“A little more” we will have to wait for the jacarandas to bloom on Athena Street, according to the municipality of Athens.

In contrast to the image of trees at this time, tall trunks with thin branches, standing as if lifeless, we will again see the Acropolis against a bright purple background, Once city temperatures stabilize at spring levels, officials say. The characteristic flowering of these trees transforms this part of Athens in spring. The image of tall trees in Athens is often disappointing. Heavy pruning is often a “necessary evil” as the trees have to adapt to city functions, according to the municipality’s green services.

Need a master plan for landscaping

The biggest challenge for landscaping in the city is the fact that actions are being carried out piecemeal, “there is no green master plan for the entire city,” says K, Mr. Stamatis Seklisiotis, agronomist (APTH), landscape architect and former Assistant 2nd Agricultural Assistant US Department of Agriculture. “What, where and why in the city will be planted, according to a specific plan.” In recent years, the city’s trees, like the rest of the “greenery”, are mostly taken care of by contractors, as the municipality’s green services do not have the necessary staff. During the years of the economic crisis, the Green Services staff of the Municipality of Athens was reduced by 40% due to layoffs and no recruitment has taken place since. This fact further complicates the implementation of a holistic city plan.

Plane trees from the Netherlands

“What is happening with the plane trees is significant. Plane trees brought from the Netherlands were planted on the grounds of the Stavros Niarchos Foundation. These plane trees withered today because they got sick with some kind of fungus. The trees that will be planted on Panepistimi Street are also from the same area. Are these healthy? Where did the fungus come from? Did it come from Holland or was it developed here? asks Mr. Seklitsiotis. “All this requires attention. We plant without specifications, and then we wonder why the trees are not all right,” he adds. “Trees need not just pruning – at a certain time before bud break – they need care, For example, jacarandas, which are now old trees and naturally declining in viability, require more care,” he concludes.

Spring is late

Mr. Dimitris Kyriakakis, director of the Green Service of the Municipality of Athens, explains the late flowering of the trees on Athena Street with the low temperatures this spring. “As a species, they need high temperatures to thrive,” he explains. As for complaints about improper pruning, which is causing many trees in the city to lose vitality, he acknowledges that in 2019, many trees in the city were severely pruned. “Due to the financial crisis, we did not have the funds for pruning for many years, as a result of which many trees survived. Since then, a systematic work has been carried out. The trees in the city, unfortunately, will have to perform the functions of the city. Don’t lean on cables, block windows, or “go out” to balconies. Is it better for trees? Often this may not be the case,” explains Mr. Kyriakakis.

Trees of Athens.

Nikos Vatopoulos

Jacaranda in Athens, in Rigillis, in Zappion. acacia at the Academy, Didota, Spetsona, Mikhail Voda. Mulberry trees in Vasilisa Sofia and all remaining pines. Pepper and capsicum in Amalia. Pines at the beginning of Syngrou (since 2004). Plane trees in Panepistimiou and Dionysios the Areopagite. Orange groves in Antimu Gazi and Eptanis.

The trees of Athens as an element of their cultural identity have stood the test of time. In recent years, there has been a movement to protect the city’s trees, which are opposed by enemies. First, those citizens who regard them as sources of pollution, obstructions in a shop window or entrance, constant dangers under theomenism, or simply supports for signs or chains. And secondly, utility chainsaws.

The forcible pruning of trees (all over Greece, but here we will focus on Athens) with an unjustified slowdown in their growth caused a wave of anger. From those who believe that trees are not cut well in this way and that this violence ultimately brings diseases and harms their growth. No municipal response is complete enough to answer the questions and fix the problem. This situation has undermined confidence in the services of the municipality involved in the processing of rows of trees.

Since the 19th century, the trees of Athens have been mythologized by the ancient Athenians. A striking example is the Alley of Peppers, Amalia Street, with lace peppers that adorned the hats and rations of the golden youth of that time. Until 1926, they stood in two rows, and today some have been preserved from the side of the Garden.

In the interwar period, extensive and coordinated tree plantings took place in an era of changing green form (the Areos field was opened in 1934). Extensive landscaping of the streets with pseudo-acacia (Robinia pseudoacacia) gave Athens unique beauty alleys with a hardy tree, with white flowers in early summer. It is surprising why the planting of this tree, which was so well suited to the climate and character of Athens, is not continued.

Plane trees, contrary to popular and popular perception, thrive in Athens, where there is so much underground water (in the little street of Miltiade, near Aiolou, you will see some of the most beautiful). This is also doubtful, because the plane trees of Dionysius the Areopagite were destroyed, as a result of which their growth this year cannot be compared with what we knew. At some point, clear, complete and exhaustive explanations will also be required to respond to the suffering (and resentment) of so many citizens. If the municipality is right, let them explain. Have him show us that he understands the cultural dimension of trees, write them down and make a register of historical trees and individuals. There are too many historical trees in all areas, which are in danger from lurking.