Wednesday, April 24, 2013

Strolling into Spring


Yesterday, while preparing the patio for a friend's visit, I snapped a few shots of the front entrance and surrounding garden. The sun was warm and inviting and the light was spectacularly bright. 

 Above is our herb and rock garden. We had originally planted oregano, thyme, rosemary, mint, laurel, lavender, and a few Cretan herbs used for aromatic teas. It is quite lush right now and the herbs fill the air with a minty freshness that floats along in the spring breeze. 


On the left, above, is how the herb garden looked when we first planted it, about four years ago. I can't believe how tall and full the Goldcrest cedar trees have grown! 


 Still to make an appearance is an intensely sweet and  exotic type of jasmine, which arrives with the start of summer. Here on the island, that could be any day now!  The strange thing is, we don't remember planting it - a gift from the gods, I guess!


My one and only lilac bloom! We planted two bushes three years ago. They prefer a cooler climate, so I consider myself lucky for this lone, nonetheless, lovely, lilac! After all, it only takes one to breathe in its intoxicating perfume.
Bottom left and top right: Callistemon, Bottom right: Metrosideros Excelsa
These prickly red stunners are magnificent in Mediterranean gardens. The Callistemon, which in Greek means 'good thread', also known as the bottle brush flower for its cylindrical shape, which, along with its look-alike, rounder sidekick, called Metrosideros Excelsa, accent the wavy stone border at our front entrance.
 
Left: Before, Right: Now


Our black wrought iron fence is now covered by the density of the cedars and Leyland cypresses. Although I appreciate the beauty and fullness of these evergreens, I also love the views of the vineyards and olive groves in the near distance.  It was either a little privacy or pretty views, and my husband, being practical and protective, insisted on the former. 



Fortunately, from the upstairs veranda we have panoramic views for miles, including the island of Dia, anchored in the Sea of Crete.



Paid a visit to our local flower nursery a few weeks ago and returned with some gorgeously robust red petunias to warmly welcome guests at the front door. 


Left: A small vineyard at our front gate, Middle: our Callistemon tree, Right: our Maple tree





The petite potted daisies situated on the patio are so adorable! I just had to give you a closer look at these mini pink petals that always make me smile!


Hope you enjoyed this little stroll
 around our spring garden.

Thanks for visiting,


xo

Poppy

50 comments:

  1. What a lovely garden and amazing colors!

    ReplyDelete
  2. Okay, so I know we just met, but may I vacation at your home ;) Your garden is absolutely stunning. The second photo of your herb garden is drop dead gorgeous ~ like you could frame that photo and display in your house! And the view from your veranda ~ seriously, you are living the dream, girl!!!

    ReplyDelete
  3. Wow your property is amazing! Love the stone wall and wrought iron gate. It definitely looks like spring to me!

    Jeanine

    ReplyDelete
  4. If I could plop a tiny house on your property, I do believe I'd come live there. Only if I was invited of course!
    Brenda

    ReplyDelete
  5. Hi, Poppy - Thank you for this beautiful garden tour! Oh, how I would love to garden in such a climate. Rosemary, lavender, jasmine....all a bit iffy to grow in DC. I do have rosemary and lavender, but neither are that healthy and happy.
    Cheers,
    Loi

    ReplyDelete
  6. Love this tour, what a beautiful spot on earth you've been blessed with...some day I will travel to Europe...:)

    ReplyDelete
  7. Wow! Can't wait until our flowers really bloom like that around here! Saw that you're from Greece! The hubs and I are taking a two week mediterranean cruise for our 10 year anniversary in a couple years and I can't WAIT!

    PS – My May giveaway will be for a new blog design by my personal designer! Stay tuned if you're interested! Our Journey

    ReplyDelete
  8. Beautiful! The little pink daisies are so sweet. Your whole view is amazing.

    ReplyDelete
  9. What a lovely, beautiful garden. The herb garden is gorgeous.

    Kathy

    ReplyDelete
  10. Wow, so beautiful! Your pictures capture the colors so well.

    Jocelyn @ http://justalittlesouthernhospitality.blogspot.com

    ReplyDelete
  11. What beautiful gardens. All of them! Your plants really flourish over there. What kind of weather do you have? Is it warm year around? Thanks for sharing your gorgeous flowers with us.

