Hiking in the countryside will surely delight you, as you can discover a myriad of blooms like the tiny flowers that spring to life from the cracks in the stony garigue. Of course, if you’re a keen nature photographer, you will have a field day as you come across so many different flowering plants and bushes. If you’re exploring the island of Gozo on a bicycle, you can still capture the vistas of flowering fields.
Other outdoor activities that will take you out to the open countryside are an evocative chance to inspire yourself with the variety and colour nature offers at this time of the year. Even if you’re out and about in the coastal zones, you will discover that Gozo has reserved some special floral surprises. One example is the tiny wild iris growing in shallow soil like Dwejra. Different habitats will each present diverse flora. If plein air painting and botanical sketching are your thing, you must identify the spots where you can best capture the blooming Gozitan countryside. The area around Ta’ Pinu Sanctuary, the chapel of San Dimitry, the Ġordan lighthouse, and Għammar hill all offer exciting perspectives to capture on canvas. Equally suggestive are places like Lunzjata valley, Ramla valley, Ta’ Cenc, and the areas around San Blas and Isopu tower. If you’re in Gozo to unwind, finding the muse in the countryside and wild blooms will bring you serenity and rejuvenation.
Dazzling yellow fields are usually Crown Daisy (Lelluxa) carpets. However, once you get close, you might realise it could be the case of thousands upon thousands of Cape Sorrell flowers (l-Ingliża). More notable and definitely towering above all other neighbouring plants are the giant fennel florets (Ferla). Wild Turnip (Ġarġir), Wall Rue (Fejġel), False Yellowhead(Tulliera), Golden Samphire (Xorbett ), wild Camomile (Kamumella Selvaġġa) and Squirting Cucumber(Faqqus il-Ħmir) are some of the other yellow buds that you can come across along the ridges and sprawled on the garigue.
Red wildflowers come in a variety of shades and sizes. The late winter is associated with a variety of diaphanous and spring poppies. As spring becomes more evident, the bright crimson red of sulla will take over the countryside. Other common red blooms can be the Pheasant’s Eye (Għajn is-Serduk), the Winged Pea (Fiġġiela l-Ħamra) and the Red Stocks (Papoċċi Ħomor).
The kingdom of purple and pink blooms on Gozo is quite extensive. A pink spread of delicate sprays is bound to be the Pink Piruotte (Ilsien l-Għasfur). Another purple flower to look out for is the star-shaped flower with six petals, which grows close to the ground. This is the Sand Crocus (Żagħfran tal-Blat). If you come upon big bountiful purple flowers flowering from a big chunky plant, that’s bound to be the Tree Mallow (Ħobbejża tas-Siġra). The wild leek blooms a pompom of delicate purple and pink flowers. While getting into a patch of sprightly thorns and thistle is not advisable, the purple flowers of various types of thistle plants grow abundantly on the island. Among the favourite pink flowers growing in Gozo, one finds the ethereal Field Gladiolus (Ħabb il-Qamħ), a beautiful splurge of bright pink often found growing in fields of grain crops, the protected and ravishing Pyramid Orchid and the spectacularly handsome Bear’s Breeches (Ħannewija). The Tassel Hyacinth (Basal il-Ħnieżer) is rare to come by, and as its name suggests, the blooms hang around like in a decorative tassel. This flower and the wild iris are notorious flowers with a dark purple and bluish tint. White and translucent diaphanous blooms are plentiful too in the open countryside, but one pleasant surprise is (Ħalib it-Tajr), which blooms on the Ramla l-Ħamra’s sand dunes.
Springtime is also the time when some of the local fruit trees blossom. A walk up and down the steep San Blas Road might leave you breathless, but it sure makes up in terms of the gratifying paragon of the pink blossoms of the fruittrees.
As you walk about the countryside, keep in mind that some of the endemic species that you encounter are protected by law. Respecting nature means safeguarding the gift of beauty for future generations. Likewise, if you’re tempted to forage, ensure you know the foliage and flowers you might pick, as some species can make you sick.
Gozo calls all nature lovers. Whether you’re here to enjoy hiking, indulge in outdoor activities or after botanical sketches, spring is here right now. A spring holiday where you’re out in the countryside amid the bountiful blooms of spring is one where you find yourself again.