Flora Mirabilis

Saturday, March 17, 2012

Crocus chrysanthus (snow crocus)

Mt. Chortiatis, Macedonia, February 25, 2012

On a sunny Saturday of February we decided with my friend Yannis V. to walk from the village Chortiatis to the mountain shelter, a distance of 2.5 - 3 hours. The mount kept in some places much of the snow fallen in previews weeks. The Crocus bloomed just next to the snow cape. On the thrid and fourth pictures you may observe a rare specimen with 8, instead of usual 6, petals.

Lunaria annua

Corfu, Mars 13, 2012

Lunaria annua is commonly known as "Silver dollar" or "Chinese money" because of the shape and colour of its seeds. It is also known as "Corfu blue" because it is widespread on the island of Corfu, in the Ionian Sea. The pictures above are taken precisely in Corfu (Kerkyra), in a warm spring afternoon, during a visit to the island with my colleague and friend Yorgos T.

We both had to give lectures in a master class of History and Digital resources and while Yorgos was teaching and I was waiting my turn, I used the opportunity to walk around the so-called New Fortress of the city. I have been pleasantly surprised by the variety and rarity of the wild flowers I encountered, among which the Lunaria here above.

Erysimum cheiri (syn. Cheiranthus cheiri, commonly Aegaean wallflower)

Corfu, Mars 13, 2012

On the slopes of the new fortress.

Vanessa atalanta (red admiral)

Philopappos Hill, Athens, January 22, 2012

Vanessa atalanta or red admiral is a beautiful butterfly common in Europe and North America. It features in Vladimir Nabokov's novel "Pale Fire".

Erodium moschatum

Peplos, Thrace, Mars 28, 2012

Areopagus hill, Athens, January 22, 2012

Pnyx hill, Athens, Mars 3, 2012

Monday, January 23, 2012

Alyssum saxatile (syn. Aurinia saxatilis)

Areopagus hill, Athens, January 22, 2012

Areopagus hill, Athens, Mars 3, 2012

The Alyssum saxatile is supposed to start blooming in April and continue until late June, but many specimens on the southern slope of the Areopagus hill were in full bloom already by January! Is this in any way related to the global warming?

Friday, January 20, 2012

Crocosmia x crocosmiflora (montbretia)

Camariñas, Gallicia, Spain, August 16, 2009

This is a man-made hybrid of Crocosmia aurea and Crocosmia patsii dating back to 1880, and since then naturalized to various parts of Europe. Both parent Crocosmiae were called Tritoniae in an earlier nomenclature.

Lampranthus spectabilis

Lemon Cove, CA, USA, April 6, 2010

Lampranthus is a genus originating in South Africa, but it seems naturalised to southern California too. George was driving and he nearly got a heart attack when I started to yell that we have to stop. I had spoted this magnificent Lampranthus carpet and, despite the fright I caused to him, he lent me his camera, since mine was lost somewhere in my lagage.

Thursday, January 19, 2012

Xeranthemum annuum

Halka Bunar, central Bulgaria, June 25, 2010

Wisteria sinensis

Sofia, Bulgaria, May 6, 2009

Veronica persica

Sofia, Bulgaria, May 6, 2009

Verbascum undulatum

Areopagus hill, Athens, April 26, 2009

Verbascum sinuatum

Bratya Daskalovi, central Bulgaria July 10, 2010

Ancient Maroneia, Thrace, Greece, November 24, 2011

A beautiful summer evening at Bratya we 've been to the small river, which crosses the village, and took lots of flower pics with Maria, Dany and Katia.

For the last pic Kleopatra had to follow me on exploring ruins in ancient Maroneia, through bushes, rocks and thistles J.

Verbascum macrurum

Ancient Orchomenos, central Peloponnese, June 12, 2006

These beautiful mulleins adorned the ancient theater of Orchomenus, which I visited, during a detour on our way back from Agios Konstantinos to Athens, with Evi, Yorgos S. and Vasso.

Usnea barbata

Flambouritsa gorge, Mt. Cyllene, Peloponnese, October 30, 2011

Kilimanjaro Mt., Tanzania, Mars 1, 2009

Usnea is a genus of lichen growing on tree branches. The species barbata grows uniquely on dead trees. The second pic was taken after Mandara huts, at an altitude of appoximately 3000 m.

On both expeditions (to Kili and to Cyllene) I've been with Andreas. The Kili team was completed by Kostas A. and Sofoklis, while the Cyllene team included also Dora, Gogo,Vasilis T., Lilian, George, Yannis K. and Ilias.