    Judy

    ReplyDelete
  12. Everything is so bright and beautiful. One couldn't help but be cheerful in a place like this I'm thinking. It's always fun to see the landscaped beauty of other countries. Thanks for sharing!! -Susie-

    ReplyDelete
  13. WOW what a beautiful garden and patio. The flowers are so pretty and I love the colors. The views that you have are beautiful.
    Thanks for sharing this post.
    Mary

    ReplyDelete
  14. What an utterly enchanting garden. Gorgeous! Susan

    ReplyDelete
  15. Absolutely stunning! Your colors and views are amazing Poppy. My lilac are a ways from opening up.. it's still cold here. I have enjoyed the tour today! Such a lovely post to start my day.

    xxleslie

    ReplyDelete
  16. ΄Ομορφο το σπίτι και εξωτερικά !!
    Υπέροχος ο κήπος σας, λατρεύω τις πετούνιες !!

    ReplyDelete
  17. Poppy, Wow.. you sure are strolling into spring!!
    what gorgeous pictures.. I love all your landscaping and
    gorgeous views..
    Ya lucky girl!!

    ReplyDelete
  18. What delightful pictures, you are so lucky to be living in Crete. I am your newest follower. I am visiting you via No Minimalist Here. Do stop by My Dream Canvas to see my latest makeover and follow back if you like. Thanks!!

    ReplyDelete
  19. Υπέροχος ο κήπος και πανέμορφα τα χρώματα ! Η θέα σου κόβει την ανάσα !
    Καλό Πάσχα !

    ReplyDelete
  20. I can't find the words to describe your lovely garden. What a wonderful place to live with your spectacular views.

    Enjoy!

    ReplyDelete
  21. Your garden is only equaled by the pretty views you have! I love growing herbs and wish I had more space. Thanks so much for sharing, you really live in a beautiful place! :)

    Visiting from French Country Cottage.

    XO,
    Jane

    ReplyDelete
  22. Beautiful gardens, I love seeing the green & the blooms,
    since spring is not wanting to show her face here....
    Thanks for sharing,
    Cheryl
    zany-mayd.blogspot.com

    ReplyDelete
  23. You have a gorgeous garden and the view out to sea is stunning.

    ReplyDelete
  24. As always, Poppy - your gardens are views are simply gorgeous!

    ReplyDelete
  25. Thank you for stopping by My Dream Canvas and your sweet comment. Have a great weekend. Anu

    ReplyDelete
  26. Good Morning Poppy, Aaahhh Memories! Seeing your garden takes me straight back to the days when I lived in Cyprus. I was always amazed how quickly plants grew. Your herb garden is so full of wonderful herbs just ready to be used.
    The jasmine is one of my favourites. We used to have jasmine growing over an arch, and when it was full of blossom, if we shook it gently, the perfume which came from the flowers was wonderful.
    What can I say above the view, which has not already been said....it is stunning.
    Thank you for the peek into your garden, I have thoroughly enjoyed myself.
    Best Wishes
    Daphne

    ReplyDelete
  27. Wow, you are lucky to live surrounded by such beauty! Gorgeous photos!

    ReplyDelete
  28. O My Goodness!! So beautiful!!

    Thanks so much for stopping by and for your sweet comment on my patio!! I just posted the patio as it is now but minus the flowers ( too cold yet here)...

    Hugs,
    Deb

    ReplyDelete
  29. Hi Poppy, everything look so colourful and abundant. What a spectacular views you have. We have bottle brush here in OZ as well. I think they are native to Australia? They are varied and of different cultivars. Hardy and drought tolerant! It's good to see yours displaying that magnificent red. Thank you for sharing.

    And thank you for leaving a lovely comment the other day.

    Enjoy your week!

    ReplyDelete
  30. I have to say that you seem to live in the loveliest place on earth! Such incredible beauty and that view! Goodness, if I went there I would never want to return home, Poppy.

    I love jasmine. When I lived in California, night blooming jasmine was everywhere and it remains a strong sense memory.

    Thanks so much for joining in this week!

    xo
    Claudia

    ReplyDelete
  31. Poppy, I'm stoopping by from Claudia's, and I am just awesruck. This is gorgeous! I know you must feel like you live in paradise. Thank you for sharing with us. I can't imagine living on Crete. Wow!

