Dolomites mid june 2009

[ian mcenery]

Pam and I visited the Dolomites for a week from the 15 June this year. It is our 3rd visit and it is still wonderful just love those towering rock faces. For me it is the nearest thing to a religious experience.

Our first day was up to the Pordoi and a walk up to the high ridge (puff puff pant) above the viel del Pain

walking up

daphne cneorum
Pulsatilla vernalis various
A bird would like an ID please it shared lunch with us
an ant stealing some of my lunch

[ian mcenery]

And some more of the first day

Eritrichium nanum
The kings view
Gentiana verna
Anemone baldensis
verna showing variation
Geum reptans or montana
Primula halleri
Primula minima varios showing habitat

[ian mcenery]

and some more from day one

Ranunculs glacialis I am sure someone may be interested  Growing on the top of the ridge and with a vertical drop beneath I was being very  careful
Sax oppositifolia
Soldanella alpina the snow had goe only a day or so earlier showing how many there were

[ian mcenery]

last of day one

Can anyone ID this plant please?
Vitalina (I still think of it as Douglasia)
Sassolungo my favourite mountain
Trollius
View of part of the Sella massif

[Luc Gilgemyn]

Great start Ian ! 
We can never get enough of this wonderful mountainrange... and of it's gorgeous flora !

Keep 'em coming please ! 
Thanks !

[Paddy Tobin]

An adorable place, Ian, Great photographs.

Paddy

[Maggi Young]

Thank heavens that so many of the Forumists like to make holiday trips!

Spectacular photos, Ian..... so MANY Soldanellas!!

Your unknown seems to be a Rhodiola rosea or whatever name it is going under these days 

[Ragged Robin]

A real paradise found, Ian, what an exhilarating experience even virtually 

Fabulous photos of plants at home on this dramatic range of mountains the primula minima 2 shot feels like we're on the slope - what a sight! Ranunculs glacialis is quite ethereal too and in peak condition 

[David Nicholson]

Great pics Ian. For the "get dizzy three feet in the air" types, like me, this is the way to enjoy mountains.

[tonyg]

Magnificent!  I especially like some of the moody views, looking forward to more

[hadacekf]

Ian,
You are right it is Vitaliana primuliflora  (syn. Androsace vitaliana, Douglasia vitaliana, Primula vitaliana) I visited this place very often. Thanks.

[ranunculus]

Oh Ian ... what a wonderful start.  Three more long days and we'll be there!   I hope those buttercups cling on until I can focus on them.  I trust I can be as careful as you, but my track record isn't particularly good.   
Can't wait to see more of your lovely images.
Kind regards to you both.

[Diane Clement]

A bird would like an ID please it shared lunch with us  

Hi Ian, Super pictures, thanks for showing them.  I'm champing at the bit waiting for the end of term.
Your bird is a Snowfinch (Montifringilla nivalis), http://www.birdguides.com/iris/pictures.asp?f=43124

[ian mcenery]

Thanks all for your encouragement and information.

Diane I expected to see you at Rob and Diane's tonight. Great garden by the way in superb condition

Here is day 2 a little quieter because we were visiting a new location on a north facing slope. This is known as the Cinque Torri which was an Italian first world war fortified spot and there are trenches or rather caves throughout these rocks. Unfortunately for them it was  overlooked by the Austrians who were "dug" in on the higher Laguzoi. A fascinating area for those interested in such things

The Cinque Torri
View down to Cortina
I think Croda de Lago
Soldanella Pusilla
How much was that insurance for?
Rhodothamnus all doing well in shade and on a north facing aspect. Later I will show just how adaptable this plant seems tp be
Views on the way down

Oth

[Paul T]

Oh Ian!!    So many wonderful things.  The Primula minima is just so cute, and the little Soldanella pusilla.  Beautiful!

Thank you to yourself and all the others who are giving us the mountain tours of places I'll likely never get to visit.  So many wondrous plants growing in the wild.  Yes I know that everything grows (or used to grow) somewhere in the wild, but it still blows me away every time I see pictures like this.  Thank you all so much.