On our way to work (when I went to work too) we pass a little triangle of ground where some streets meet at awkward angles. It has three or four trees on it - a couple of olives and a pine tree. There might be others - we didn't look that closely despite passing it every day for years.
It has always looked rough and there was a major excavation in one corner like an armadillo or something was making s burrow.
Then suddenly one day we passed and the holes had been filled in, the edges framed with bricks painted white, shelving built on the tops of the railing and a collection of potted plants arranged there. Basil had been planted around all the neranje and mulberry trees that line the path around the outside. It was looking loved. Someone was watering it regularly, and all the walls around it had been whitewashed.
On another day we found someone working there... the excavations had reappeared and all the white painted edging bricks had been strewn about the garden. Yianni (his name) explained that a stray k9 did the damage and he was trying to fence it out (unsuccessfully as it later transpired.) By this stage Yianni had added tables and chairs, more potted plants on a ledge outside the garden and potted plants in the shelf of a disused phone 'box' that still stands on the corner.
Despite all his efforts we never see locals availing themselves of Yianni's chairs and enjoying the little green oasis he created. And the war waged with the destructive K9 must have taken its toll as he stopped filling in the holes after a while.
However, Yianni hasn't stopped gardening - most recently he added some clumping bamboo, some tiny fig trees, and a few palms - you can just see two palms in the background of this picture. We suspect he suffers the same human predations we experienced out front at our apartment, and the digging dog may be the least of his worries.
Never-the-less we dropped off a few donations for him - seeds and plants.
We wish him well and may many more people learn from his example and make Piraeus a green and pleasant place to live in.
Well done to Yianni, and to you for encouraging him. Gail says she regrets that some dogs are very naughty (and not just a little bit naughty like me...)
ReplyDeleteToodle-oo!
Nobby.
Nobby - we are starting to think that you are not even a little bit naughty. You are brave and bold and adventurous, a supportive companion and entertainment, all rolled into rough wiry coat.
DeleteHari OM
ReplyDeleteI too join the chorus of approval of Yianni - and of your and F's willingness to support him thus! What an excellent nature post, proving it doesn't have to be all sky water and mountains! Hugs and whiskeries, YAM-aunty xxx
Oh Tigger, we love your chariot although we ourselves wouldn't like to go out in one, we prefer to stay indoors,. Rowan, Willow, Princess and Mummy Polly. xxxxx
ReplyDeleteI love Guerilla Gardeners like Yianni. Nice cat chariot Tigger.
ReplyDeleteWe like Yianni too - more power to his determination.
DeleteGood for yanni. Like you I've occasionally had marauders, in the adjacent wooded area where my family and I planted daffodils as a 9.11 memorial to people we knew who died that day. Some people think any flowers are to pick, but a little bunch going home with someone who will enjoy them is probably ok. One of my friends however caught a woman actually digging some up! She made her hand them over, words were exchanged!
ReplyDeleteGood on your friend. I wish we could catch the plant stealers here. They even steal from private gardens. There is a beautiful private garden along the road from us and when we finally got to speak to the gardener it was to discover that he is as frustrated as we are with plant thieves. And it must be middle class people. Poor people here generally cannot afford to live in places with gardens.
DeleteHe really transformed the area completely, so beautiful. I liked it as it was, but love it as he created and do hope someone will get that canine on a leash. here the dog catchers pick up any dog found off leash and it goes to the shelter where we get our seniors from.. not that i want the dog in a shelter, but the owner needs a talking to.
ReplyDeleteThere probably isn't an owner. If it is the dog I think it is, it lives on the street and is fed scraps by local taverna and restaurant proprietors. Many such dogs scrape together a survival like that here.
ReplyDeleteI wonder now if the plant thieves are reselling them? If they steal good specimen plants, they might be.
ReplyDeletePossibly although most of the stolen stuff cost less than a euro in the outdoor market. And looked better there than in our garden. Our greatest success has been tagetes seeds. And we are encouraging them to seed all over the place. No one seems to steal those plants.
DeleteHopefully he’s efforts are rewarded.
ReplyDeleteK9’s can be so mean with their digging.
Undoing all that hard work
It sounds and looks like someone really cares and I'm betting the smell of basil is divine.
ReplyDelete