Cretan flowers

Hi Gay Gardener!

We were on the North coast, just down the road from Hersonissos. I was going to say that Hersonissos is a bit like Blackpool with sunshine, but that would be an insult to Blackpool. Our hotel was great, however, and sufficiently far from the town for it not to be an issue, especially as the grounds were vast. There are also some lovely villages up in the hills, so you really don't have to have anything to do with the town.

We ventured into Hersonissos just once. We walked across the beach to get there, and my son got some sand stuck in his sandal which was hurting him. So we found a place to sit down while he poured a bit of bottled water - the only thing we had with us - over his foot to wash it off. Immediately a mad woman came flying out of one of the shops screaming 'what are you doing? We sit on that seat!', as though we had just vomited over the pavement and then smeared something very nasty all over her shop window. I explained that it was only water, and it was on the ground, not the seat. 'Don't do it!', she screamed, 'it's not nice!'. Perhaps the inhabitants are allergic to water. That would certainly explain a lot.

 

Clare, I love Crete and have had some great holidays there. Mostly on the east bit and the south coast though. As you say, if you get out of the main towns you can be in paradise pretty quick. I went through Malia which I think it a major destination once and I was a bit taken aback, crowds everywhere and packed to the gills and people the worse for wear staggering about mid day. Not my cuppa really, but each to their own Must say I have found the people generally very pleasant and even quite clean
How did your Lantanas do here? What kind of situation did you grow them in? I always thought they'd be difficult so have not attempted so far, but would be keen to have a go but have never seen them on sale at any of the common places.

 

As you say, each to his own. Quite why anyone would want to go to somewhere as beautiful as Crete and spend their time legless in Malia (an 'English' resort, like Torremolinos) or Hersonissos I really don't know. Yes, the people, apart from the odd madwoman, are lovely and very clean. It's just Hersonissos that isn't. But then, since it mostly caters for eighteen year olds who want to trash things, there's little point in keeping things looking nice. It's not even a real town, just a tourist place. It has no schools and few everyday services because the people who work there decamp back to their villages at the end of the season. I must say we enjoyed being totally lazy and just staying at the hotel this year (not much of a hardship; it has its own beach, seven swimming pools and four restaurants ) but next year we'll hire a car and get around a bit. I'll have to pick your brains for the best places to go. We met a lovely lady called Popi who served at one of the bars; next year she wants us to go back to her village so she can cook for us, bless her. She works every single day without a break during the season, so the last thing I want her to do is to spend her spare time labouring on our behalf. I think we'll settle on meeting in a nice taverna.

My lantanas didn't exactly romp away, I'm afraid. They didn't put on much growth and managed only a few feeble flowers. I can't remember where I bought them - it must have been from a local nursery. They looked rather sickly by the end of the summer so I didn't bother bringing them in. The English winter soon does for them.

 

This is a lovely post Clara thank you. It almost makes me wish we were going away somewhere but we are not this year. I would be interested in members' recommendations too. You never know, a last minute .com may just tempt me....:WINK1:

 

Jenny, I make a rule never to recommend places as everyone has a different idea of their perfect holiday and I'd hate to be responsible for a dud. However, I might just make an exception in the case of the place we've just been to. PM me if you do plan that last minute break ...

 

Wicked lovely picks
You Should be on stage Clairlou I'd pay to watch you in stand up lol
I mean that for Makeing me laff your better then Comedens on TV Glad you Home Safe n Well all the best Nick

 

Thank you Nick. Have you decided whether to move or not yet?

 

Morning Clare. I have seen Stephanotis for sale as house plants and to be honest often wondered if mine was one ... the label I have could be from a previous Jasmine polyanthum I had which I got rid of because it bloomed profusely for about a week or two then looked straggly the rest of the year. The reason I say this is mine has large leathery-like leaves and has taken years to bloom.

 

I love Crete especially the south and east of the island but if you do the north Chania is worth a visit but to walk the Samaria Gorge is something else 11¼ miles down to the sea. After you have walked that you just walk into the sea and sizzle.

 

Dont think so not this one any way

we are still going to look to see wot crops up tho

 

Lovely pics there ClaraLou. I'm going to the occupied area of Cyprus for a change in a few weeks time. I normally do Cyprus every year or so, (the Southern bit, but don't say that when you're there).

I've had Bougainvillea before to have a taste of the Med at home and they grew lovely. Unfortunately i had to get rid of them when they got too big after circling the lounge and lapping themselves.

Had a Black Olive standard in the back garden in a pot too but although hardy, they just don't seem to grow properly unless they're in swelteringly ideal conditions.

Same goes for the Oleanders i had - hardy down to -10deg but what they don't tell you when you buy them is that they'll end up looking ugly in our less than ideal climate.

 

Hello Scorpio

I have an olive tree growing in a large pot and it seems to be doing ok. Mind you, we have a monsoon going on at the moment and I haven't checked it recently. They cope with the cold weather quite well, as Mediterranean winters can be cold, but I think you're right to say that they really need a good baking in the summer.

Hope you have a great time in Cyprus. I must say I miss the Cretan sunshine. Kent has been treetreetree miserable this summer, hasn't it?

 

Hi ClaraLou,i must admit the Black Olive was ok for the first two years but after a further 2 years of leaves constantly going yellow with brown magnifying glass looking burn marks on them, it became very sparse and being able to look straight through it, it was a shadow of it's former self. Same with the Oleanders which never actually flowered. They did ok growth-wise on the kitchen windowsill over winter but once outside May onwards they just didn't want to know. I suppose the easiest solution is to move to the Med lol. The only good thing with the current weather is that it's keeping my water butts topped up which saves on the water bills now that i have a meter.