Velika Planina, Slovenia

[Tristan_He]

Velika Planina is an alpine meadow plateau in Slovenia, an extreme southeastern outlier of the Alps. Unlike many parts of Europe, it is still managed in a more or less traditional manner, due to this chap:



He was an architect who wanted to help preserve the vanishing way of life and unique architecture of the alpine farmers. The full story is on the interpretation boards I photographed, and as I am quite lazy and the boards explain things much better than I can anyway, read on in the photographs below:

[Tristan_He]

More interpretation:





The area can be reached by cable car, with a chairlift to take you to the top. Some of the huts are available to hire, which I imagine would make a great couple of days.



Here is one of the huts

[Tristan_He]

The result is a something that looks a bit like a scene from Heidi, with masses of beautiful alpine plants:



Helleborus niger was very abundant, sadly no longer in flower



Trollius europaeus was common, but unfortunately most of it was at intermediate altitudes so I couldn't get a shot of the best bits.



I think this is Polygala calcarea.



This Crocus (presumably one of the vernus group?) had now largely finished flowering, but there were sheets of the leaves. It must have been incredible in full flower.

[Tristan_He]

The best stuff was near the top of course. (Warning: do not read further if you have an aversion to the colour blue).

Pinguicula alpina. I've always wanted to see this. It is common on Velika Planina, and more attractive than I expected.



Rhodothamnus chamaecistus



Gentiana cf. verna. I did not definitively identify the spring gentians here. It's possible that there may have been more than one species. Possibly G. orbicularis?

[Tristan_He]

More gentians.... I never tire of these.



Pale form


Gentiana clusii





Ajuga pyramidalis

[Tristan_He]

Apart from the gentians, the other star here is Primula wulfeniana, flowering profusely.







An encrusted sax - S. crustata perhaps?



There was also some very muddy cattle ponds containing these alpine newts, Ichthyosaura alpestris.

[Tristan_He]

Pedicularis verticillata is new to me but very compact and pretty here. I am going to look out for seed.





Potentilla sp. There was another, smaller species higher up but in my gentian frenzy I didn't get a picture...



Views of the landscape:

[Tristan_He]

Any idea what this crucifer might be?



Below a photo of the opposite hillside which is about the same altitude. Woodland has moved up the hillsides due to abandonment of traditional grazing.



And I'll finish off with a fabulous view north to Kamnik.

[Maggi Young]

Wonderful place!  Really  like those  newts, too.

[Tristan_He]

It is Maggi. Also very accessible, no hiking required whatsoever! Unfortunately we only discovered it fairly late in the day so had only about 3 hours there, but well worth a day trip or a weekend in one of the huts.

[annew]

That looks like a fantastic place, and all honour to Mr Kopač.

[Tristan_He]

For info... I managed to get hold of seed of Pedicularis verticillata, Gentiana orbicularis and G. clusii (as well as a great many others) at Michal Rejsek's website https://wildflowerseeds.eu/

Looks like good quality seed, hopefully they will grow ok for me. A few of the legumes are coming up already.

[Yann]

A fantastic region, did you visit mount Triglav? without any doubt the Spot with a big S to explore.
The mountains host colonies of Physoplexis comosa, Bupleurum petraeum, Campanula carnica, Campanula zoysii
 and many other species.
For those already thinking to their next summer holidays, tick it!

 

[Gabriela]

A fantastic region, did you visit mount Triglav? without any doubt the Spot with a big S to explore.
The mountains host colonies of Physoplexis comosa, Bupleurum petraeum, Campanula carnica, Campanula zoysii
 and many other species.
For those already thinking to their next summer holidays, tick it!

I'll tick it for next time when in Europe Yann, although the exploration of the Pirin Mts. in Bulgaria it's just beginning and I would like to continue it.
Triglav looks very appealing.

[Gabriela]

For info... I managed to get hold of seed of Pedicularis verticillata, Gentiana orbicularis and G. clusii (as well as a great many others) at Michal Rejsek's website https://wildflowerseeds.eu/
Looks like good quality seed, hopefully they will grow ok for me. A few of the legumes are coming up already.

Very nice region Tristan and a rich flora; some common elements from the Carpathians as well.

Re: Pedicularis verticillata - in the last 4 years I tried a few Pedicularis species, including P. verticillata (my own coll. from Carpaths) and in all cases germination happened in the second year after sowing.
I found sources pointing out at the very hard seed coat and suggesting the need of scarification.
Next time I will definitely try to scarify somehow the seeds. Good luck with yours!