The Skiathos Bulletin Board

holdontite · Posted: Sat Jun 20, 2009 5:11 am Post subject: Flora and Fauna

Have just returned from the island and have to say that the colours of the various flowering plants are stunning. So too, is the texture of those beautiful 'feathery' species that are often seen.

Together wih some 'green fingered' friends we've been trying to identify the various specimens but, sadly, with no great degree of success.

Does anybody have any information about Skiathos flora and has anyone successfuly obtained and grown species here in the UK?

We'd love to be able to plant some of these beautiful plants in our garden to make some sunshine (when there often isn't any in rainy England!).

marlowtwo · Joined: 16 Nov 2007 Posts: 17 Location: Marlow, Bucks

Most of the flowers you see around Skiathos can be found already in the South of UK. There are exceptions such as Carob or Locust Tree. The large Marble Pines of Kouky I have grown from seed, my present experiment is to get Sea Daffodil to actually flower. Their leaves are 40cm tall at the moment. These daffodils are numerous beneath the shadded areas of Big Banana, I took a seed pod some years ago from BB.
You may have trouble with taking cuttings or plants into the UK so stick to seeds, you can always say to the misses "I must go back to Skiathos latter this year because the flowers were not in seed".Somehow the wild flowers of Skiathos look better where they are, and only serve as tearfull reminder of halcyon days on Skiathos.

Kriandos · Guest

Grown from a 3 inch cutting taken 15 years ago from the "Mother plant" growing on the perimiter fence around Lake Strofilia in Koukounaries.

We've cut it back at least half a dozen times, the scent today has been wonderful Very Happy

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adrianxw · Posted: Mon Jun 29, 2009 5:30 pm Post subject:

The Four o´clock plant, mirabilis jalapa, so called because the flowers open in the evening and are fragrant, is something we have on our balcony every year now. Original seeds collected from the island. Have since distributed seeds and seedlings to many up here in the frozen North of Denmark. Rarely fails. Originally a Peruvian species I read somewhere. The plants die down in the autumn, but leave a round "corm" in the ground which if dug up and kept dry will sprout vigourously next spring.

The plant is not distinguished, but it rarely fails to get noticed because the flowers are so variable in colour. The same plants can produce bright yellow, through pinkish to really red trumpet shaped flowers. I have also had a few white and purple examples but rarely.
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SkiathIan · Posted: Mon Jun 29, 2009 6:01 pm Post subject:

steephill · Joined: 02 Feb 2008 Posts: 6

Hello, we to love the flowers and trees of skiathos,at the moment we have some sweet peas in flower which we have grown from seeds collected from a fence near Kolios. The tree with the pink fluffy flowers are called persian acacias or pink siris, they are beautiful. Smile

marlowtwo · Joined: 16 Nov 2007 Posts: 17 Location: Marlow, Bucks

The "silken tulip" tree is indeed from northern Persia where it is called youlibrissin.
The botaical name is Albizzia Julibrissin, or if you like Youlivrissin in Greek.
The tree is purely ornamental and grows profusely, what a wonderful sun shade it adds to any garden.
Best view of them on Skiathos is from the bus

Pandy · Posted: Sat Jul 04, 2009 8:58 am Post subject:

I'd love to bring back some seeds or cuttings but have never done so because I don't know what the rules are at customs.

Does anybody know?

AForrest · Posted: Sat Jul 04, 2009 1:04 pm Post subject:

marlowtwo · Joined: 16 Nov 2007 Posts: 17 Location: Marlow, Bucks

I always bring back seeds because I find that in the long run the germination from seed is sometimes quicker that for a cutting to establish successfully.
Revert to your school days and use a glass jar with absorbent cardboard rolled into a tube, insert into the jar with a small amount of water in the bottom. Place the seeds between the paper and glass and keep on widow sill for good light.
Plants seem to know a lot more tha we think, and they do not always germinate the very next year so patience is needed. Sea Daffodils took 2 years to show any signs of sprouting. (Pancratium Maritimum. or Thalassokrinos in Greek)
What has sprung up more than the plants on Skiathos are "Garden Centres" The one adjacent bus stop 4 (Acropolis) is very good and they sell seeds.
The young lad that served me was very knowledgeable, and spoke perfect English.