Wild daffs in Portugal and Spain, February 2008

[DaveM]

The last of the daffs from this trip is another favourite: Narcissus cantabricus. We had hoped to see this in abundance, but seemingly we were a little late this year. Those that we did see in very small numbers were growing in deep shade in thick phrygana and in pine woodlands. The form is not perhaps the best (first two pix).

I've also appended some pix of N cantabricus that I took a few years ago much farther NE in Andalucia on the top of the Sierra de los Filabres. - subspecies monophyllus - a superb cantabricus.

[art600]

Dave

The last photograph of N. panizzianus is wonderful and the others aren't bad.  Is this a Narcissus that can be grown outside in the UK? or is it for the bulb house?

Did you book hotels before hand or were you able to follow the season and go where the plants were?

[Lvandelft]

So much information and such beautiful pictures.
Dave, I love especially that also show so many habitats with surroundings.
Gives a bit of an idea what those Narcissus like in nature.
Thank you that you share them with us!

[art600]

Luit
Do you have room in your garden for some small mountains?

[Hans A.]

Dave,
thanks so much for this wonderful trip through spain and portugal! Great Pics.

[ian mcenery]

Fantastic Dave !!!!!!

[annew]

 

[Lvandelft]

Luit
Do you have room in your garden for some small mountains?

Yes room enough, Arthur. 

But in our place, just at about sea level it would not look nice, I think.
But you will know what I meant, don't you?   

[DaveM]

Arthur
NN papyraceous/panizzianus are the 'Paper White' daffs, grown in the Scilly Isles I believe for the florists' market. To my knowledge these is not hardy outside in UK - and most certainly not up here in Scotland!
This was an organised tour so hotels were booked beforehand. However, travel in Portugal and Spain is easy and at this time of the year the hotels that are open are not usually full. Of course, it helps if you can speak a little of the language ........

Luit,
I think that when you look at plants in the wild it is very important to try and understand Something of the ecology of them - the habitat and geology is very important in this respect. Only then perhaps, we might gain an insight in how to grow them. So I do try to take habitat shots as well as plant portraits.

Thanks all for your comments.

[Paddy Tobin]

Great show, Dave. Really enjoyed the photographs. Amazing where the narcissus grow. Amazing to see them in a crack in the rocks or in a small depression. Defies belief except that you have shown us.

Paddy

[dominique]

Dave
Absolutely fantastic report in natural habitat. Thank you and more and more !!!

[Lvandelft]

Luit,
I think that when you look at plants in the wild it is very important to try and understand Something of the ecology of them - the habitat and geology is very important in this respect. Only then perhaps, we might gain an insight in how to grow them. So I do try to take habitat shots as well as plant portraits.

Thanks all for your comments.

That's exactly why I appreciate these pictures so much Dave!

[art600]

Dave
Who organised the trip - it looks an excellent one.

[ranunculus]

Only just discovered this thread Dave (AOL have been off line for a number of days) and it is magnificent....many thanks!

[Lesley Cox]

Add my thanks too Dave. What a super trip you had. It's wonderful to see all those growing in their native habitats.