Crete: 16th April 2011

For the orchid-addicted, there can be few better places to find yourself than western Crete in mid April... which is where Philip is on holiday for a week!

Ophrys cretica. The star of the show, so far...

Ophrys cretensis
one of the mammose-sphegodes group, a very delicate little plant, much smaller than the Cypriot mammosa/alasiatica/morio. Told from the similar O. herae by the dark, not gingery 'throat'.

Ophrys episcopalis

Ophrys heldreichii, a big, showy scolopax-type

Anacamptis boryi

Orchis pauciflora

Orchis quadripunctata, a much deeper pink colour here than in Cyprus, where the majority (at least around the Akamas) seem to be a delicate white

just to prove there is more to life than orchids... fields full of the stunning red Tulipa doerfleri

Cyclamen creticum, yet another endemic

and it's not just the plants! We've already caught up with all three of Crete's lizards. Indeed, this one piece of wood was sheltering two of them: a large Balkan Green Lizard and a wonderful pair of Ocellated Skinks (including this chap, above), who certainly aren't hanging around to have their photos taken!