Few views from one of our almond orchards overlooking “Mare ceramicus” between Datca peninsula and Bodrum (ancient Halicarnassus) - olive, almond and carob trees are traditionally mixed on these slopes for hundreds of years, originating probably as much thousands of years ago.

Datça Yazıköy/Değirmenbükü orchards - mostly olive and almond trees, some carobs scattered throughout. All trees are mature (20+ years), some 30 + years. Note the large distances between the trees, the traditional way of planting that is still practiced. Although there are many water springs/wells, none of the trees are watered except by the wonderful, abundant winter/spring Mediterranean rains.

Sack of NURLU hardshell almonds from our orchards (Sept 2003)

Almonds are the first to flower late February, early March. They have beautiful but delicate flowers that last only about a week. May is Çağla (baby almond) time when they are eaten whole with salt (very nice with tequila). June/July they mature and harden (above right picture) . Harvesting is August and September when the outer green starts to split open.

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The image below is a satellite view of Western Turkey (with thanks to the Internet source), with Datça peninsula clearly visible – At the tip of the peninsula ancient city of Knidos/Cnidus/Cnide is seen as a dot, north west is the island of Kos and south east Rodos. The above orchards are near the N-W tip of the peninsula, opposite island of Kos with “Mare Ceramicus” Gökova bay or Kerme Körfezi in between.

Remnants of snow on higher altitudes inland can be seen. Datça peninsula almost never has snow, some rare years there is dusting of snow flurries when everybody goes out trying to catch flakes, it rarely last more than few hours.