Anemone, the word is a Greek one meaning: ‘daughter of the wind’. Its flowers open when the wind blows and they start to bloom with the arrival of the first spring winds – on Rhodes around February.

In mythology they are considered as Aphrodite’s tears when she is mourning her love, Adonis.
This type we have on Rhodes is called ‘anemone coronaia’ because of the flower’s crown-like middle part which is almost black. Other names for her are ‘Lilies-of-the-field’ and ‘Poppy anemone’.

 

The anemone below in the frame was collected close to Stegna beach, Rhodes island. This type of anemone is native to the Mediterranean region, specifically Greece, Syria, Israel, France, Italy. Growing at woodlands and meadows and attract pollinators. The different colors they have on Rhodes are so vivid, and they transform the bold meadows into a fairy tale scene every year for a short while when blooming.

As a companion I selected a ‘pistacia lentiscus’ leaf to her on the above picture (13*18 cm), which is an aromatic evergreen shrub with strong scent caused by its resin and has tiny red fruits which are used as aromatic ingredient of some types of breads on the Greek islands. The branches are used in the outside ovens of the villages for adding special aroma to the traditional village bread too. Its presence defines the Rhodian landscape all over the island and the whole island around.