With its mild climate and occasional rain in the months of June and July, the Azores provide a green backdrop for most photos.The average temperature in the summer ranges between 22°C – 26°C. As it rains more frequently with heavier winds in the winter, I expected to see homes furnished with a fire place to fight off the dampness. I was told by a Flemish woman, who had recently moved there from Belgium, there is no need for a fire place as the winter temps only drop to 18° C – 22°C. Moist and green, a heaven for vegetation and animal life – this is how I would describe the Azores.

Vinyards on Pico (World Heritage Site)

Tranquility

Cows everywhere...

A four-leaf clover

Hills on Faial

Vegetation on Pico Island

One of the most fascinating sites in the Azores was its lush and colorful vegetation. Big cacti greeted us outside the Horta airport, we picked wild strawberries on the outskirts of the crater, mint grew wild in many spots and the roads of Faial were lined with hydrangeas. Blue skies, blue waters, black beaches, but yet so much color inland.

In the early 90s, a British newspaper had complained about the abundance of hydrangeas in the Azores. They had found them too boring.

Wild strawberries - edible ones - growing on a hillside near the crater.

The Azores, with its abundant vegetation, provide a wonderful playground for all island creatures.

For more information on walks and car tours around the islands:Azores: Car Tours and Walks (Landscapes)