Switzerland July 2007

[Diane Clement]

This is a great "holiday" for me.... only one complaint, no pix of the food and what on earth is the charming hiking companion and other half called... I hate to be so formal as to address him  only as Mr Clement !

You will be pleased to find out that FOOD is of great importance to me when on holiday.  We feasted on large buffet breakfasts every morning, 5 course dinners every night.  Only room for an Applestrudel or Apricotcake at lunchtime (with vanilla sauce and ice cream of course ...).  But I didn't think to photograph these (shame on me). 

The "charming hiking companion" sends his regards and we both congratulate you on your recent anniversary and hope we survive the next 3 years together in order to catch you up.  Mr Clement (Michael to you) is now off to pick blueberries, blackberries and tomatoes from his allotment this morning while I get on with those bulbs.

[Maggi Young]

hope we survive the next 3 years together in order to catch you up.

No fear of that, Diane, you are obviously on a good training diet for the task.

Michael is now off to pick blueberries, blackberries and tomatoes from his allotment

Ah, Michael: a man with a productive allotment..... excellent hiking  and life companion material and no mistake

[Paddy Tobin]

Diane,

I have just gone back over all your photographs from Switzerland, in case I had missed any. This has been a wonderful report and I really enjoyed it.

Many thanks, Paddy

[Diane Clement]

Paddy thanks for your kind words.  Have you visited the areas yourself?

[Paddy Tobin]

Diane,

Unfortunately, No. The nearest I have been is to the Dolomites where I saw many of the same plants, growing in similar conditions. It really is a treat to see such a wealth of plants as grow in the meadows there and it makes one consider what a plant heritage we have lost through our agricultural practices. Long may these areas be preserved to give us this enjoyment, a very simple pleasure, so pure and uncomplicated and, unfortunately, so easily lost if people do not see it as an integral part of their heritage every bit as important as castles, music, art or literature but so very much more fragile and at risk.

So, Diane, thank you so very much for this pleasure albeit at a once remove. Admin recently asked for suggestions for improvements to the forum but he can rest assured that this is one area where the forum is already working very well and in need of no improvement.

Paddy

[ranunculus]

As a follow up to Diane's wonderful holiday report could I be permitted to contribute some images from a magical holiday we enjoyed in Wengen in early June 2004?  This resort is very dear to our hearts and should feature highly on everyone's list of alpine destinations (especially those who prefer not to hire vehicles or are less physically able to hike uphill for long periods). The transport system is extremely impressive and surprisingly inexpensive while the village itself is the embodiment of all that is pleasant about being in Switzerland....superb surroundings, impeccably clean and quiet, features ample shopping for that ubiquitous 'after meal' evening stroll and seems full of totally adequate hotels.  The flora of the region is quite breathtaking and visitors can expect to see wonderful displays from the last weeks of May (in an early spring season) to the end of September (in a late summer).  We were fortunate enough to arrive just as the snows were melting and we were repaid with a glut of beautiful alpine flowers, the like of which we have only ever encountered in the Dolomites and on the Hintertux in Austria.
We travelled on the trains, cable cars, buses and chairlifts (with scarcely a wait between each) to the equally splendid resorts of Murren, Grindlewald, Interlaken and the villages of the Lauterbrunnen valley and visited many of the enchanting alpine sites that obviously inspired Diane and Michael.
I won't replicate many of the species that Diane has already so ably illustrated but it seems correct to point out that many of the species still in flower during her visit in late July were to be found (admittedly in slightly different locations) during our trip at the beginning of June.

Androsace helvetica
Anemone narcissiflora
...Again...
...Again...
Soldanella alpina
...Again...
Trollius europaeus
...Again...
...Again...
Ranunculus alpestris


More to follow......

[Brian Ellis]

Great photos Cliff, I love the Anemone narcissiflora, must track it down!

[ranunculus]

Thanks Brian,
A few more images can be posted during half-time in the football........

Primula auricula
...Again...
Campanulas in close-up
...Again...
...Again...
...Again...

Crocus albiflorus
...Again...
...Again...


More after the second half of Chelsea v Birmingham City....

[ranunculus]

Well, Chelsea won (again  ) and Manchester United kick-off in thirty minutes, so just a little time to post some more images from beautiful Wengen.....

This batch probably will need no introduction.....
 Crocus Scene
 Dark Gentian
 Dark Gentian Close
 Gentiana Bavarica
 Gentian FullFace
 Gentiana Kochiana
 Globularia Under Mountain
 Globularia Close
 Viola Close
 Taraxacum View

[ranunculus]

Many more to follow but perhaps on another day....

[ranunculus]

Well, it is half-time in the United v Reading game, so just time for a few scene setters from the Swiss alps....

[ranunculus]

Game over...no score...
Time for posting...several more....
All captured in June 2004 during a two week break in Wengen.

[ranunculus]

No more soccer this evening....so a couple more postings...

[mark smyth]

humm, Alter Images and not a photo of Clare Grogan!

[hadacekf]

Cliff,
Thanks for the great pictures of plants from Switzerland; I have good memories of some places. My first journey was in the year 1956. Since this time I like Swiss chocolate!