Wild Flowers and Essential Oils

I ventured out last night with my friend Chris to a meeting of 'Flowers of Crete', which, in brief is a group trying to protect the endangered orchids and plants of Crete. The meeting was held in a distillery... of essential oils.
The BioAroma Essential Oils Distillery is on the outskirts of Aghios Nikolaos. It opened last year, and as well as drying and distilling the wild herbs in the large new building, there's a small museum area, to attract visitors. In the Spring and Summer months, flowers and herbs are grown outside.

This small still was working, producing lavendar oil essence.

There were many dried leaves, teas and herbs to be sold for all our ailments...

Sorry, flash reflection on this photogragh but I think you can get the main idea.

Cretans drink an assortment of mountain herbs as teas. Dittany, sage, Winter Savory, they believe that most ailments can be cured by them.....

Of course, there was all the essential oils too, professing to rid us of wrinkles, cellulite, dandruff, bad breath, headaches......

Julia, of 'Flowers of Crete' waiting for people to arrive for the meeting. It was rather chilly, I must admit.

Eventually, we had a very contructive meeting, regarding future events and ways of raising funds.

We also talked about a nature reserve that we're trying to construct, the aim of which is to provide a safe haven for transplanted orchids and other endangered plants, which would otherwise be threatened by indescriminate development. I've already blogged regarding this problem, I know, but it is a subject close to my heart.

Sakis, who is the owner of the distillery, is a chemist. He gave us a tour of the small museum pieces. Very helpful young chap and, unlike a great deal of greek men, is very interested in preserving the Cretan landscape. On the whole, I would recommend a visit if you are ever in this part of the island.

I loved these cutouts of the cattle pulling the wooden plough.

There was a large display of the woven and sewn work. Also, the loom, which not so long ago, could be found in virtually every house. Now, sadly, they are left to deteriorate or used as fire wood.

Many of the flowers and plants were used for dying the fabrics.

Sakis told us the ladies in the photograghs were all relatives, grandmother, aunts.