Page 14 - Reflections_over_Akamas

Akamas throughout the year
01
January
Assimilated as an emblem of
the start of the mating season,
the coldest month of the year
sees both migratory and
sedentary birds begin to flock
as they aspire to pair up and
eventually find a breeding
mate. Typical for the season
are partridges who are known
to walk more than fly around
the peninsula.
As the weather gets colder, the
careful pruning of vines and
fruit trees that dot the periphery
of the peninsula begins.
Commonly one will come across
apple trees and plum trees.
Vibrant florae begin to bloom,
starting with anemones, daisies,
different colored varieties of the
Ranunculus family (buttercups,
spearworts, and water crowfoots)
as well as other local and
endemic flowers, while the dry
arid land from the arduous
summer slowly begins to turn
vibrant and green.
Once the first rains arrive,
the resilient wild artichokes
(Cynara Cardunculus) drench
their thirst and begin to sprout
for harvesting and cooking later
on in the year.
270 Reflections over Akamas
270 Reflections over Akamas
Distinguished for its colours, the
shortest month of the year sets the
tone for the upcoming spring.
February acquires its name from
the Latin word februum meaning
purification.
Indeed, February is the month
to prepare for spring, bringing
the promise of longer days. From
February until April the Cyclamen
persicum, the persian cyclamen
as it is known in Greek, begins
to bloom in fields and in rock
crevices. A dominant yellow colour
prevails, offered by the flowering of
wild mustard, chamomile and the
03
March
As the weather gradually warms up,
the first month of spring continues
to bring visible changes to the
peninsula’s landscape, with more
fruit trees and flowers blossoming.
What’s unique during this time
however is the flowering of Akama’s
tulips. Three kinds of tulips! One
of them grows only in the area; it’s
the Tulipa Akamasica, otherwise
known as the tulip of Akamas, a
red relatively short-stemmed flower,
which can only be marvelled at in
Akamas during March and April.
Another, is endemic to the island and
rare in its kind, is the Tulipa Cypria,
the Cyprus Tulip. There are only
02
February
branched asphodel (Asphodelus
ramosus) to name a few, as well
as almond trees that reminisce the
higher planes of the island.
Insects also begin to come out to
light, along with lizards who begin
to come out of hibernation. As for
agricultural activities, ploughing
commences.
some 3000 of them in the Akamas,
and can also be found in other places.
Alongside of them grows the more
common Tulipa agenesis.
Alongside the tulips, thousands of
flowers and herbs find their way out
of the ground, including mallows,
wild sage and oregano as well as
crown daisies, scarlet corn poppies
and 49 species of orchids. Notably,
Akamas boasts some 530 indigenous
plants with over 40 plants having
been found endemic to the area.
Coincidentally, insects have also
started to be more active and begin
their duty to pollinate flowers, while
the wild artichoke begins to bloom.