Dolomites July 2009

[akoen]

Thank you fore all the lovely pitcures. I have also been in the Dolomites whit our RV car this summer. Just a few days, and we were not hunting flowers. But I saw many anyway.

Did you drive all the way from Norway, Anne Karin?

Yes we were all the way down to Croatia.

Sweden, Germany, Austria, Slovenia, Croatia, Italy.

[ranunculus]

What an incredible journey, Anne ... will all your lovely images feature on the forum ... please?

How long did your journey take and did you log the total miles (sorry kilometres)?

[Maggi Young]

Thank you fore all the lovely pitcures. I have also been in the Dolomites whit our RV car this summer. Just a few days, and we were not hunting flowers. But I saw many anyway.

Did you drive all the way from Norway, Anne Karin?

Yes we were all the way down to Croatia.

Sweden, Germany, Austria, Slovenia, Croatia, Italy.

My goodness...... that is quite some journey! 

[Maggi Young]

I feel rather sorry for the orchid held in that vice-like grip/embrace by the fungus......

Not actually an orchid, Maggi ... it's a Pedicularis that is being slowly strangled by a fungi (should this section be X-rated)?   

.....in pic XX ? ...... oh, so it is.... hard to tell when the mushroom has it by the neck!

I think we can leave out the "X" rating, Cliff.... it seems that there are legal issues about the validity of such classifications for DVDs etc.......our readership will just have to monitor themselves!!

[Martinr]

Thanks Cliff for keeping it going. Work commitments may stop me processing more pictures before the weekend. Uncannily spooky that the set that are nearly ready are from the City of Rocks walk!!!

For those not intimately familiar with this part of the Dolomites that's where Cliff's latest pictures are taken.

[ranunculus]

That is certainly spooky, Martin!  I hope these images can simply act as a taster for your photos that were captured a little later in the season?



From the City of Rocks on the Sella Pass

[ranunculus]

Next batch for this morning ...


From the City of Rocks on the Sella Pass

[ranunculus]

Final batch for this morning ...

Starting at the City of Rocks
and concluding up on Le Valun with Soldanella alpina poking up through the snow.

[Paddy Tobin]

Hi Cliff,

Pic a11 shows a fabulous outcrop of rock - ideal for one's garden. Why didn't you take it home? It looks fabulous. Aren't those veratrums brilliant?

Great shots, Paddy

[Maggi Young]

I agree, paddy....I was thinking the same thing for image a5 - I love the natural "bonsai" on rock outcrops

[Martinr]

Some more plants from the City of Rocks. You must all tell Cliff & myself when you've had enough!!!

Ajuga pyramidalis (I think)

Bartsia alpina but what's that growing through it? It's not a quiz question, I don't know. I didn't even notice it till I looked closely at the photo

Coleoglossum viride

Erigeron neglectus(?)

Gentiana utriculosa

Gentianella germanica

Gymnadenia odoratissima

[Martinr]

Next...

Herminium monorchis

Paederota bonarota

Pedicularis verticillata

Phyteuma sieberi(?)

Potentilla crantzii

Primula farinosa

[Martinr]

Last set for tonight.

Saxifraga aizoides. Two pictures. I'm happy the first one is S. aizoides but not so sure about the second one. The plants were only a few feet from each other.

Silene acaulis. A remarkably loose cushion for this species.

Viola biflora, one of my favourites.

Moving away from plants two final shots.

First, men at work getting reasy for Winter already.

and finally.....what to do the next time your 6 year old won't do as he's told

[tonyg]

More lovely pics Martin and Cliff!
I have seen Saxifraga azoides with similar colouring in Switzerland.  I'll try and find a pic later.
The bartsia plus what pic .... the what might be another frog orchid or perhaps Chamorchis alpina.  Give us a closer look and someone will confirm.

[ashley]

Saxifraga aizoides. Two pictures. I'm happy the first one is S. aizoides but not so sure about the second one. The plants were only a few feet from each other.

Martin, I understand that the colour deepens as the flowers are going over but have no idea how the whole plant can be so 'synchronised'

Fine pictures.