    XO,

    Sheila

    P.S. I have several Canadian blogging friends I love! :-)

    ReplyDelete
  32. So much to admire here with lush greenery and gorgeous flowers everywhere. I especially love the vibrant pink hanging basket below the lovely lamp.
    http://missbbobochic.blogspot.co.uk/

    ReplyDelete
  33. I love your bright colored patio and all the wonderful plants too!

    ReplyDelete
  34. Hi Poppy! Thanks for your sweet comment on my post. Yes, it is a tablecloth. I cheated and cropped a photo from one of my most Popular Posts about my Red Wing Tea Set. My, but your home and property is pretty! I really enjoyed the tour of your herb garden, and your beautiful flowers and yard. It's all so pretty, and the chair cushion is quite cheery! We still don't have leaves on the trees here, but today is in the 80s for the 1st time. Unfortunately, they are forecasting a low of 30F later this week. Ah well. Soon enough we'll be complaining about the long hot summer no doubt. (Here in the middle of the USA we can have extreme cold in the winter and extreme heat in the summer and everything inbetween any time!) I do hope we get some spring first, though! :) Blessings for a week as beautiful as you are! Bess

    ReplyDelete
  35. Hello Poppy, don't you just feel the weight of the world lifted when you take in the amazing fragrance of the garden - so marvelous! I am trying to find a lilac bush that will thrive in our warmer climate - I'll let you know if I find one! You are blessed for that one heavenly bloom, I do appreciate you sharing with Home and Garden Thursday,
    Kathy

    ReplyDelete
  36. I love my little getaways to Greece now and again :) Everything is so lovely and lush there right now, and that herb garden is a stunner. The orange flowers, the Callistemon, are new to me...they are extraordinary!

    I would like to stay awhile and stroll around...hopefully you are cooking something good for dinner ? :)

    ReplyDelete
  37. You have a beautiful place! Thanks for sharing on the HomeAcre hop and please join us again this week: http://everythinghomewithcarol.com/self-sufficient-homeacre-hop-and-herbal-tea-giveaway/

    ReplyDelete
  38. This is my first visit to your site. Your flower gardens and herb beds are just beautiful! I saw the picture of your beautiful red petunia hanging basket over at Cozy Little House and just had to pop by for a better look. I am so glad I did. Everything looks beautiful where you are. I'm in the Midwest and this year we have not really gotten into the swing of Spring yet with our weather.

    ReplyDelete
  39. Beautiful post! Please come link it up to the party if you have time. It is live now! Enjoy your week!

    ReplyDelete
  40. Hi Poppy, Your yard and gardens look so beautiful. What a gorgeous view from your upstairs. I see you have a maple tree planted. A little bit of Canada to enjoy there. Is it a common tree for Crete? Spring has finally hit us on the east coast but the Prairies are getting hit with winter again. Such weird weather this year. Have a great week. Blessings, Pamela

    ReplyDelete
  41. Your gardens are so pretty. So lush and full. You really have done an amazing job with them.

    ReplyDelete
  42. What a beautiful garden tour. Everything looks so beautiful. Have a great week. Blessings, Dani

    ReplyDelete
  43. love love the pictures, your Jasmine is a star jasmine and baby her and she will treat you...peak at my blog...I have a pic of mine which is full bloom and a loving 2 stories tall

    ReplyDelete
  44. This is such a pretty post, Poppy!

    Thank you for joining Say G'day Saturday-hope to see you again this weekend!

    Best wishes,
    Natasha in Oz

    ReplyDelete
  45. First time visitor to your blog and I Love how lovely every thing looks. The gardens are lush and your kitchen is filled with red and white check fabric and chicken pottery which is found in my kitchen too. I will be back soon for another visit! Blessings, Carolyn in Florida

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi Carolyn!

      Thank you so much! I sent you an email, but not sure if you received it. Please let me know where I can reach you!

      Poppy

      Delete
  46. Hello Poppy,

    I love visiting your blog and your
    garden stroll was so beautiful!
    Thank you for sharing your photos.

    Bear Hugs,
    Carolyn

    ReplyDelete
  47. I love strolling through your garden! The blooms are so pretty and the stone wall and fence add so much charm. And that view just takes my breath away every time!

    ReplyDelete
  48. Happy to feature you at the garden party this morning! Thanks so much for sharing! Hope to see you again soon!

    ReplyDelete

Thanks for stopping by and taking the time to comment. I really appreciate hearing from all of you! Have a great day!