Xmas in Zagori

Christmas and New Year in Zagori, Greece

Some pictures from last year’s Christmas and New Year’s holidays in an old traditional house somewhere in the Zagori region in Epirus, Greece.

Crocus (saffron)

Crocus is a genus in the family Iridaceae. Saffron Crocus grows to 20–30 cm (8–12 in) and bears up to four flowers, each with three vivid crimson stigmas, which are the distal end of a carpel. Together with the styles, or stalks that connect the stigmas to their host plant, the dried stigmas are used mainly in various cuisines as a seasoning and colouring agent. Saffron, long among the world's most costly spices by weight, is native to the Zagori region of Northwestern Greece. The Pindus Mt. slopes turn purple in fall when the flower blooms.

Greek: κρόκος Crocus is a genus in the family Iridaceae. Saffron Crocus bears up to four flowers, each with three vivid crimson stigmas, which are the distal end of a carpel. Together with the styles, or stalks that connect the stigmas to their host plant,…

Snow covered roofs

Snow covered church in Kato Pedina traditional stone village in the Zagori region in Greece

Snow in these parts of Greece during winter months is quite often but occasionally it may snow a bit more than normal as some pictures below may suggest. Temperatures in the Zagori region of Epirus, at the National Park of Vikos-Aoos, may drop, not…

Urtica urens

Urtica urens, can be collected in the mountains of Epirus in the Zagori region, within the National Park of Vikos-Aoos, during spring time. A smaller and rarer subspecies can be found in higher altitudes of about 1500m during spring and autumn

Greek: Τσουκνίδα Urtica urens, a herbaceous annual plant species of the genus Urtica that abounds in the mountainous region of Zagori in Northern Greece. It  can be found almost everywhere, by the paths, treks, gardens, meadows … Urtica urens, commonly known as annual nettle, dwarf…