Flora and fauna

The trails between the villages are lush with grasses, shrubs, trees. Today, it is sunny and temperatures reached a high of 28°C. The locals tell us the seasonal temperatures are higher than normal. In Monterosso, the sandy beach is dotted with swimmers and sunbathers. Deciduous trees are still leafy green and many flowers are rich in bloom.

The temperate Mediterranean climate allows a diverse range of plants to grow and flourish. Pear cactus and succulents sprawl over the hillsides. There are chestnut, oak and pine trees along the paths. There are tall grasses, wild oregano and many shrubs for which I have no name.

As we approach each village, the hillside terrain morphs into terraced gardens. Along with the grape vines and olives, the villagers have planted many fruits and vegetables. We see modest orchards of orange, lime and grapefruit trees. Larger plots produce pomegranates, peaches and apples, and smaller plots produce various squashes, peppers, tomatoes, leek and fennel. It seems everyone has a patch of basil.

Although there is great variety, nothing is mass produced, and nothing is wasted. Buckets are used to catch rain water and old bed springs become part of the fencing. Recycling is a natural occurrence. The villagers are very respectful of their environment and take great care to encourage maximum yield – sustaining life as they’ve known it for centuries.