Iran 2008

[art600]

I could not decide whether to post my photos under the various genera, or as a travelogue.  Finally I decided on the latter.

7 hardy souls left Heathrow on April 13 for Teheran.  After a short sleep we left to fly to Mashad in the east of Iran.  The next 10 days were spent exploring the countryside back to Teheran, where we picked up the final member of our party.  The final 11 days were spent in NW iran, including a trip to Marivan on the Iraqi border.

We were disappointed to find that Iran had not had a great deal of snow during the winter - think it all went to Canada - and were suffering a drought when we were there.  The quantity of plants was therefore much reduced, although there were exceptions.

0319  Our leader Jill White dressed to enter a mausoleum in Bastam
0211  Group photo including our driver - minus me
0178  Azadi Arch Teheran

[art600]

0181  Typical terrain outside Mashad
0180  Iris songarica
0179  Iris songarica

[art600]

The following show how co-operation can achieve wonderful results.  I am still looking for someone to do the hard work.

[art600]

0194  Queing for that special plant - we were already getting desparate to see plants
0197  Allium sp.
0198  Close up

[art600]

0200  Rose of Persia
0201  Ancient observatory on way to Faruj

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0208  Treasure trove of nuts and dried fruit
0209   Happy owner - and we did not even buy anything this time

[art600]

Here are a couple that should not be sat on

[art600]

A valley near Imam Qoli  We were at 2190m and had stopped as someone had caught a flash of blue out of the window.  There was evidence of Dionysias in the cliffs, but my lens was not large enough, but in the rocks we found Hyacinthus transcaspica

[art600]

We were looking for the site found by Paul Furze of Scilla khorasanica.  We were successful and after a hairraising climb up some steep cliffs I made it to a spot where they were still in flower.  I regret not taking a habitat shot, as this would show how difficult a climb it was - will post it when I get a CD from someone with more forethought than me.

0230  Not only New Zealand has vegetable sheep.  In this case I think it is Gypsophila aretoides

[art600]

Now for a very attractive Iris.  In previous years they could have been numbered in hundreds, we were just pleased to see any.

0236, 0238 and 0241  Iris fosteriana

[ashley]

Fascinating pictures Arthur; I've been looking forward to these. 
Had the drought affected the timing as well as extent of growth?

[art600]

Yes - the season was very early, a minimum of 3 weeks.  However, there were exceptions as you will see when I post more.  I had resized all the photos, but now find they are generally too large and need further resizing.

There are some beautiful Iris meda in so many different colours, Iris acutiloba (including a spectacular form), Fritillaria grandiflora and poluninii etc still to come.

[Luc Gilgemyn]

Very interesting indeed Arthur ! 
Great pix and very promising for anything further you will be posting.
I'll be looking forward to that.

[Joakim B]

Art I am looking forward to the story You know how to make people want more

Kind regards
Joakim

[art600]

Here are some tulips.  At this time I cannot name them