Italy/Croatia Spring 2010

[Thomas Huber]

ATTENTION!
Every crocus in this thread that I named Crocus etruscus is now described as Crocus neglectus.
More information here: http://www.srgc.net/forum/index.php?topic=12310.0

After two hard weeks without the forum I'm back from a marvellous trip to Italy and Croatia with Chris.
Weather wasn't very fortunate with us, it rained every day and the good sights were often hidden behind dark clouds.

First day was the worst of all, but to brighten up our day we had our sunshine Madi with us 
Many thanks to Madi, Bruno and Toto for giving us a bed and food.
Just a few bad photos due to the bad weather, Corydalis probably cava and Chris between the last Galanthus of the season.

[Thomas Huber]

In the next two days we explored the mountain ranges North of Genova. Finally we saw the sun, but not for long
and the clouds came back. Despite the weather changes we found a lot of Crocus etruscus in flower.
Here some habitat photos.

[Thomas Huber]

After the sun came out we were happy that our planned hike on Monte Tobbio will bring some good sights.
But then we found the access road closed due to rocks falling onto the street. No chance to reach the
starting point of the hike - so we could just look back to the Tobbio with desire  
Later the clouds came back to hide the sun - and then disappeared again. Crazy weather  

We were very surprised about the variability of Crocus etruscus in this area.
Also albino forms were very frequently. Here some close-ups:

[Ragged Robin]

Thomas, you certainly made the most of your crazy weather and divertions to bring to the Forum such fantastic photos of Crocus etruscus en masse and  close up....its a beautiful shaped crocus and the variations are intriguing - thanks to you and Chris 

[Thomas Huber]

Thanks Robin - great you like the photos.

In some places Crocus etruscus surprised us with growing in a very wet habitat.
It was the melting snow that watered the meadows this way.

And some more close-ups of the best forms we found.

[Thomas Huber]

We were not expecting plants, but lots of Italian culture on our next destination - Genova.
Just a few impressions from the harbour, Chris and his namesake's (Chris Columbus) ship  'Santa Maria'
and a look back to the mountains, where the clouds (once again!) arrived.

The journey went further to the Cinque Terre. Again just a few photos in the best light we had 
First one shows Corniglia on top of the rock and Vernazza in the corner on the left, viewed from
Monterosso al Mare. Second one shows Manarola and the famous teraces of the Cinque Terre.

We didn't see the sun until we arrived in Motovun - a nice city-on-top-of-the-hill in Croatia.
In this area we found lots of beautiful Crocus vernus forms

[Thomas Huber]

I'm not sure what I can hold of this photo: Looks like 3 vernus forms growing together,
vernus/exiguus, albiflorus and napolitanus. But perhaps the middle sized flower is just a hybrid?
Again we found some very showy forms.

Last photo shows Trieste in Italy, next headland is Slovenia and in the background Croatia - and the sun 

[Armin]

Thomas,
in spite of the rainy weather it seems it was a very successful trip. I'm amazed by the variabiltiy of C. etruscus. There are realy nice forms worth to cultivate and also C. vernus ssp. habitat and forms are mouthwatering...

[I.S.]

  Thomas,
  It seems a succesfull trip you have made and very nice forms of C. etruscus! The weather in this time of the year in Turkey also same! You need be too very luky to see sun. On my trip of this year also was always rainy and foggy just one or two days suny.
  It is very interesting to see together vernus and albiflorus!

[Thomas Huber]

Ibrahim, in the last years I had always good weather, just one or two rainy/foggy days. This year it was just the opposite.
I always thought Crocus etruscus is a 'boring' species - but now I know it better

[Luc Gilgemyn]

Seems you've had another great father/son Hubi Tour Thomas ! 

Thanks for showing that these rather "common" species can have such intrigueing variation ! 

[Melvyn Jope]

 Thomas, glad you had such a productive trip in spite of the weather. Such good forms of Crocus etruscus, thank you for sharing the photos.

[Thomas Huber]

Thanks Luc and Melvyn - great also you enjoyed my trip.

[Viola]

With my wife Christine of 18., 3-21-2010 in Slovenien and Croatia on Crocusschau, was. In the valley of the Save much Galanthus nivale and the very variable Crocus exiguus (Cr.vittatus).

Karl

[Viola]

We drove this to the Biocovo mountains deeply snow-coveredly was in the north only next day. Crocus reticulatus, Crocus dalmaticus, Crocus albiflorus, Crocus biflorus ssp.veldenii and much Colchicum hungaricum flourished south sided. Also hybrids were under this.