SPRINGTIME IN THE CANARIES

We were told that there are lots of flowers this time of year in the hills going up to the volcano so last week Mike and I drove up to see them.  It is a different world up high here. 

Purple trees are bloomed all over the island.  This is a small one in our back yard.

This is a little town on the way to Teide called Vilaflor.  It is well named as a city of flowers.  There is an old mill you can see the arches to on the bottom left.  This is the most charming place we have seen on the island.

California Poppies are bloomed everywhere on the hillsides.

More Poppies

When you get high enough there are long needle pine trees.  Some of them are gigantic.

At the base of Teide there are some moon scapes from lava flow.  

This yellow flower is very prettily scattered among the lava.

A beautiful picture of Teide up close from our side of the island.

 A cute house in Vilaflor.

And interesting flower in the city center, Vilaflor.

Part of the plaza in Vilaflor

Mike at the church door Vilaflor

Moor poppies and a purple flower that grows everywhere.

Aquaduct for the old mill in Vilaflor.

Mike  on the path to the mill.  We don't see many roses on the island but this bush was big and smelled wonderful.

Part of the old mill hundreds of years old.

Purple flowers on the hillside.

Me on the Plaza

 There is a bright pink morning glory that grows everywhere on the hills.  I didn't get a good photo of it.

I call this Floppy Ears Cactus, which is very prolific on the island.  It is blooming everywhere in yellow and this orange.  After the blooms get a bright red fruit, which I hear you can eat. 

Cactus bloom 

This is a tram you can take up to the top of  the base of Teide and hike to the top of the volcano.  Someday we are going to do this hike.