Cold flower ....

Gerianum plant on the terraza had a rough time the day it snowed.

CHESTNUTS

Picking chestnuts last fall.... (yup, I'm wishing for cool weather)

Spring's slowly coming ....

Almond blossoms ... guess Sping really is coming to the island this year

CHECK OUT THE SUNFLOWER

This sunflower was nearly a foot across ... haven't seen one like this before.  DH and I saw it over in Maniace while out exploring.

IRONWORK FLOWERPOT

Check out the flower pot on the railing ...I think it's so cool!  
Saw this while wandering around Militello.

MORE PLANT TOUPEES FROM MITELLO

           Some more of the plant toupees ....

GARLIC ROPE

Garlic rope commonly found in homes and the markets ...

PLANT TOUPEE

Saw this balcony support while DH and I were wandering around a Prickly Pear Festival in Militello last weekend .. just had to laugh. 

 A plant toupee!

ENTRY TO A MAGICAL GARDEN?

Tucked away in a corner ... do you think the little magical folk might be found round the corner at the top of the steps?   Was tempted to quietly slip up the steps and sneak a peek ...

BREADS AND GRAIN IN ART

Saw
this
 poster
in a
window ....

A BALCONY TO SPEND THE SUMMER ON

Balcony and flowers (even a grape vine trellis for shade later in the summer) in Maletto ... passed this while walking up a steep hill to the main festival area weekend before last.

SUMMER SCENERY

Summer has begun and the land is drying out ... this is near Randazzo.

FLOWERY WELCOME

It is very common to see flowers leading to the entrance of homes here in Sicily ....

IN A CHURCHYARD ....

Statue in a local churchyard ...

BELPASSO SNAPSHOT - ROSES

Roses in a (tiny) yard that I drive by each day on my way home from work ...

FLOWER POT

Flower pots like this cover the walls in the central part of Gangi 

HERE IS OUR BLESSED PALM

Palm Sunday, DH and I went over to Gangi to see the processions ... we really enjoyed it.  Each of the churches in Gangi ( and there are somewhere around 14 or 16 churches in a town that has less than 8000 residents) had a decorated palm standard in the procession accompanied by worshipers from its congregation.  Each standard included emblems associated with that specific church - so a knowledgeable  onlooker could determine which church was associated with each  standard.

Went along with tradition - bought a palm weaving from one of the vendors and had it blessed at the main cathedral... we have it displayed on the door to our living room.

SPRING BLOSSOMS

Spring is here ... the blossoms are showing

ARTICHOKE FESTIVAL IN RAMACCA

Last weekend was the artichoke festival in Ramacca --- one of the local vendors

IT'S ARTICHOKE SEASON!

Farmers and vendors are everywhere selling fresh artichokes grown within 25 miles of where I live... this guy has packed his truck full, even coming out of the top vent....probably all will be sold within just a couple hours of picking.  I love artichoke season.