recreation and a little chapel.

 

 

801_3951 [Mola chapel]

 

The main point of reference in the area is the chapel of Saints Peter and Paul around which there are tables for family picnics, a spring with cold drinking water, and even a small outdoor theater.

Unfortunately, it presents a disappointing image of abandonment both externally and internally and one may even wonder it has ever been used for service.

 

801_7472 [Mola interior]

 

the interior of the chapel

 

 

801_7437 [spring]

Getting a few more drops of water from the nearby spring for the trip back to Athens.

 

UDCH7440 [hollow tree]

This tree, with its hollow and “see-through” trunk, is located behind the chapel. 

Ιt’s shape, coupled with the fact that you can see through the trunk whatever happens on the road behind the tree, is a pure photographic challenge.

The photographer in the center, who is taking a picture of the spring [above], was added afterwards to demonstrate the idea of the “see-through trunk”.

 

The pictures were taken in April 2014. 

 

Please click on the pictures to get a better view.

Majestic trees 2

Cercis siliquastrum

803_1349 [Cercis siliquastrum]

Cercis siliquastrum is another notable example of majestic trees in the area of the Holy Trinity [see previous post].
It might not be as big as Quercus but it is admittedly more colorful with its beautiful flowers. [See below.] 

803_1342 [Cercis siliquastrum]

 This tree is found in the wild but it is also cultivated for its beautiful flowers.

Both pictures were photographed on Mt. Parnitha on April 12, 2018
 
Please click on the pictures for a better view.

Majestic trees

Quercus robur

803_1353 [Quercus robur]

In the area around the church of The Holy Trinity shown in the previous post
there are majestic trees that contribute to the beauty of the scenery.
Quercus robur above is a notable example.  


Focus on the trunk of the same tree

803_1356 [Quercus robur]

The trunk of Oaks like this, according to Wikipedia, can get as much as 12m in circumference! Trees of that size can be found in Great Britain, Latvia and elsewhere in Europe. They also seem to hold a record in longevity since they are believed to live for centuries. According to the same source “Two individuals of notable longevity are the Stelmužė Oak in Lithuania and the Granit Oak in Bulgaria, which are believed to be more than 1500 years old, possibly making them the oldest oaks in Europe”. 

  Both pictures were photographed on Mt. Parnitha on April 12, 2018
 
Please click on the pictures for a better view.

Palm trees

8010634 [Palm trees]

Photographed in the National Gardens of Athens on September 28, 1013

Looking upwards!

BBB5579 [Looking upwards!]

Mt. Pilio 03/04/2010, photo © Tony Taglides

Mission accomplished!

CCC_2867 [Abies cephalonica]

The ground under a tree of Abies cepalonica was covered with hundreds of seeds that had fallen from the tree above. Among them I noticed a strange little figure that - after a close examination - turned out to be a seed that had just “given birth” to a young tree. It had just accomplished its mission! The young tree itself and the seed on top had a total height of about 5 cm.

Mt. Parnitha: 03/05/2011, photo © Tony Taglides

The Haunted Tree

0654 -2 [The Haunted Tree]
 
Athens: 04/06/2006, photo © Tony Taglides