Most people coming to live in Kirazli choose to renovate a traditional property and so the village is retaining it's character and charm. Life in Kirazli follows the seasons in the old fashioned way and each season brings it's own discoveries and pleasures.

Kirazli in Spring

From mid March Kirazli bursts into flower. The early spring brings instantaneous blossoming of the cherry and peach trees and the delicate sprays of almond flowers wave over a carpet of spring blooms that spread throughout the orchards. Spring is the most wonderful time to visit.

Between March and Mid June the valley is a delight with long warm days of sunshine. This is a delightful time of year to explore the area. The tourist crowds have not yet arrived and walks throughout the valley and the pine forests to picnic and birdwatch and find hidden treasures offer total peace and tranquillity.

Now is also a good time to tour the major attractions. Spend at least a full day wandering around Ephesus soaking up the atmosphere and discovering its hidden corners and tucked away marvels. Bring lunch with you and relax and enjoy the surroundings of marble columns rising from skirts of wildflowers.

Kirazli in Summer

With June summer swoops down on the valley and amongst the humming of the bees and cherry's slowly ripen in the sunlight. June is the time for the Cherry, Peach and Apricot harvest and the valley is full of the sweet scent of cherries and the soft glow of the peaches are like small suns ripening amongst the orchards.

August brings the ripe almond harvest and the fresh sweet nuts are served to accompany your breakfast of fresh bread, honey and cheese.

By noon the heat is building and whilst in busy Kusadasi the sun is like a hammer blow in gentle Kirazli the mountain breeze tempers the heat and the pine forests waft soothing scents of resin.

Now is the time for the traveller to explore the cool green of the Millipark and find secluded beaches and private coves far from the tourist traps. Take a small boat out across the crystal Aegean and relax under an awning and watch the multi-coloured waters.

Evenings are warm and long and made for sitting over lengthy meals of salad and mezes listening to the sound of water in a fountain, watching the first stars come out in the clear black of Kirazli's night sky.

Kirazli in Autumn

Autumn is a refreshing change from the heat of summer, the cooler days reinvigorate the traveller and resident alike and the clean, highly oxygenated air encourages you out to explore further.

Now is the time of the grape harvest and small tractors and trailers trundle through the valley piled high with grapes.

Towards the end of autumn the olive harvest starts and everyone joins in to gather the olives and take them to the local Zetinyagi (Olive oil press). The deep yellow green cold pressed olive oil of the valley is excellent and you can buy it direct from the local farmers.

As November comes the valley starts to settle into its winter routine. The olive and vine clippings are burnt and fragrant smoke curls around the valley give it a gentle haze. Logs are brought in from the forests with each family entitled to as much free wood as one donkey can carry. The last of the fruit harvest is dried and stored for winter.

Kirazli in Winter

Under a faded blue sky Kirazli sleeps out the winter. After the citrus harvest in late December all is quiet through the valley. The fields lie quiet and brown and bare branches wait the pruning of February.

The local sofrasi takes to serving nourishing and warming meals. Turkish ravioli in a hearty broth, hunks of warm bread to mop up the juices, slow cooked dishes which comfort are the order of the day.

In the Cay houses the men of the village gather to socialise and drink tea and the women gather in the closed in winter porches to gossip and share sweets.

Sudden winter storms that last a few hours and then vanish again deluge the valley with rain and lightening flashes around the mountains, the occasional frost lingers on the terracotta roofs until mid-morning.

But by February Winter is fading fast and trees are already budding and spring is just around the corner again.