September in the village of Fournes is a time of reckoning: did last season's oranges do well? are the olives ready for oil production? It is also a time of renewal: the rusty orange colours give way to fresh green leafy shades; the new orange and olive crops have started to set in. The new fruit looks so fresh, so young, like a newborn baby, maturing slowly with the help of the elements. Valencia oranges only take on their familiar colour after Christmas, and aren't edible until well after Easter.
The greenery is accentuated by the green shutters, doors and windows of the white houses, the shady vine leaves in the front yard, the potted plants in the old aquamarine painted containers that have been given a new lease of life as plant holders. The river gleams of green slime growing on its surface beneath its more stagnant parts, surrounded by lush foliage.
Fournes is an evergreen village; most trees never lose their green colour all year round. Deciduous trees are difficult to glimpse, as they are hidden from view, making one believe that spring turns into summer, and summer turns into spring, while winter makes a rare appearance. As you drive along the main road, a sea of green starts to swallow you into its girth, with a wide range of hues according to the species of tree. The silvery teal of the olive tree contrasts starkly against the emerald green of the orange trees.
Summer can be a long hot period of seemingly little action in the field. In a few weeks from now, the olive production will start, bringing on the sounds of the people and the machines involved in this activity.
(This is the second in a monthly series of colour and texture studies based on the village of Fournes, an orange and olive producing area in Hania. The idea is based on an inspiration from the work by Calliope in her Spectral Studies series.).
©All Rights Reserved/Organically cooked. No part of this blog may be reproduced and/or copied by any means without prior consent from Maria Verivaki.
(This is the second in a monthly series of colour and texture studies based on the village of Fournes, an orange and olive producing area in Hania. The idea is based on an inspiration from the work by Calliope in her Spectral Studies series.).
©All Rights Reserved/Organically cooked. No part of this blog may be reproduced and/or copied by any means without prior consent from Maria Verivaki.
Such beautiful photos and wonderful commentary. Great posting for ABC Wednesday!
ReplyDeleteThat orange tree is positively laden with fruit! How hard it must be to wait that long to harvest! : D
ReplyDeleteLove all the green. The fruit tree is so lush...
ReplyDeleteWhile the many of use are giving way to other colors from the green, it's more green for you. So interesting.
ReplyDeleteThanks for showing the green oranges. My only visit to Crete was just before and through Easter in 1993; the oranges were ripe, and for sale everywhere. A tree-ripened orange has to be one of God's great gifts; never before have I tasted any as delicious as those were. I think I ate about a kilo of them every day that I was there! It's a wonder I didn't turn orange myself.
ReplyDeleteGreen oranges! Always an education stopping by. A most unique choice for g.
ReplyDeletelovely captures. looking at your work really transports me in a different place. great job MK.
ReplyDeleteSo beautiful everything, really nice scenery!
ReplyDeleteWhat a wonderful post and green is my favourite colour. Great choices for G-day! :D
ReplyDeleteLovely set of Gs!
ReplyDeleteG is for Ganpati Bappa Morya! To find out what it means click here
όμορφα πράσινα. πολύ καλές επιλογές. μήπως και κρυφο - Παναθηναϊκός; :)
ReplyDeleteA wonderful green environment. A long summer? Now there's a novelty! LOL!
ReplyDeleteThanks so much.
Dxx
Green has always been relaxing for me. I like green "carpets" of trees and grapevines. And there are so many in Crete...
ReplyDeleteI remember being surprised to discover that oranges are green on the trees at first.
ReplyDeleteThanks for visiting my blog.
ReplyDeleteAnd thanks for commenting about seeing the Alien there.
I like your post and the photographs you have on display. Your area seems to have retained much of the green so many others have destroyed.
Nice blog too.
Incredibly green, that first picture. Good choice.
ReplyDeleteGreen is what makes us live - very appropriate
ReplyDeletei especially like the pictures of the gate, and potted plants. :)
ReplyDeleteGreat Green photo! Thanks for sharing.
ReplyDeletenice "G"
ReplyDeleteI love the green!! What great shots!
ReplyDeleteMine is here.
What a lovely, evocative post.
ReplyDeleteEven the "green slime" on the river, hehe.
Wonderful G photos for ABC Wednesday.
ReplyDeleteThank you for sharing.
Bear((( )))
It is starting to look good, a bit of green about!
ReplyDeleteThta's lovely. Very poetic and beautiful. Even the slime!
ReplyDeleteMy favorite color. I am wearing it now! It's just so naturally pleasing!
ReplyDelete:-)
Hi Maria, you and I are doing the green real good this week.
ReplyDeleteThank you for the pictures, I have been to Athens, Patmous, and Rhodes (controversial place). I love it there in the Mediteranean.
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