Hello my DEAREST FRIENDS,
I come back to this topic again with loads of photos for you from Tatra Mountains. I was in the same places for third or more times now and still I find new fantastic species. I really love those mountains.
Of course it would be impossible to see everything new each time, but it is really incredible, that in the middle of July you can still find the last Soldanella carpatica, Primula minima or Gentiana verna. Like before I went to West Tatras. I went all the same tracks I did the last time. All because of my cousin with who I was this year in the mountains. I wanted to show her all the magnificence of those mountains. I must say, that she was really and totally shocked how loads of great things one can find just on a singe track. Even my friend from Poland hardly beleive I find all the species on the track and I do not sheer off the track. But I really find all those plants only and just near the tracks.
Unfortunately, not all tourists are like my and my cousin. They trample rare plants, they pick up flowers and throw them away when they fade, they destroy mushrooms without a reason. For the first time I found people smoking on the peaks, what was really horrible. You do to the mountains to breathe fresh and even herbs smelling air, not to smell cigarettes smoke.
For the first time I was more sad than happy of what I have found. Because of that I have about 370 photos on my Photobucket album, I will show you photos in parts. Of course I will not show you all 370 photos, because that would be too much. I brought with me about 420 photos. I have found some really outstanding species, from which I think you will be very satisfied. I wish you a pleasant journey in your minds wile watching the photos. Enjoy!
Gladiolus imbricatus - it was the first plant that welcomed us in the Tatra Mountains. It was growing in front of grocery we made shopping every day. Fortunately, this one was not noticed by tourists, unfortunately some other nearer to the rad disappeared in two days...
Dactylorhiza fuchsii - the only one I have found
Dactylorhiza maculata - instead of D. fuschii that one was really common. I found it almost in all valleys.
Campanula polymorpha or scheuchzeri - do you know what is the difference between those two? I really do not know. This looks to me more like the second one according to the photos in Google, but I cannot really say where is the difference. Any help will be appreciated.
Pedicularis verticillata - still flowering in the lower parts and fully flowering on the peaks. I lobe that species. I decided to try to grow it on a Poa alpina, we will see if there will be any effects (I think about sowing the seeds).
Traunsteinera globosa - aahhh...
On a part of 1 hour track I counted around 60 flowering plants. On the longer tracks there were hundreds of them. Unforgettable view.
Rhinanthus minor - half parasitic plant. Quite nice, a from closer look.
Linum extraaxillare - It has that amazing blue, ahh.
Why cannot it be so small and compact in the garden... :/ I know why, because I would have no reason go and see it in the mountains...
How tricky plant. ;-)
Gymnadenia odorata - for the first time I found that species. From my observation it flowers about two weeks after Gymnadenia conopsea. Probably there are also crossings between those two species, but they are almost impossible to recognize. But I think I have found some more pale colour plants with that "tail" shorter...
Botrychium lunaria - very tiny fern. Unfortunately, so small and groing so near track, that after four days 10 plants were gone.
That is really sad.
Ranunculus alpestris - This clumped looked so great, that I had to make a photo of it.
Gentiana verna - as promised, here you have. Still in full flowering. Just amazing, what to say more?
Saxifraga wahlenbergii - an endemic species groing only in Carpathians.
Solcanella carpatica - one of the really very last few. During my whole trip I have found maybe something around 10 still fully flowering plants. But still flowering, isn't that great?
This species I do not know. I think it is some Lotus sp. But I cannot find which one.
Solorina saccata - quite rare lichen. Beautiful, don't you think?
Silene acaulis - standard, growing everywhere on the peaks, and flowering very long. Than long, than the better.
Oxytropis carpatica - that was something new. That violet mixed with a drop of blue and pink.
Astragalus australis - It was just one plant, on the whole slope it was alone of its kind. Thanks to that I have noticed it and, something else.
Chamorchis alpina - very tiny orchid. I have found it when I almost touched ground with my camera. I photographed Astragalus and near by, low on the ground I see it. I was really paralysed with shock. I always thought that this plant is much bigger. But it is about 3-4 cm high. I will show more photos of it on the end, because I went there to make better ones the last day.
Oxytropis carpatica from the perspective of Chamorchis alpina.
Gentiana clusii - also the last flowering one.
Pedicularis oederi - finally I have a nice photo of this species to show.
Primula minima - I was searching for this one very hard to show it to my cousin and I found it. As you can see it already lost it colour, but it was still flowering.
Papaver tatricum - new fantastic discovery. I like that crystal clear, white flowers and its creased-paper-like petals.
Hedysarum hedysaroides - I must write that I have bought that one in Tatrzanska Lomnica last year. I had seeds and now I have seedlings.
I year or two I will be able to offer this plant to you.
The same with Astragalus australis.
Gentiana frigida - that one was a real surprise. I thought it grows only in the High Tatras, but I was wrong. I have found three places near the track where were growing about 5-7 plants in each. As you can see it was still not flowering, but I intend to go to Tatras just to make a photo of this one. I really must see it flowering.
For myself and for you of course.
View from peak Ciemniak
No comment.
Species unknown 1. - maybe you will be able to help me identify this plant?
Views from Tomanowa Valley
Leucorchis albida - on this route I have never saw this species before.
Thymus carpaticus - it is so common in the mountains, but I cannot explain why I love it so much. I just do.
If anyone want it, I can easily make cuttings.
Campanula trachelium - normally it is campanula violet/blue colour. There almost all plants of this species were pure white or with tiny accent of blue. Very interesting.
That is end of day one. Do not worry, I was 6 days in Tatra mountains so I will have that to show you. Each trip we took each day has something new to show. Of course the first day was the most surprising, but do not worry I am not off surprises for you yet.
If you wonder why I write so late, I will explain, that I have my internship on emergency and I took one night duty.
Next part of photos soon. (Sorry for mistakes, I am a bit tired.)
