A walk in the Park

The footpaths of Ai Yiannis Detis in Naoussa lead to the lighthouse in a festival of sounds, colors and smells especially in the beginning of spring (around the end of February) when many of the wildflowers are preparing to wave their vivid flags. The most prevalent sound is that of the sea which accompany the walker throughout the entire length of the footpaths but also that of the birds which keep a protective eye on their territory. One can also hear the whistle of the wind as it streams through cliffs and crevices of the rock after its long journey across the Aegean. The colors range from deep blue from the sea and the sky, meadow green, a kaleidoscope of yellow, white, pink, mauve and red from the indigenous wild flowers of the area and shades that range from grey to warm violet as the rock formations change colors according to the time of day. The scents, stirred by the winds, permeate from the myroskeles (?), the sea weed under the sea, the mint from the wetlands and other unspecified grasses. In Greece we find more that 6,000 species of plants due to the varied climate and the many forms of geographical configurations (mountains, ravines, rivers, marshes, islands, plains, volcanoes, etc.) Approximately 700 plant species found in the general area are endemic and can be found no where else.

In the Cyclades alone we can find at least 1200 different plant species and 92 plant families and many of these can be found on Paros. The indigenous vegetation of the region of Agios Ioannis Detis of Paros is typical of the aeifyllon(?) and hard leafed plants found in the area of the Mediterranean. These plants are mostly thorny and bulb-type low bushes and dry brushwood.

A remarkable particularity of the area is the total absence of tall bushes and trees or a large variety of plant life which can be found in other areas of Paros. This is mainly because of the dry and arid climate, little rainfall and long summers and the direct adjacency to the sea and exposure to very strong winds that virtually slap the poor planst mercilessly discouraging growth. Another factor is the considerably steep inclining and rocky ground surface on Paros. Perhaps though, the most detrimental factor is that of man’s indifference to nature which is exhibited through over grazing and brush fires.