Wednesday, December 26, 2012
Tuesday, December 4, 2012
New for 2013: Turkey
With winter most definitely here, with the first dustings of snow on the hills, time to be tempted by some of next year's travels...
Before leading our Cyprus trip, in November Yiannis travelled to Turkey, with Chris and Henry, to search for autumn bulbs and make plans for a new autumn itinerary. And judging by the photos, they had a pretty successful trip! Spectacular Sternbergias, a whole batch of good Colchicums and Crocuses and (my favourites) a couple of wonderful Biarums. Add into the mix some interesting archaeological sites and some good birds and reptiles, and I think we have a pretty tempting trip!
Before leading our Cyprus trip, in November Yiannis travelled to Turkey, with Chris and Henry, to search for autumn bulbs and make plans for a new autumn itinerary. And judging by the photos, they had a pretty successful trip! Spectacular Sternbergias, a whole batch of good Colchicums and Crocuses and (my favourites) a couple of wonderful Biarums. Add into the mix some interesting archaeological sites and some good birds and reptiles, and I think we have a pretty tempting trip!
Sternbergia clusiana
Sternbergia colchiciflora
Colchicum balansae
Colchicum boissieri
Crocus asumaniae
Crocus cancellatus ssp lycius
Crocus mathewi
Crocus pallasii
Biarum davisii
Biarum pyrami
Tuesday, November 20, 2012
Cyprus: 20th November 2012
One last day in the Cypriot sun, walking down from the ridge at Smygies, via a nice array of endemics and a rather wonderful taverna lunch... The trip report for this trip is now up on our website.
Carlina pygmaea
Hyacinthella millingenii
Odontites cypria
Monday, November 19, 2012
Cyprus: 19th November 2012
Lots of history, an endemic dandelion, a wintering Greater Sandplover and at long, long last, my very first Red-throated Pipit, in all its red-throated glory. And the forecast rain failed to arrive. A good day.
Taraxacum aphrogenes, the sea spray dandelion, endemic to the cliffs between Paphos and Akamas, and a surprisingly good looking plant!
Sunday, November 18, 2012
Cyprus: 18th November 2012
Today we found enough Narcissus tazetta to keep even the most avid Narcissophile happy, some wonderful vernal pools crammed full of Zannichelia (always one of my favourite plants), a handful of early Crown Anemones and yet another new location for Ophioglossum lusitanicum. And all in warm sunshine: so much for the forecast morning of thunder storms! (ok, so the storms arrived just after lunch, but by that time most of us were mid-nap already!)
But for me, there can only ever be one highlight from today...
But for me, there can only ever be one highlight from today...
Clathrus ruber the Latticed Stinkhorn. Have you ever seen a cooler fungus?
Saturday, November 17, 2012
Cyprus: 17th November 2012
Today we enjoyed the sunshine in the Pegeia Forest, with yet more bulbs in profusion, a hungry female Red-backed Shrike and a rather tatty but very friendly Cyprus Grayling.
Colchicum pusillum, a tiny little Colchicum
Muscari parviflorum
Narcissus serotinus
Ophioglossum lusitanicum
Ranunculus bullatus
Autumn Lady's Tresses Spiranthes spiralis
Friday, November 16, 2012
Cyprus: 16th November 2012
Crocus veneris thousands upon thousands of these lovely white stars were covering the rocky terraced hillsides. An amazing sight...
Cyclamen cyprium, the autumn-flowering endemic Cyclamen: yesterday, very unseasonally, we also found Cyclamen persicum in flower.
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