Five years have passed since we left Malta, and our garden in Cyprus has become a place I truly enjoy. Every season brings something new to discover, from colourful flowers and ripening fruit to dragonflies and other welcome visitors.
One of the plants I enjoy seeing from my kitchen window is the White Bird of Paradise, especially when it’s in bloom.
The passion flower is one of our garden’s most extraordinary blooms.
The vine grows remarkably fast and, left to itself, would happily take up a lot more space than we planned for it.
The flowers are naturally replaced by passion fruits. I wait until the fruit falls to the ground before picking it, as that’s when it’s fully ripe. Occasionally, a gentle shake of the vine helps uncover a few hidden among the foliage.
When this shrub is in bloom, it’s covered with hundreds of bright red flowers. I chose to focus on just one branch.
Fresh figs are one of my favourite treats. Our two young fig trees are still maturing, so every ripe fig is worth the wait.
Here in Cyprus, fresh figs are usually available well into December, although this year’s fig season is running a little late.
Our garden pond attracts many dragonflies during the warmer months.
They often pause on a nearby grass stem, as if posing for the camera.
Oh, I almost forgot…
Can you identify the insect in the featured image?
Many people hear it every summer but rarely get a close look.
I’ll be sharing more about this fascinating creature in a future post.
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