Trip to Alanya

[Lars S]

Our family is going to Alanya in the beginning of April for a week of sun and bath (hopefully). I have never been to Turkey before and wonder if I can I hope to find any wild-growing bulbous plants in the Alanya neighbourhood at this time of the year ? Or would I have to go up in the mountains for that ?

[Thomas Huber]

Lars, I've never been to Turkey, too, but from my visits in other mediterranean countries
I learnt, that there will not be many bulbous plants in the coast areas, so you have to
go to the mountains. Not only for plants but the backcountry is always worth a visit.

[Tony Willis]

Lars I have been in this area several times although at the beginning of May when most things are over.

You will have seen that Janis has just come back and many plants in that area were already in full flower and will I think be over when you arrive.

I would think however that if you can travel west and then inland towards Beysehir you may still find a few things in flower and the scenery is wonderful. Remember however that although the roads are good the distances are long.

If you hire a car ensure that you take out Supercover on the insurance for both damage and theft otherwise the excess is very high if you have a problem.

[Lars S]

Thanks´s Thomas and Tony !

I have read Janis´posts with great interest. I´m afraid that my wife won´t permit me to go away on long trips into the mountains looking for "flowers" (as she puts it). But hopefully I´ll still  be able to see interesting plants in the area 

[I.S.]

   Lars, You may have chance to see Cyclamen, Galanthus and Fritillari near by coast. But for more, you need to climb north up 1200-1600m.
   I had chance to find somethings even in agust but mountains.

[Thomas Huber]

Lars, you won't tell your wife, that you want to look for flowers.
Tell her you have to watch the beautiful scenery and then: 'Oops - what an interesting flower' 

[Maggi Young]

Lars, you won't tell your wife, that you want to look for flowers.
Tell her you have to watch the beautiful scenery and then: 'Oops - what an interesting flower' 

Yes, Hubi, that's the way...... tell your wife you want to take her to the mountains to show her scenery that is as beautiful as she is...... I'm sure it will work   

[Lars S]

Thank´s Ibrahim ! That sounds interesting, to see the plants at their natural growing places

Good idea Thomas and Maggi , it could be worth a try.
(As the servant Baldrick in the Blackadder series keep saying: "I have a cunning plan ..." ) 

[Maggi Young]

Good idea Thomas and Maggi , it could be worth a try.
(As the servant Baldrick in the Blackadder series keep saying:
 "I have a cunning plan ..." ) 

Yes, a cunning plan  can be a good idea.... but beware too many turnips, always a problem with Baldrick's plans, as I remember! 

[Lars S]

 

[Panu]

Just got back from two weeks trip to Alanya. We had no intention to leave anywhere, but the package tour was so cheap, 279 e/person. Well spent money, I´d say.

Alanya itself had little to offer besides sun and beach, but keeping the trip low in budget, we mostly stayed there. We first travelled by buses, but they were frustratingly slow. So we rent a car for two days. We visited Akseki and Ürünlü and some other small villages in the mountains.

It was too late to see for example crocuses in flower, but the views were great. I did some herping also, with not that great success either. We found three tortoises and lots of lizards from several species, but none snakes.

[Panu]

Few unidentified Muscari, Oxytropis, Ophrys, Fritillaria and Aristolochia.

[Maggi Young]

Panu, I already feel that I have had the benefit of your Euros from the photos of the area, let alone the plants! Thank you!

[David Nicholson]

Lovely set of pics Panu, thanks for posting.

[listera]

My guesses for the IDs are as follows:

Hyacinthella glabrescens/heldreichii
Bellevalia tauri
F.elwessi
Op. mammosa
Muscari neglectum /armeniacum
Muscari comosum
Aristolochia maurorum