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If you are familiar with Gerald
Durrell's "My Family and Other
Animals", you will already have
an idea of the diversity of flora
and fauna in Corfu. For those
keen to observe the beauty of
nature at close quarters the
island is a naturalist's
paradise. Whether you are a keen
botanist, ornithologist,
zoologist or photographer Corfu
has something for you.
  
Especially in the spring, the
beauty of the Corfu countryside
can take one's breath away.
However, the most striking aspect
of the landscape is the sheer
abundance of olive trees.
In 1623 the Venetians offered
money as an incentive to plant
olive trees and to replace wild
ones with cultivated ones. Within
a hundred years there were more
than two million and this number
has increased. Until today Corfu
is one endless olive grove.
Because olive trees in Corfu are
rarely pruned they look quite
different from those in the rest
of Greece, being much taller and
wilder.
 
The microclimate of Corfu favours
the growth of wild flowers which
bloom during all four seasons of
the year. There are, for
instance, 36 species of orchid
which have been catalogued in
Corfu. In April and May the
ground is a carpet of flowers,
changing colour from day to day.
The fields and hills are also
rich with trees other than
olives. One of the most
eye-catching is the Judas tree
which in spring is a mass of
purple flowers. There are also
massive oaks and elms, untouched
by the ravages of disease.
Everywhere the dark green cypress
trees pierce the olive groves,
adding yet another dimension to
the landscape.
To catch all wild flowers
at their best, it is advisable to
visit Corfu between early March
and late May, before the heat of
the summer scorches the ground.
 
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