Morning Glory

Old-fashioned damask roses are still popular here and can be found in old gardens and courtyards. They grow readily from cuttings and smell fabulous.  It is this kind of rose that is used to make rosewater and attar of roses.

Pearl grey skies over a calm sea in Pedi.
 That blob of bright blue on the shoreline in the middle of the picture is part of the Pedi Beach Hotel.

 

It is a cloudy day and thunderstorms are forecast.  So far no rain has fallen apart from isolated drops making patterns in the dust that has already settled on every exterior surface.  It is now a month since Symi has had any significant rain and it is starting to show. The wild flowers are fading rapidly and the rocky hillsides are turning from green to gold and grey.  The gardens, however, are still full of colour.  Symi’s crowded architecture with houses ranked in tiers up steep hillsides and little level ground does not prevent the Symiots from creating something delightful from whatever tiny patch of outside space they may be able to glean.  Pots, planters and hanging baskets are tucked wherever space can be found and are nurtured with the water from washing vegetables and other domestic chores.  I took some photographs on my way to work this morning to share with you.

Have a good week.

Regards,
Adriana



The peripatetic plant sell had some lovely petunias for sale when he passed through Symi last week.
This one liked it so much here it decided to stay :-)

There was a big wedding on the island yesterday.  The celebratory bangs were on a par with the Easter dynamite last weekend.  One of the bridal cars was still wearing its wedding finery early this morning.



Who needs acres of landscaping when a dozen pots can provide a garden of miniature roses and carnations?  The BBQ out in the street sees a lot of use in the summer. When I first came to Symi 20 years ago they were very common as most kitchens only had 2 gas rings and housewives cooked out of doors to keep the kitchen cool.

Morning glory and a grape vine at the top of the Kali Strata.

Maria who sells herbs on the steps of the Kali Strata in the summer is drying her wares in a lane beside her house.  Note the umbrella hanging on the washing line lower down.