ORCHIDS IN IBIZA

 

WILD ORCHIDS OF IBIZA

Although the name of these beautiful flowers, reminds faraway tropical places such as Costa Rica or Thailand, Ibiza has more than 20 species of native orchids, which are not easy to find. These first three images in this entry, belong to the species of "ophrys fusca" and they found in Mediterranean areas and reaches places as Turkey, Sicily and southern of France. 

 They are wild and protected orchids, so it is totally forbidden to tear them, cut them or to take them,  anyway it's impossible that these beautiful plants can be planted at home because they need the land where they were born, which is almost always the island´s forests.

The kind of "Orphrys Balearica" (picture above and below) is a species found only (as the name suggests) on the Balearic Islands.
Colors vary but not the size, rarely are just over 20 inches high. Interestingly one of the petals resemble the wings of bees and find it much easier to be pollinated. They all bloom the first months of the year, one more reason for visiting Ibiza in winter. In addition to these green and white colors, exist others in yellow, pink, violet and different colors, but they are not easy to find.

FIG TREES IN FORMENTERA

FIG TREES OF FORMENTERA

This entry is dedicated to these trees that exists in big number in both Ibiza and Formentera. But it´s in Formentera may be, due to that dry land that the size of these tree have huge dimensions and is easy to see it. Not only the size of the tree will draw to the traveler attention but also with which careful dedication of the land owners care the tree branches in order to not reach the ground, placing them props for the branches not to fall and rise above ground level.

The fig tree is a tree biblical, which already is an example of resurrection, as in winter the tree looks died, and only we can see their bare trunks during its rest, but in summer lives again, from the spring, where suddenly transforms into a green plant with its huge green leaves covering the tree and also offers its delicious fruits, the figs..

winding brunches are visible to those who will approach these trees, although not need more care than those whose owner don´t want them their branches are off the ground (so it will be much easier to be picked up the fruit), for this tree so resistant that also will offer some delicious figs and also a welcome shade in the countryside, while all around exists the burning sun of summer season, here both people and animals usually rest under the tree shadow, where often many sheeps and goats grazing on the island have their rest on midday.

Some centenarians fig trees became very popular on the island. Some of them were underpinned by over 200 braces, in this case would be the famous fig tree, of Formentera, a tree that some decades ago became a legend, and although I have searched I have not found it (yet), or maybe I've seen it and did not know it was that one; the truth is that in any of the roads of Formentera is located with authentic giants specimens of figtrees. In any case it is hard to understand how the most famous icon of Formentera are the lizards (which are beautiful and very abundant) and has put aside this tree that is a true symbol of this island.

AGAIN THE ALMOND TREES FLOWERS

ALMOND FLOWERS IN SANTA AGNES


They came on delay this year, but have arrived. I do not know if it's true or not but I heard from some farmers of Santa Agnès de Corona, that the almond trees in very cold weather purposely can delay flowering, and do not know if this is so, but the truth is I've never seen a long-delayed flowering as this year.

In fact I believed that this year would not see the white explosion that often create these trees during flowering, and although we could saw some isolated flowers, this year noway is at all as used to do so.

The big cold waves (in fact two), are over, and the white colour that the snow brought, was replaced in days with the white colour of the almond flowers, giving a chance to enjoy those Ibiza fields full of them.

The white colour of the flower, combined with the white cottages, green meadows and the deep blue sky. In this intense winter flowering, the spring starts showing the face, in few days begins. we barely twenty days begins.

GREEN VINES

GREEN VINES IN LA MOLA

Ibiza and Formentera are gradually popular due to wines made on both islands. Before that the locals inhabitants did their wines in relatively small amounts at own homes in a totally traditional ways. Ibiza wine is often referred as "Vino de la Tierra" (land´s wine). It has strong flavor and dark red color, while there is another variety of white wines. A long time ago the Phoenicians made wine, so it´s a long tradition. Currently there are four wineries that are responsible for making wine commercially in large quantities. Do not forget that in the northern town of Sant Mateu de Aubarca is celebrated during December annually a festival dedicated to the wine of Ibiza.

little by little are appearing more vineyards on the Pitiusan fields such as these photographed in the area of ​​La Mola in Formentera in the highest part of the island of Formentera and where I walked for a few narrow dirt roads that made ​​me discover some planted areas with vineyards.

