Spring flowers

Spring came early this year after a week of continuous rain. During a hike in Antimachia I couldn't help but notice the myriad little flowers popping out everywhere. I thought I'd share a few pictures with you...

 

Of Petunias

Rosemary

Since ancient times Rosemary has been known for its capacity to stimulate memory and has been used as a symbol of remembrance in social gatherings… Reference to the plant can be found in ancient myths, in Don Quixote and Hamlet… This woody perennial herb with needle like evergreen leaves is a native Mediterranean plant. In upright form it reaches 1.5 to 2 meters in height, but it can also be found in crawling form. Trumpet shaped blue-white flowers grow as extensions to the needle like leaves. This plant grows very well in Greece and is a key component of most gardens.

Rosemary is widely used in Greek cuisine mostly to spice up, compliment or enrich food, it provides an outstanding aroma to roasted meats and fish and is largely used in marinades, salads, breads, cooked greens and soups. Somewhat more rarely you can encounter the tea format which is said to stimulate and help concentration. The Rosemary extracts are blended into a wide range of beauty products as the scent is quite distinct and soothing.

Of Bougainvillea

Bougainvillea are thorny, woody vines growing anywhere from 1m to 12 m tall. The leaves are small and green. The flowers are small and white but are surrounded by bracts of all colours. These ornamental plants are very popular in Kos and are used extensively wherever we can set them up to climb, as they embellish the walls with their plush greenery and vivid colours.

Of butterflies

There are plenty of beautiful butterflies flying around on the island of Kos showing off their multicolored wings and feeding off the nectar of the flowers. Most of these pictures were taken in Mastichari.

Fauna and Flora in the Dikaios Mountains

While climbing up to Psilo Vouno we came across a number of interesting trees that have been shaped by the very strong winds that assault them. Even though they are unprotected they have managed to survive in a very demanding environment. The odd bees and a tortoise were also present during our climb.

Of Salt Cedar (Tamarix)

The Salt Cedar can be found all over the island of Kos. This evergreen schrub or tree can reach a height of up to eighteen meters. It is often planted near the sea as it is unique in the sense that it tolerates being close to the sea (i.e. it tolerates the salt). It is therefore ideal as a windbreaker especially in Mastichari where windy days are pretty much the norm.

Of Flowers by Sophia Karagianni

Today, I am thrilled and honored to present a sample of Sophia Karagianni's pictures. Sophia has been a very active photographer and her work includes pictures on a wide variety of subjects, mostly of Kos, including a notable series showcasing all 230 or so Orthodox Churches of the island. 

In this specific post, I have chosen to focus on flowers as it is a subject she is clearly passionate about, that I have scarcely touched upon in my blog. Sophia has been living on the island of Kos since 2003 and for some years now has been photographing many of its hidden splendours. Her inquisitive nature has led her to some of the most remote areas and through her work she has highlighted many aspects of the island that are often ignored, overlooked or discarded. She has been, often without being aware of it, a constant source of inspiration for many of my own posts and for that I am truly grateful. I wholeheartedly encourage her to keep on mesmerizing us with her insights on the beauties of the island and to keep on unraveling her talent as a photographer... Last but not least, I would also like to thank her for letting me host these pictures on my blog.

For those of you who would like to check out more of Sophia's work please click on the following links:
Facebook: Photography by Sophia Karagianni
Blog: http://photographybysophiakaragianni.blogspot.gr/
Panoramio: http://www.panoramio.com/user/6522978 

A few words from the artist herself:

"The only thing I can tell you is that I grew up in Athens, so I could not tell cabbage from lettuce, so to speak..

When I started exploring Kos island, one led to the other, and I tried experimenting on the macro.. I realised that photographing flowers was an endless subject, especially during spring time.. But  it was not only the colours and the different varieties that amazed me, it was knowledge itself. I learned names of flowers, herbs, plants, that I didn't know existed, but also their use and old legends.

Let me give you an example-read the story of the flower of shame

http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=339520479434585&set=a.452568234796475.114915.322903541096279&type=3&theater

What can I say? I love wild flowers and I wish I had better equipment to capture their magnificence."

Translation of the text on the flower: This is the flower of shame. They once told me a story. This flower used to be full of black spots. When the world was full of shame. Now only a small spot is left, right in the middle. When this last one is wiped out there will be no more shame in the world.

You can also watch this video for a more comprehensive presentation of today's theme:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U0zJhkrAbPs&feature=share