TOUCH THE SUN FROM WITHIN
(A LETTER FROM THASSOS GREECE)

Thassos is an island which preserves remnants of the Earth’s bygone paradise age sightseeings. It reminds me of how the world which we had lost looked like. I am there at the unrepetable moment when early spring wakes up, as usual at the first half of May, when all plants start to grow for the summer big flowering bang. I used to observe breath of atmosphere, whispering of winds (I am a meteorologist) and voices of streamlets and to think about pureness of nature. Especially, due to my inner vocation, I was paying the most of my attention to the wild plants trying to hunt for their varieties in order to feel myself as close as possible to the place where I was spending my holiday.
There are hundreds of fascinating, delicious wild plants growing in the meadows, on the hills, on the beaches, along the water streams, in the parks and forests all around Thassos. People usually miss to fully recognize these plants which make incomparable world of symphony of colors, shapes, smells and harmony with environment. You can enjoy their beauty which gathers sunshine of Thassos and moreover you can taste them, feel the sun inside, because many of them are edible. Many are easy-to-recognize renewable resources which easily can be collected and enjoyed doing no harm to the environment. It is really a pity that the restaurants on the island usually don’t serve beverages, salads, and dishes spiced with those plants.
Here I want to offer short introduction to Thasos of no tackled nature. I want to attract your attention to the several wild plants that I meet every spring on Thasos and to share their beautyness and my experience with you. I hope that next time you’ll see the island within, a bit differently, and that you’ll touch the wild secrets of this paradise.

Platanus Orientalis

eng: Eastern plane

deutch: Orientalische Platane

Huge old planes grow along the water streams of the island. (We met this one on our way to Maries.) On hot days, they offer a pinch of antiquity and a totally different, cool climate in their shades.

Olea Europea

eng: Olive tree

deutch: Oelbaum

Thassos is well known after its olive production. It seems that the olives are almost everywhere, except rocks and very steep slopes. Some trees are obviously very old.

Pinus nigra
eng: Pine
deutch:

Huge pine-tree forests grew on the island of Thassos before they were devastated by fire. Although the forests are gone, there are still enough pines for nice-smelling shades and lots of delicious dark honey which can be bought in almost every store.

Robinia pseudacacia
eng: Black locust
deutch: Akazie
In May, on Thassos one can see countless black locust trees that fill the air with sweet smells and buzzing of bees. We were eating their flowers to touch the taste of the new spring.

Quercus coccifera
eng:
deutch: Scharlacheiche

This lovely oak with thorny little leaves grows mainly like a bush among similar plants on hill slopes. But somewhere, mainly near churches, some beautiful old trees can be seen. These ones grow besides the small church in Castro and, tough beautiful, certainly were not the biggest ones we have seen.

Cerastium decalvans

This is a gentle virgin flower which blossoms on the hills. This variety of botanical genus Cerastium grows only on Thassos, and we found it on the rocks separating Theologos from Kynira.

Matricaria chamomilla
eng: Chamomile
deutch: Kamille

In May, chamomile flourishes all over the Greece. Together with mallow and poppy it colors unforgettable pictures of Mediterranean meadows. It can be collected in large quantities, dried in several days, and taken home as a fragrant souvenir. This photo was taken in Maries.

Malva silvestris
eng: Mallow
deutch: Rundblättrige Malve

In the ancient times, the mallow was cultivated as an edible and healing plant. Today, this omnipresent plant is somehow neglected. Its leaves and flowers make great soups and salads. On Thassos, you’ll find it only in places where goats and sheep can’t go (this one is photographed near the Laminaria’s Castle).