Kandersteg - Come Rain or Shine

[tonyg]

So many fine plants on Allmenalp.

Anemone narcissiflora, not the dense stands I saw later at Sunnbuel but some nice plants.  I recently acquired a stout seedling and have hopes of finally flowering this at home.

Gentiana brachyphylla, distinguished by the wingless bracts under the flower.  Generally I was too late for the spring gentians.  Just a few lingering where the snow had lain deepest. 

Primula farinosa

Traunstenia globosa.  Quite a few of these, not all as beefy in flower as this one.

And just around the corner the ubiquitous Red Campion.  This will grow anywhere .... pity some of the more 'special' alpines growing around here are not so accommodating.

[tonyg]

The mist did come and go ... a bit ... but glimpses of the higher places were few.  Silene acaulis, classic pink cushion occasionally in fine form.  Close by (and close by the path) was a nice plant of Saxifraga moschata.  Studying it closely I failed to notice the inquisitive calf who came sniffing .... until he sniffed very loudly at close range!

[tonyg]

Myosotis alpestris in fine form

Saxifraga paniculata weighed down in the wet

Pulsatilla alpina clumping up!

A glimpse

Anemone narcissiflora, great colouring in the buds.

[tonyg]

The path across the scree just disappeared into the mist, not as daunting as when the cloud lifted briefly and I could see down!

Great high alpines in this NE facing scree.  Pritzelago alpina, Thlaspi rotundifolium, both in the stoniest places.  Linaria alpina too and a saxifrage which I took to be Saxifraga biflora but the flowers are pale and I wonder if it might be the hybrid with Saxifraga oppostifolia.

[tonyg]

Also here was Viola cenisia, dwarf and only among the stones, not in grass.

The path ahead deteriorated, I chose discretion over valour and abandoned my attempt to reach the ridge above.  Returning across the scree, a big surprise.  Right in the path, I must ahve stepped over it on the way up, was a single plant of Androsace helvetica.  Fantastic patterns the hairs make when viewed in macro.  The plant threatened a few flower but none were open yet