Nine Islands, Three Plates

Polly flew low over black rock and green fields by the sea. Mist moved over the hills inland. This was São Miguel, the biggest Azores island.

The island was made under the sea. Three huge pieces of the earth push together there. Heat rises through cracks in the rock. Every island here came from fire and cooled rock.

Most fields here have a hedge of hydrangea flowers: blue, purple, and sometimes pink. Farmers brought the plants from Asia long ago to mark field borders. The rich soil makes the flowers deep blue.

Further inland, green hills rose around quiet valleys. Thin white steam rose from somewhere among them. Polly flew toward the high ground to look.