Nature on Evia.

 Evia is an island with a great deal of natural beauty. The landscape is one of contrasting rugged mountainsides and lush valleys. It is fortunate to have some rainfall which makes it full of life in the Spring and Autumn.

The Island is sparsely populated and large areas are uncultivated showing nature as she intended. Walking in the months of March April and May is a wonderful experience with natural meadows in full bloom and buzzing with insect life. The hillsides are purple with wild thyme. The olive groves are resplendent with anemone and the roadsides with the deepest red poppies. Even the beach bursts into bloom with stocks and daisies. As the season progresses the weather becomes hotter and drier and there is less to see on the land but the sea becomes a more interesting place with the increase in fish and sea plants. The hot weather allows you to spend many hours snorkelling.

In September or October there is usually a couple of days rain which revives the countryside and the hills are once again purple but this time with heather. Now the cyclamen come into bloom, the swallows are gathering on the telegraph wires, and walking and trekking become an option again.

 

Between Nea Styra and Halkida is a very fertile plain. Surrounded by hills the rain water flows across the plain into Lake Distos. Crossing the fields round about are irrigation ditches and sometimes in Spring the lake area will fill up. This is a protected nature reserve. Here can be seen many birds, the pathways are littered with skylarks resting before they ascend again, fish eagles fly low over the ditches, finches cling to the reeds and grasses, the sound of birdsong is all around.

 If you are lucky you will also see the Greek tortoises (like our hedgehogs they amble across the roads oblivious to danger). Other reptiles are the lovely little lizards and snakes (don’t touch unless you know what sort they are).

 Insects are not everyone’s favourite but the sound of crickets is synonymous with Meditterranean climates and here they can become deafening. In size they range from grasshopper up to about 10cm long and can often be seen on the plants and trees round the house (just follow that clicking). Mantis as well often rest on the house walls. There are many butterflies dancing over the flowers and moths including a particularly large one (see the photos) flutter round at night so keep the house lights off or you will find the house full!