Swimming temperature in Methoni?
Some people swim in Methoni almost all year round, as the sea temperature apparently remains fairly steady at around 14 degrees centigrade. The Summer months are most popular though, and cooling off in the sea is ideal then. My favourite time of year is September to December, when the air temperature is not as hot as in summer, but the sea feels warm. February and March can be stormy with cold nights and at this time of year boats are often lost as their moorings break.
What does it mean when a lemon tree reverts back?
In order to give them a better chance of survival in damper conditions, and/or greater disease resistance, lemon trees are often grafted onto a "rootstock" of a hardier citrus tree. The grafting is usually done when the trees are young in the nursery. Some trees at trigono-lamda were grafted onto a bitter orange rootstock - orange trees seem to be much hardier in the low lying lemon grove than lemon trees. If the tree dies back as a result of frost or other damage, the new shoots grow most quickly from below the graft. Nature ensures survival in whatever way it can and the thick spiny growth from below the graft is rapid. However, if allowed to mature such growth produces the fruit of the rootstock, not the fruit of the grafted wood. There are a few trees at the lemon grove that produce both lemons and oranges as a result! Lemon Trees
What are Maridas?
Maridas are small fish, served fried in light batter for a defined period each year, starting in October. The dictionary translates maridaki as whitebait and Wikipedia notes that whitebait means young fish, being young herring in Europe and similar species elsewhere.
How do I find work in Methoni?
Usually by knowing someone there or asking around. As yet there is no job centre. For more help and information check out our Jobs Advice page.
How flammable are olive trees?
Olive leaves are very flammable when heat is high, as was shown in 2007 when huge tracts of
land were burnt on the Peloponnese. After the olive harvest the leaves, which are small, tough
and not fleshy, and any unwanted wood can be burnt immediately if required. Olive trees can withstand drought well.
Interestingly though, trees that seemed badly scorched by the fires are in many cases recovering, if only by shooting from the root.
This indicates that the wood itself is more resistant to the flames. This can be explained by the fact that Olive wood is a hardwood with a comples cell structure and darker heartwood in the centre of mature branches or trunks; unlike pine which is a softwood with a more open network of cells.
What machines are used in gathering olives?
Olive picking is explained on the Olive Harvest page on this site but this year we used a faster machine for removing and sacking olives at lamda groves. New page to follow.
Why are Greek doors painted blue?
The blue relates to the sea and is more common in coastal areas and especially on the islands. You will find many other designs and colours on our Greek Doors page.
Greek patio designs?
City or town patios may be tiled or of marble slabs; country patios are more likely to be of concrete, sometimes with inset marble pieces or with a white painted "crazy paving" design.
There will usually be potted plants, - geraniums, carnations, and various bulbs. In Methoni you will see banana trees, yukkas and palms, creating an exotic atmosphere.
Grafting of citrus trees?
The grafting of grapefruit onto bitter orange rootstock, following a tree's reversion from lemon to bitter orange, was attempted at the lemon grove but the grafting failed, possibly due to drought. Lemons are commonly grown on different rootstocks, mainly to assist in their hardiness to wet conditions or disease. Spiny growth occurs below the graft and must be removed regularly.
What is 1 Greek Strema in metres?
Answer:
One Greek Strema is 1000 square metres. Within the town or villageQuestion: What is 1 Greek Strema in metres?
One Greek Strema is 1000 square metres. Within the town or village boundary this would be plenty for you to build a house on. Outside the town boundary you will need at least 4 strema in order to build; the amount of land considered necessary for a self-sufficient smallholding. There have been rumours for many years that this would be changed to 6 strema in order to ensure that the countryside does not get too crowded.
I'm looking for Old Greek House designs
Greek Design is our main design page but you will also see typical Greek houses on other pages. Mainland houses were built with exposed stone, often inside as well as outside. Blue and white is more typical of island homes, but more modern homes often have painted exteriors.
What is Hermodactylus?
Also known as the Widow Iris, Hermodactylus tuberosis is a small iris type plant with dark velvety flowers. it is the floral symbol for Trigono-Lamda, chosen as it gows wild at the Lemon Grove and Petra. It flowers in early spring.
Looking for information on Bougainvillea
Bougainvillea is a beautiful, though prickly, vine, that thrives in full sun and is very
evocative of the Mediterranean climate. One has survived at the Lemon Grove for 9 years with hardly
any care but this is by no means ideal. Care of Bougainvillea
Does Methoni have a Hairdressor?
There are two hairdressing salons, both in the town centre. See our Methoni Commerce Page.
Do plants grow on the shoreline?
Yes they do. The Ionian and Mediterranean are seas, and, not being tidal, there is dry, undisturbed land close to the sea. Plants adapted to withstand a sandy soil, salt and wind, are found close to the sea on cliffs, banks or even on the shore itself. They include: Centaurea spinosa, Otanthus maritimus (cottonweed), Convolvulus oleifolius, Cakile maritima (sea rocket), Malcolmia flexuosa, Salvia pomifera, Medicago marina, and Matthiola sinuata and tricuspidata ( Sea stock and three-horned stock).
A favourite near Methoni is Glaucium flavum, the Yellow horned poppy. The book "Wild Flowers of Greece, by Vangelis Papiomitoglou (ISBN960-8227-74-7) is a useful and attractive guide with clear, coloured illustrations.
What is poleitai?
Poleitai means "for sale" and you will see the sign everywhere! You will also see enoikiazitai which means "to let". Estate agents abound now, but when Trigono groves were purchased it was by word of mouth, and it is still common today to find the word poleitai wrtten on the wall of a building, or on a board, with a telephone number beside it. Local coffee shops, or their clientele, could also put you in touch with those "in the know". Planning permission and the procedure of a sale are another matter. There are strict regulations.
What is the weight of a full olive sack?
About 40 Kilos! You need to be strong, but full sacks are left In situ and a small fee is paid to the tractor crew who, by prior request, pick up sacks (make sure yours are named) and deliver to the olive oil factory. It's a sensible communal solution!
What was life like in Ancient Sparta?
The popular phrases in the English language give a clue: "He had a spartan upbringing" and "this is a spartan way of life" indicate simplicity, physical strength and ability to withstand hardship or extreme economy. The history is beyond the scope of this site, but makes fascinating and sometimes sombre reading. Spartans were proud of their toughness, sporting prowess and skills in battle; but were ruthless with the weak.
Sparta is on the part of the Peloponnese called the "Mani". It has a rugged beauty and favoured crops are olives and citrus fruit. Old houses have a distinctive style featuring a square stone tower used as a lookout in times when security meant being able to see a potential enemy from afar, with time then to prepare defences.
Modern Sparta is one of my favourite places. Purpose built on a grid structure, it is clean and has an air of calm spaciousness; especially after a trip across the mountains from kalamata!