After an especially rainy winter, the hills of Cyprus are green, and the island’s chronically low reservoirs are mostly full for the first time in years. The bright yellow flowers of the prickly broom can be seen throughout the maquis, whilst meadows of red poppies and orange crown daisies bloom in abundance. Inside the grounds of Anassa, the gardens are also vibrant with new life. Near the entrance court, orange trees are replete with fruit, and the sweet scent of orange blossoms sends their promise of future harvests. Inside the court, trellised and potted bougainvillea are showing their first bursts of pink flowers. Though the shrubs of the hillside gardens are cut back severely every winter, new growth is already in evidence. Lantana is forming its small domes of flowers in white, pink, yellow, orange, and red. Herbs like lavender and rosemary are flowering, their aromas wafting in the wind. Neapolitan garlic sends up a starburst of white petals and the sword lily forms its pillar of jack-knife shaped scarlet blooms. Several varieties of daisies add clusters of purple, white, and yellow flowers. Along the walkway by the cliff overlooking the sea, a hedge of mimosa is ablaze with fragrant yellow blossoms. Cyprus is on a major flyway for birds migrating from their winter homes in Africa to their summer homes in Europe; migrants can be found throughout the garden now. Spring has certainly sprung at Anassa.
