One thing I never dreamt of seeing in drifts was Trollius europaeus. When we saw our first one we were over the moon. A little like when we saw our first woodland Anemone. Car screeched to a halt. No it wasn’t another huge dandelion, ( size of the dandelions over here – they’re impressive) it was a Trollius! Read More…
This trip of ours – it’s just one thrill after another.
Pulsatilla alpina just emerging from the snow melt today. Then YELLOW ones too! We were up at 2200m asl which is the height of most of the alpine Passes around the Alto Badia area. This one was taken close to the enormous Corvara ski field, popping up amongst the alpine Ericas which manage to wedge themselves into the rock and shale and help make homes for smaller plants. Read More…
Probably the most common (if you dare call a Gentian common) – maybe I should use the word “prolific”. Yes, the most prolific Gentian at this time of the year is Gentian verna which grows in tiny, tight clusters on the sides of sunny banks throughout the Julian and Dolomite Alps. Probably elsewhere too, but I’ve yet to go there!
Neotinia ustulata – what a dreadful name for such a beautiful ground Orchid! AND I’m sorry it’s laying sideways. It was just too tall to show you vertically. We saw this amazing Orchid growing in southern Slovenia and then Northern Istria – it dwarfs all other Orchids we have seen on our travels standing up to 40cm high on occasions.
Istria has 80 different species of Orchid but this was by far the most glamorous and it’s common name of “The burnt tipped Orchid” doesn’t do it justice either.
