CRETE - A SPRING TRIP TO THE LAND OF THE WHITE MOUNTAINS

[Lvandelft]

And again a great show, Cliff! Super orchid pictures.
I understand exactly what you mean, when taking pictures with much wind.
One need patience and you seem to have it.

Mr Ranunculus it was a great treat to see the orchids but also the very tall branched plant with small white flowers. I have seen similar in Portugal and I am getting more crazy by not knowing what it is. Does anyone have an idea?

Joakim, maybe is Asphodelus ramosum the plant you asked the name for?

[Joakim B]

People can suggest names to the pics and see how right they are copared what Mr Ranunculus think added later. This way we can watch the plants twice and not need to wait until they are named.

Luit You gave me the name of the mystery plant.

Kind regards
Joakim

[ranunculus]

Some more images from Spili...
Anacamptis pyramidalis
 Anchusa azurea
 Anemone
 Anchusa azurea 2
 Asphodelus aestivus
 Asphodeline aestivus close-up
 Astragalus angustifolius
 Asphodeline lutea
 Asphodeline lutea 2
 Aubrieta deltoidea

[ranunculus]

Another batch from Spili...more to follow later.
Campanula tubulosa
 Campanula tubulosa 2
 Campanula tubulosa 3
 Colony of Serapias lingua.
 Euphorbia acanthothamnos
 Hills near Spili.
 Ophrys  7(identify please).
 Ophrys cretica
 Ophrys phryganae.
 Orchis italica

[David Nicholson]

Now come on Mr B you can't back two horses in the same race-Is it ASPHDELUS aestivus or ASPHODELINE aestivus?

Lovely pics as usual Cliff, thanks for posting them.  

[ranunculus]

Just time to post one more batch from Spili...

Well spotted Mr Nicholson.....opticians number please Mrs Booker?

Orchis pauciflora
 Ornithogalum dictaeum ssp. dictaeum
 Orobanche ramosa
 Papaver argemone ssp. nigrotinctum
 Papaver purpureomarginatum.
 Prunus prostrata
 Serapias lingua
 Serapias lingua 2
 Silene colorata
 Umbilicus horizontalis

[Anthony Darby]

Ophrys 7 looks like tenthredinifera Cliff. Image 235 is omegaifera; 236 is tenthredinifera and 237 heldreichii.

[ranunculus]

In case anyone is still confused...it is Asphodeline lutea (Yellow asphodel) and Asphodelus aestivus (Common asphodel).

A batch of tulips now....mostly from Spili...

Thanks for the identification Anthony...I will check it out in 'The Orchids of Crete and Karpathos' by Alibertis Antonis, which I picked up on the island, but haven't had time to study yet.

Tulipa bakeri
 Tulipa bakeri close-up
 Tulipa doerfleri
 Tulipa doerfleri 2
 Tulipa doerfleri 4.
 Tulipa doerfleri 5
 Tulipa doerfleri and Muscari comosum
 Tulipa doerfleri close-up
 Tulipa doerfleri close-up 2
Tulipa doerfleri white streaks

[Gerdk]

Thank you Cliff - especially for showing  the tulips, which I regrettably missed.

I would be glad if you'll mention the books you used for identification - especially for the Papavers.

Gerd

[ranunculus]

Thanks for the kind comments Gerd.  I have been using 'Wildflowers of Crete' by Vangelis Papiomitoglou (www.mediterrneo.gr), which is a soft-backed, but beautifully illustrated (with photos) book from 2006 (ISBN 960-8227-77-1) that features more than 500 species and is highly recommended.
As previously mentioned I also purchased 'The Orchids of Crete and Karpathos' and took other (less useful) books along for the trip (but had to pay excess luggage charges at Heraklion airport for the privilege.

A number of excellent websites include:-

http://www.west-crete.com/flowers-crete.htm
http://cretanvista.gr/Galleryflowers1/page_01.htm
http://www.guenther-blaich.de/engl/kretfrue.htm  (Orchids)
http://orchids-crete.sherwoodonline.de/index.html  (Orchids)
http://cretanvista.gr/GalleryCTBirds/page_001.htm  (Birds of Crete)

[Rafa]

Fabulous post! Cliff 

[Gerdk]

Thank you, Cliff.

Gerd

[Armin]

Cliff,
what a wunderful picture tour

[ranunculus]

So glad you all enjoyed our trip to Crete...many thanks for the very kind comments.

[Hans A.]

Thanks for the great Photos, Cliff! Will you require a porter for your next visit?