ATHENS, Greece - A 75-year-old Greek woman has been charged with drug offenses after police in her a sleepy island village spotted a small cannabis plant growing on her balcony, authorities said.

Hariklia Griva, a widowed mother of four from Ayiassos, on the eastern Aegean Sea island of Lesvos , was arrested Wednesday and charged with growing cannabis with the intent of trafficking in the drug. She was released on bail of $2,480.

The retiree, whose late husband was a policeman, told police the 16 inch potted plant grew from seed dropped by her pet canaries. The birds live in a cage on the balcony overlooking a busy Ayiassos street - opposite the local police station.

"I couldn't believe it, when they told me I was being arrested," Griva said. "The plant must have grown from the bird seed. I had no idea what the plant was. I watered it regularly. I thought it looked quite nice."