Perfect pink azalea blossom

Last night the wind blew up in a flurry of freezing rain drops and today Symi sparkles in cold winter sunshine. I awoke to a garden strewn with almond petals and olive twigs and a perfect pink azalea blossom bobbing gently in the dog's water bowl.

Rows of white crests march across the inky depths of the Mediterranean and it was more by luck than design that the ferry was allowed to run today. Surfing downhill to Rhodes isn't too bad but pounding back into solid walls of water is not for the faint hearted. On days such as this from the top of the mountain one can see clean across the Datca peninsula to Kos and beyond and the wind howls around the peaks, bending the trees into the contorted shapes that puzzle summer time visitors who have never seen anything stronger than a meltemi bluster.

The long range forecast shows plunging temperatures and strong winds as we move into the coldest weeks of winter and rain is forecast for Sunday. Time to retreat to the greenhouse and plant up the little trays of tomatoes, peppers and aubergines for summer. I have managed to nurse several chilli bushes and some clumps of lemon grass through the cold thus far as the only access we have to such exotic ingredients here is by growing them ourselves.

Have a good weekend.

Regards,
Adriana
www.symivisitor.com