Dolomites July 2008 : From 15th July to 1st August

[Maggi Young]

Cliff, the search engine's need to have names in text has been reiterated many times in many threads 

[ranunculus]

Oh dear ... I've been Maggied! 

Off to bed with a flea in my ear...

[Maggi Young]

Sleep well ,Cliff 

[Paddy Tobin]

Ah yes, Cliff,

I could force myself to spend some time there. Considering the effects of last year's postings from Wengen I should perhaps begin to brush up on my Italian for next year.

Money could be saved by renting that very des res shown earlier. Any contact details?

And those Dolomitic fungi - obviously some have infected you as you are so in love with the location.

Mary and I were there two years ago and the most lasting impression which remains with me is the sheer glare of the rock higher up the mountains. It is an amazingly bright grey which reflects the sun blindlingly. I recognise some of the scenes in your photographs.

As ever, a brilliant set of photographs and I am sure more will come and look forward eagerly to them.

Paddy

[Lesley Cox]

Another marvellous topic, with stunning pictures. Love the puppy (isn't it brandy? not rum?), love the plants and love the birds and fungi, especially that white one oozing blood!

Puppy must have found the body a bit hard going since Cliff is back safe and sound.

[Maggi Young]

Were you as surprised as I to see the blood-ooozing fungus, Lesley? I'd have thought that was endemic to Transylvania 

[Lesley Cox]

Yes, I did have a look in case Dracula was lurking somewhere in the background of the pics.

[ranunculus]

Good morning all,
Many thanks again for the lovely comments ... I was shocked to see the 'bleeding-fungi' as well - only 5ctms across, but it shone like a beacon from the shade of the Col di Lana forest floor.
A few more from the Nikon 995 now...


Saxifraga oppositifolia
Thymus cushion
Crevice phyteuma
Gentianella close-up
Dolomite fungi
Papaver rhaeticum
Slightly blurred but totally gorgeous little poppy
Rosa montana (canina?)
Potentilla nitida rubra
Grasshopper on achillea

[Paul T]

Wow, Cliff!!  Perfect photos as always (and before you point out the out of focus poppy.... only the flower was blurry, the leaves and the facets in the face of the rock were absolutely perfect, so it still qualified), and of a perfect place by the look of it.  The bleeding fungus was pretty wierd wasn't it, and the Rampions (something I haven't heard of before) look rather interesting, as do the orchids, the scenery, the list goes on.  All beautiful.  Thanks so much for posting the pics. 

[Joakim B]

Cliff I hope I am not sounding as a "besserwisser" (Do You have that one in English we do have that one in Swedish even if it is German?) but might the Nigritella rubra be a N. nigra? I have only seen both on pictures so I am only curious. The N. nigra seems to have this darker colour and the N. rubra slightly lighter and with a pinkish tin to it. In Butler there is some photos where the colour variation of N. nigra is seen.
The orchid below is an Epipactis but You might have known that already. It looks like E. helleborine. (Possibly E. palustris if that one can have red lip.)
Great pictures of all the plants.

Kind regards
Joakim

[Thomas Huber]

Cliff - I love your photos, reminds me that it's now two years ago since I was there last time!!

Joakim, Besserwisser could be translated as:
wiseacre
fault-finder
smart alec
wisenheimer      If I can trust my translating programm

[tonyg]

I don't think Cliff would call you a 'smart alec' - just a keen observer   I had spotted that one too!  Maybe it is nigra or rubra depending on whether the wine tonight is Rose or Red?  What say you Cliff?

[ranunculus]

Hi Joakim,
We saw both Nigritella rubra and N. nigra on our walks and also many examples that were midway in colour between the two ... the scent was usually quite distinct though and we tended to christen by scent.  A pale nigra could easily be mistaken for a dark rubra.  Many thanks for your input and for introducing me to that wonderful word; 'bessenwisser'.

[ranunculus]

Another batch of images...this time from the Nikon D80...


Lovely (and quite unusual) white Campanula barbata
Over Corvara
Orobanche caryophyllacea
Orchid landscape one (Gymnadenia)
Orchid landscape two (Gymnadenia)
Roof and rock - on Pordoi Pass
Sassongher
Sella scene
Sella cushion

[art600]

Cliff

Wonderful pictures - hope there are many more to come.