Switzerland 2008

[Maggi Young]

I would think that is rotundifolia, Tony... more open shape to the flower is right, too.

[tonyg]

Thanks Maggi.
Here are the last of this years Mannlichen pics    It really is a great spot although decidedly better when you are up there alone or with just one good friend perhaps.  To do this you have to go up early or late and be prepared for a walk up or down .... unless you choose to stay at the mountain guesthouse, hmmm, maybe next time.  I snuck back up early on my last day for a quiet half hour ... bliss
Here are the pics to prove it.  (Where Thomas and I had joined the crowds 21 hours earlier I was almost alone at 9am.)

Aster alpinus - looking brighter on a warm sunny day
Campanula barbata - same plant as on day I arrived but 3 more flowers now.
Parnassia palustris - a fine clump
Erigeron neglectus - Certainly an erigeron.  (Could be E. uniflorus or E. alpinus though)
Chamorchis alpina - would have missed it but for the adjacent gentian and even then nearly marked it off as another Frog Orchid.  Compare with earlier post of Frog Orchid and you'll see the difference.  This one was a small specimen though.
Perhaps saving the best for last, Anemone narcissiflora makes a fine sight against the blue sky.

[Maggi Young]

Lovely, indeed... I think you guys should be working for a calendar or greetings card company!!

[Paddy Tobin]

Tony,

You obviously caught great light with these last photographs, very well captured.

The weather certainly made a huge difference to the experience of being in the mountains. Earlier you showed a photograph of Murren taken from the Eigergletcher morraine. On the day we walked along the morraine there was no sign of Murren and that side of the valley was only seen in brief glimpses. As we walked up the clouds were following us from lower in the valley in great grey drifts and for much of our time we were engulfed in mist. I really must get back on a day that the sun is shining.

Great photographs, really enjoying looking at them.

Paddy

[tonyg]

Lovely, indeed... I think you guys should be working for a calendar or greetings card company!!

Open to offers .... although actually I'm after trying my hand as a tour leader.  I cannot imagine a better 'job'. 

Paddy, it is always worth going back despite what people will tell you about 'its never so good as the first time'  (Steady Maggi )  This was my fifth visit.  I've been with friends, alone and with the family.  Monday-Thursday was the shortest trip but I did manage to be atop the Schilthorn within 6 hours of leaving the UK on a very early flight!
Some of my best pics were taken in indifferent weather but I have been lucky in that I have always had some really good days.  The season varies from year to year so even if you go at the same time of year you may see quite a different range of plants.  But then there are a whole lot of other great places to visit in the Alps .... or the Pyrenees ... or .....

[Maggi Young]

I cannot imagine a better 'job'.

Not even chief taster in a chocolate shop?

Tour Leading can surely have its drawbacks, like any job, Tony....when dealing with the public, even the plant-loving public.... there is always "one".....

[tonyg]

Better than chocolate - sorry

In my line of work I meet 'one' every day... and that's just the staff
Seriously though, I do know what you mean.  I started my alpine travels on a couple of organised tours but after dealing with the public every day for 26 years there is not much that phases me now .... I recently was given a box of  chocolates by an old biddy (we call her Winnie the Witch) who has been terrorising shop staff in Norwich for years - now I need an even bigger challenge

[Maggi Young]

In my line of work I meet 'one' every day... and that's just the staff
Seriously though, I do know what you mean.  I started my alpine travels on a couple of organised tours but after dealing with the public every day for 26 years there is not much that phases me now .... I recently was given a box of  chocolates by an old biddy (we call her Winnie the Witch) who has been terrorising shop staff in Norwich for years - now I need an even bigger challenge

Tee Hee! 

[art600]

Open to offers .... although actually I'm after trying my hand as a tour leader.  I cannot imagine a better 'job'. 

Tony

It depends on the people you lead.

[Thomas Huber]

Tony, many thanks for your ID-help! I know you already told me their names, when we've been there,
but my memory has turned very bad since I reached the 40 level  I've put the names into my first
postings for easy search.
And don't put your photos down - they are at least as good as mine, if not better, especially the morning light photos!!!

Some more photos, made on the Brienzer Rothorn together with Tony.
The hubi's were left in Brienz and had a good time on the lake

- 049 View from the Rothorn above the Brienzer See
- 051 Campanula above the lake
- 056 Traunsteinia globosa
- 069 two crocus freaks
- 082 same orchid, different view
- 043 Gentiana acaulis, the darkest blue in acaulis I've ever seen
- 041 Edelweiß, Leontopodium alpinum
- 044 nice clump of Linaria alpina
- 095 You will never guess, what Tony has seen to be shocked like this - the answer will be posted somewhat later 

[Thomas Huber]

The day before we met Tony, was spend in Luzern where we enjoyed the view over the
- 07 Vierwaldstätter-See and the
- 23 Kapell-Bridge with the Watertower.


The day after dropping of Tony in Interlaken we visited Engstlenalp above Innertkirchen:
- 021 Globularia nudicaulis
- 024 Saxifraga moschata
- 072 Leucanthemum ?vulgare or halleri
- 113 Phyteuma betonicifolium
- 096 Eriphorum scheuchzerii
- 062 Gentiana lutea
- 045 Sempervivum montanum

[Thomas Huber]

And now the answer for Tony's shocked face, but before you continue, one wellmeant tipp:
Sensitive, touchy softies and crybabies should not open this photo     






Chris was searching for Crocus seeds on a special place:

[ranunculus]

You have a vet in the making there Thomas!  Remind him to lift the tail first (and only LADY cows)!

Really enjoying your 'twin' postings.

We could possibly find an opening for you if you are serious Tony. (and I don't mean in the back of a ruminant)!

[tonyg]

I did it on purpose ... my mother does the same thing when someone points a camera at her
When the junior vet performed his search I would have been doubled up laughing

Thomas
21 Globularia nudicaulis
24 Saxifraga moschata
72 Leucanthemum ?vulgare or halleri
113 Phyteuma betonicifolium
Orchid on Rothorn - Traunsteinia globosa

Here are some of my pics from our Brienz Rothorn excursion ... it was heroic of Thomas to accompany me since he does not share my passion for steam.  Next time you get to call the shots guy!

Campanula thyrsoides - only the one flowering plant did we see.  Come to think of it I've only ever seen singletons.
Helianthemum nummularium - a bit dwarf up on this exposed ridge.
Heiraceum species abound in this region (as everywhere?) full Id can be left to expert  ....  but would anyone challenge me if I got it wrong?
Galium anisophyllum (open to corrections here) was very dwarf and compact.  One of those plants that usually get passed by.
Centaurea montana - bizarrely I was weeding around this in my Mothers London garden 24 hours after taking this pic!

Cliff - a PM conversation would be best.  I need an excuse to go flower hunting for more than 3 days

[David Nicholson]

You have a vet in the making there Thomas!  Remind him to lift the tail first (and only LADY cows)!

Really enjoying your 'twin' postings.

We could possibly find an opening for you if you are serious Tony. (and I don't mean in the back of a ruminant)!

Aren't all COWS ladies?