Malta, Gozo and Comino are Mediterranean island hot spots for early coastal flowers if these photos are anything to go by. Not a plant hunters paradise but a photographers opportunity to get some good shots.

Agave and Aloe varieties seem to cope with the climate and the salt ladened air.

‘Aloe, aloe, aloe’ as the botanic police may arrestingly say.

Euphorbias were in fine fettle almost two months before we will see them in Yorkshire.

When in Europe I try to buy packets of seed which have been subject to health checks. I do not want to import the next Knotweed or Ash die-back pathogen.

This’ll prick someones balloon.

There is not a lot of literature about these plants but I found one book ‘Wild Plants of Malta’ by H.C. Weber regrettably out of print.