Balearic Islands: One green Mallorca

Mallorca: underwater caves and mountain peaks

Sizzlin’ hot summer at a turquoise Mediterranean seacoast. White sandy beaches, underwater caves, and grayish mountain peaks. All of this, should be complemented with excellent local cuisine, relaxing, and letting yourself go. Perhaps, you wish to seize the day, be an active tourist? In Mallorca, you can for real, great intact forests are waiting for you. If you are sporty, treat yourself: do a lot of hiking, sunbathing, swimming, snorkeling. Sounds good?

We present you Mallorca, an island only 300 km away from Africa, a part of the Balearic archipelago in Spain. Climate is Mediterranean, and probably due to African hot dessert influence combined with vast seawater mass, everything here lasts longer. From tourist season (May to October) to locally developed agriculture that lasts at least that much.

Urban greenery and parks of nature

An interesting mix of artichoke, olives, vineyards, maize, and other crops, all grown on Terra Rossa (red soil, rich in iron and other nutrients). In a way, such agriculture resembles a broad species specter of urban greenery grown in cities.

Marigold and Plane trees in Palma de Mallorca

Boulevards in Palma (the capital of Mallorca) are lined by palms, cactuses, plane trees, and marigold garden beds – altogether.

Food is local, and besides sea delicacies, the Balearic cuisine is known for pork meat, cow, and goat cheese, with lots and lots of fresh fruits and vegetables.

Cap de Formentor

There are two mountain ranges on Mallorca island, so hiking and bird watching are always an option since several nature reserves are stretching nearby. One is Cap de Formentor peninsula. Quite a special place, surrounded by two bays, and locals call it the Meeting point of the winds. Beautiful forest raises above steep rocks and the sea. Down there, beneath your feet, lies the most beautiful beach with fishy fish in shallow water that might nibble you a little bit.

Evergreens and cacti

The air smells beautifully fresh, salty, with a hint of Aleppo and Umbrella pines (P. halepensis and P. pinea). Junipers (both J. oxycedrus and J. phoenicea) scents in their own special way too. Yew – Taxus baccata commonly grows as a small tree or shrub high in mountains. Even Teix, one of the mountains is locally named after it. Figs, oaks, sweet bay (Laurus nobilis) and olives Olea europea are just some of the tree species. Sedum, Crassula, Saxifraga are quite common in dry places, as expected, on the walls and rocks in gardens.

Prickly pear – an alien species in Spain

As for Cypresses, surprisingly, it is not so common on this island naturally (as much as it is on Ibiza or Menorca). However, landscapers use it quite often, as is the case of river Sa Riera banks. For its upright and slender appearance, it adds elegance to every garden, narrow street, and especially cemeteries landscaping.

Torrent de Sa Riera in Palma de Mallorca

Who invades Mallorca?

There are other plants – introduced and naturalized in time: Lampranthus – Ice Plant. It is a cushion-like south African succulent, hence covered in bright colored flowers. Lampranthus usually “follows” other succulents or cactuses, such as (also) allochthonous and invasive edible Prickly pear (Opuntia spp.). Tasteful gorgeously dark red, yellow or green fruits gave Opuntia its name.

A cushion-like Ice Plant is invasive in Mallorca

Sterile Mulberry (Morus sp.), a medium tall tree makes excellent shade as linear greenery in the streets of Pollenca. Helichrysum (Curry plant) grown as a shrub gives promenades light Mediterranean touch with its tiny white-grayish leaves.

Come to Mallorca and enjoy

Whichever corner of this beautiful island you choose for vacation, all of your senses will get an unforgettable treat. Mallorca’s ambiance is abundant, almost luscious. A magical combination of blue sea, salty breeze, fragrant flowers, and wild hardy forests. Both natural and cultivated plants are so diverse in not just every town, but beaches and mountains as well. Such richness of colors, texture, and aroma will for sure replenish your soul and mind for a long, long time.