These vines with green leaves and twisted stems, contrasting with the stone walls or the many junipers in the islands. The red soil where these plants grow very well resisting the great summer season with little rain and as it is known, when less rain, more fine wines.

It is a pleasure to stroll through the upper part of Formentera surrounded by vineyards and the background of the famous lighthouse of La Mola on the verge of some impressive cliffs.

CAROB TREES ON GREEN GRASS

GREEN COUNTRYSIDE

How nice is to see the green fields at the countryside of the island. Green as the carob trees as the pine trees they keep their green colour during all year.

The field has turned into a green great carpet that floods all over, splashed with lots of yellow little flowers.

ES CORRALS DEN GUILLEM

CORRALS DEN GUILLEM

SANTA AGNÈS DE CORONA

In this zone exists big precipices known as " Es Amunts " (the high places). It seems that decades ago in this place seems was more crowded that now, but anyway not much more in any case, but specially for domestic animals as ships and goats. Still we can see the corrals that were used in those days. In the image of above we can cleary distinguish the silhouette of the Cap Nonó or Nunó, that can be considered one of the borders of this zone of " Es Amunts " and in the distance the Conejera island.

Due the big level of sea salt enviroment and the strenght of north and west winds the dry "sabinas" are twisted and dramatically dry. This one is a place where the nature is all the year round in its maximum height, owed principally to the existence of the "safareix" or water ponds, that some of them like balconies on the Mediterranean.

Sabinas (some of great size), pines and canes on the one hand, and an extensive vegetation that makes us forget the urban world in which we live every day. To come to this place is to come to a place of peace.

Some plants and trees do their balances in the very same edge of the abyss.

The walls of the ponds, which are normaly filed with water, do that the nature overflow, and from this walls it is possible to observe the blue of the sea.

Some of the corrals that stay we can see (today in disuse) were refuge for domestic animals as sheeps or goats.

Some lime ovens demonstrate that there was permanency in humanizes previously though was not permanent.

The wild ferns are not very typical in the island. But in some very concrete zones of " Es Amunts " they are important in number. This one is the case of the path to which we go down of this area of " Es Corrals den Guillem ".

For the way we meet autochthonous flora of the island. And mixed with this flora (case of the photography of below) we can find beautiful landscapes as the distant islands of Conejera that are perfectly visible from this zone.



The wild Orchids also are present in this zone, to half a way among the landscape of mountain and the spectacular ravines falling to the sea.

FLORS DE BALADRE / ROSEBAY´S FLOWERS

Flors de Baladre

Once we have finished the spring the flowers are normally dissapering. But the Rosebay flowers are starting now the rose colours to envolve our forests, and gardens. The Ibicencan musician group UC dedicated a lovely song to these nice flowers. Isidor Mari was written for the group the lyrics.

Flors de baladre en un torrent, per on no passa mai sa gent,
amb poca cosa en tenen prou,
per treure un altre color nou.

Flors de baladre en un torrent tenen el cor de sol i vent,
viuen només d'alò que cau: aigua de núvol i cel blau.

Flors de baladre en un torrent no es venen per deu ni per cent.

Creuen que tenen un gran riu, quan fa un ruixim de mig estiu,
i es deixen dur torrent avall com ses al·lotes cap a un ball.
I ses que queden, quan no plou, obrin els ulls per veure el sol,
i dos teulats que tenen set en es cocons fan un glopet.


Mind with these plants and flowers so they can be really dangerous if you eat them. The lyrics of the song above talks about the few cuantity of water they need to keep them happy. If you want to hear the song go to this blog onto Spanish version.