Ukrainian Carpathians and their meadows June 2017

[Jacek]

Last year in June I and my wife made a week-long trip to the highest part of the Ukrainian Carpathians, namely  Gorgany and Chornohora. Such trip is not easy: not so far away but poor roads, yet improving, make the trip long. Moreover, no  organized mountain rescue service, absent or poorly marked paths and last but not least - no maps. Sometimes reprints  of  old Polish maps  - made before Second World War - were the only available ones, but in Poland, not on site. Some smart companions had mobile applications with off-line mountain maps combined with GPS  - this was really great.

But otherwise beautiful and safe, although very poor.

For me additional value  - my grandfather used to ski in Vorohta - a village that used to be similar to Zakopane in Tatra Mountains.

[Jacek]

Historically this  area belonged to Poland between I and II World Wars and used to be one of the main spots where Polish mountain tourism was animated. Few traces survived.

The mountains were and are inhabited by Hutsul tribe that formed the most colourful and expressive highlanders culture within the borders of former Poland. They belong to Rusyn or broader - Ukrainian group of nations.

Their main activity was and is cattle and horse pasturing, hence well  preserved meadows, both highland or natural, over the forest line and man-made, around villages.

[Jacek]

Both low and highlans meadows were full of flowers in June. I am not aware  of such beauty in Poland. Names  of many plants are not known to me as I am not a  botanist.

Starting with low located meadows.

Scorzonera rosea
Arnica montana
Campanulas
Unknown

[Jacek]

Orchids everywhere. Possibly the first pic is not an orchid.

[Jacek]

More  Arnica
Trollius europaeus
A meadow
Superb violas

[Jacek]

Elegant small plant, lamiaceae?
Hieracium aurantiacum, I liked it very much. Atypical colour, flowers not big but visible on quite long stems. Clearly preferring dryer sunny sites. Stolon producing. Leaves tightly on the ground. Should be a good and easy companion for early bulbs. I collected a few pieces and planted on the south facing slope in the garden. Will see how  it is doing.

[Jacek]

Let's hike now to the high mountain meadows. The highest  point is about 2050 m asl. Few rock outcrops. Rather a huge waving pasture.

Last crocus to bloom.
Gentiana but which one?
Soldanella
Anemone? Pulsatilla?
Unknown small nice plant  - I don't have any book with me to help with identification 

[Jacek]

No attached pictures so I try again single ones.

[Maggi Young]

Elegant small plant, lamiaceae?

Pedicularis sp.

[Jacek]

It seems I cannot attach pictures I wanted - they are too big files. What a pity.

Now I will try to post some pictures of Rhododendron myrtifolium. This was a true discovery for me as such plants do not grow in Poland. This highland shrublet is so low and prostrate, usually no more than 20-30 cm. I wonder if this beauty is in cultivation and what  size it achieves not being exposed to extreme conditions of the nature. [ Attachment Invalid Or Does Not Exist ]

[Jacek]

No pictures any more... I've tryed several ones and no one worked. I have to read about posting, but it worked well before.

[Maggi Young]

Strange that you cannot attach pictures now - not sure why.  Your previous photos at under 200 kb each were fine. 

[Jacek]

It seems I canot post pictures any more  - they are all too big. I've tryed several pics and NO. Having only phone with me makes this issue impossible to resolve. After discharge from the hospital I will come back to this thread using my computer.

[Jacek]

I'm trying to return to posting in this thread - no success however. I was discharged from the hospital, but there is no wi fi in the hotel, so I cannot use my laptop for posting. Will have to wait.

Any opinions about Rhododendron myrtifolium in cultivation? I believe it could  be a good rock garden/trough plant. Yet, there is almost nothing about it on the forum.

[Gabriela]

The alpine meadows in the Ukrainian Carpaths are very similar with the ones in Romania Jacek, don't know if really needed to state the obvious...

Anyway, the absolutely fantastic fragrant R. myrtifolium, which I shown in my Carpathians thread I think, is not much cultivated it seems. Jim Jermyn mentions in his Alpine Plants of Europe book that is not difficult in cultivation and it has flowered seedlings in 4-5 years.
I don't agree though with him saying is a calcicole species. Not as calcifuge as others maybe but it grows only in particular areas where Primula minima, Geum reptans and Soldanella pusilla are found.

With what species was associated in Ukraine?
I collected few seeds last year but from marginally ripe capsules so I need to test them first; easy done but my light stand is not going up so soon.