| |
HORTICULTURAL HIGHLIGHTS FROM GREECE AND TURKEY
When I travel, I am always fascinated by the contrasts and similarities between plants and gardens in Minnesota and the places I visit. I just returned from a trip to Greece and Turkey that yielded more contrasts than similarities. Here are some of the horticultural and agricultural highlights from 17 days of touring:
Olive trees are everywhere - on hillsides, in valleys, road ditches, parks, next to churches, in towns and cities. Roots and trunks of some olive trees are hundreds of years old, we were told, but careful pruning keeps the trees productive and vigorous. Trees are loaded with ripening fruit that will be harvested in November and December.
Both countries were in the middle of cotton harvest. In Greece, combines are slowly replacing hand picking, while in Turkey, the entire crop - thousands of acres - is harvested by Gypsies. We saw many Gypsy camps and traveling caravans, and most fields had clusters of 10 or 15 hunched-over men, women and children stuffing cotton balls into baskets and sacks.
Cornfields were few and far between. A very large sunflower harvest had just finished in Turkey. Hand-picked roma tomatoes were being hauled by donkey-drawn wagons to processing plants scattered throughout both countries.
Santorini Island in the Aegean Sea is noted for its whitewash hillside villages. It was hard for me to stop clicking photos of the brilliant flowers growing in hanging baskets, patio pots and tiny backyard gardens. If only we could grow Bougainvillea like this - is cascades down walls, scrambles sideways across patios and explodes in a panorama of glorious pinks and reds. More dazzling color is added from lantana, hibiscus, geranium, oleander, cotoneaster and many species beyond my capacity to identify.
In Istanbul, Turkey, we toured the interior of the most opulent palace of all time (Dolmabahce), but my interest was drawn to the beautiful grounds surrounding the palace. Luxuriant magnolia trees grow to more than 50 feet and nearly as wide; I would love to see these trees when they're in full-bloom.
I was fascinated by the plane tree (Piatanus orientalis), a huge tree that the Greeks have always associated with the pursuit of wisdom. Its leaves resemble a maple but its most distinctive feature is the bark, which flakes off in segments, exposing white wood that turns green and later brown. The trunks, which can grow to 5 feet or more, resemble a camouflaged hunter's outfit right off the pages of a Cabella's catalog.
We visited ancient Troy in northwestern Turkey, site of the legendary 10-year siege by the Greeks that culminated with the deceptive entry into the city by Greek soldiers concealed inside the Trojan Horse. While our group studied the layered rock foundations of 12 civilizations, I marveled at exotic oak trees with 2-inch diameter shaggy acorns.
I remember being surprised many years ago by the pine forest that covers much of North Carolina. Similarly, I was surprised on this trip by pine forests blanketing the hillsides of Greece and Turkey. My childhood perception that northern Minnesota is the exclusive home of pine trees has gradually given way to the reality that pines are common on every continent.
The topography and climate in Greece and Turkey is similar to central California. The sun shines most of the time and nurtures countless species of fruit and nut trees. We sampled whenever and wherever we had an opportunity, including almonds, pistachios, pomegranate, apples, apricots, grapes and raisins, raspberries, and of course, delicious white and red wine.
Perhaps the prettiest sight of the whole trip, however, was the stunning red foliage on the row of amur maples that greeted us as we drove in our driveway, safe and sound, back in good old Minnesota!
|
|
|
 |
| |
|
 |
| |
PUTTING DOWN ROOTS:
A Delightful Blend of
Gardening Wisdom, Wit
and Whimsy
$10 + $2 for shipping
by Cliff Johnson |
 |
 |
| |
|
