Greece autumn 2018

[sokol]

A hoverfly approaching Crocus robertianus:






Crocus robertianus


Area around Milea:


We checked the area of the locus classicus of Crocus robertianus in late afternoon but have found closed Crocus hadriaticus only at three places. Altitude, driving distance from Mazia and coordinates did not match and possibly we have been there too early anyway.
I hope Janis, who will be in Greece for the next days is more successful .

[Yann]

nice catch of that pollinisator! It's very interesting to see different biotopes.

[sokol]

Next day started cloudy and it was not a successful day concerning Crocuses.

Despite the weather we enjoyed the great landscape there.

View from the Vikos balcony to the gorge:

[sokol]

It took some time till we have found the first Crocus hellenicus not far from the balcony. There were just a few coming out.

[sokol]

Zagoria is very nice and there is always much to see like the stone bridges around Kipi:






or the rocks of Oxia:

[sokol]

We wanted to see the nice Crocus hadriaticus around Monodendri but we were too early there this year. Fortunately we have found some at two other places by chance.








Timfi above Monodendri and Vikos village:

[sokol]

Some last pictures of that day, rather poor in Crocus.

Viscum album




Scabiosa tenuis


Asyneuma limonifolium

[Yann]

I've never been in autumn to Vikos, it looks very dry. The balcony is very different from what is seen in spring.

[Gabriela]

Gorgeous landscapes in those mountains Stefan, all in the Pindus range I understand? Very beautiful, I can imagine the richness of the flora out there.

Are these spots that you know about on established trails anyone can follow?

[Yann]

Are these spots that you know about on established trails anyone can follow?

Some of the tracks are well known to host endemic plants....if you don't fear of heights

one of the scariest is near Agia Paraskevi Monastery, you walk along the rock wall.
You can cross other people going the opposite and approaching the void 

http://peaklagger.com/hiking-vikos-gorge/
and about the flora http://www.bioone.org/doi/pdf/10.3372/wi.27.2708

[sokol]

Gabriela, it was all in the Pidus range from Milea with Crocus robertianus on. The area is easily accessible as there are paved roads to all villages and many good forest roads. We have had just one week, the days have been short and there was no time to do long walks through the gorges and mountains. But you could do this of course.
The flora is very rich and there are many endemics in the mountains, Viola for example or on the islands like Campanula.

My favorite site is: https://www.greekmountainflora.info/index.html

[ruweiss]

Breathtaking lanscapes and beautiful flowers - thank you for showing.

[Gabriela]

Some of the tracks are well known to host endemic plants....if you don't fear of heights

one of the scariest is near Agia Paraskevi Monastery, you walk along the rock wall.
You can cross other people going the opposite and approaching the void 

http://peaklagger.com/hiking-vikos-gorge/
and about the flora http://www.bioone.org/doi/pdf/10.3372/wi.27.2708

Thanks Yann; the blogger's hiking story was quite funny
Quite an interesting region.

[Gabriela]

Gabriela, it was all in the Pidus range from Milea with Crocus robertianus on. The area is easily accessible as there are paved roads to all villages and many good forest roads. We have had just one week, the days have been short and there was no time to do long walks through the gorges and mountains. But you could do this of course.
The flora is very rich and there are many endemics in the mountains, Viola for example or on the islands like Campanula.

My favorite site is: https://www.greekmountainflora.info/index.html

Thank you Stefan. That's a great website with lots of informations.
Something good to explore even just virtual in the winter time I assume that even if in Northern side of Greece these places would be terribly hot somewhere in July.

[sokol]

Also July is hot at low levels, it could be quite interesting in higher areas for special plants.

I prefer May and June for Northern Greece and March/April for the islands and low levels in Southern Greece.