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Author Topic: Alpine Walks in Valais  (Read 87042 times)

Maggi Young

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Re: Alpine Walks in Valais
« Reply #30 on: May 10, 2009, 08:32:24 PM »
I do wish you luck with your Mothering Sunday Search..... but  remember, if all else fails, there's always chocolate! 8)
Margaret Young in Aberdeen, North East Scotland Zone 7 -ish!

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cohan

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Re: Alpine Walks in Valais
« Reply #31 on: May 10, 2009, 11:43:22 PM »
I do wish you luck with your Mothering Sunday Search..... but  remember, if all else fails, there's always chocolate! 8)

lol--no chocolate today, but there is cheesecake for later :) and earlier, we presented a couple of flats with viola and pansy and a white mini rose which will go in a planter below her window..
i didnt find any caltha in flower, but many in bud, clipped one, we will see if it opens; lots of petasites, clipped a couple of those too--very sweetly scented..

Ragged Robin

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Re: Alpine Walks in Valais
« Reply #32 on: May 11, 2009, 12:21:25 PM »
Quote
i didnt find any caltha in flower, but many in bud, clipped one, we will see if it opens; lots of petasites, clipped a couple of those too--very sweetly scented..

This morning it all started with wondering what petasites were  ::)....

then I started to search the web   :o

then I realised they are growing everywhere here    :)

then I wanted to thank you for your posting   ;)

Cohan, you have done me the most enormous favour with your obvious love and knowledge of wild plants!  Today I found 2 websites that help me with identification of what is growing in general and my zone.  I'm always wondering about and trying to find out the names and links of what I see when out walking here (or anywhere else for that matter) and now the clues are beginning to fit the jigsaw puzzle of the plant world, thank you so much...  ???   ::)   ;D

Two sites that are terrific for me:

http://www.borealforest.org

http://www.naturephoto-cz.com


Valais, Switzerland - 1,200 metres - Continental climate - rocks and moraine

cohan

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Re: Alpine Walks in Valais
« Reply #33 on: May 11, 2009, 06:53:10 PM »

This morning it all started with wondering what petasites were  ::)....

then I started to search the web   :o

then I realised they are growing everywhere here    :)
then I wanted to thank you for your posting   ;)

Cohan, you have done me the most enormous favour with your obvious love and knowledge of wild plants!  Today I found 2 websites that help me with identification of what is growing in general and my zone.  I'm always wondering about and trying to find out the names and links of what I see when out walking here (or anywhere else for that matter) and now the clues are beginning to fit the jigsaw puzzle of the plant world, thank you so much...  ???   ::)   ;D
Two sites that are terrific for me:
http://www.borealforest.org
http://www.naturephoto-cz.com


isnt the discovery great fun?
petasites are very common here too--we have one which is mostly in wet grassy areas --these flower the most (probably because they are in the sun!) and another in wooded areas--this one has plants everywhere, you see a leaf or two, but usually no big clumps or displays..
probably some people find them rather boring--certainly not the most dramatic flowers, and not rare at all! BUT, i think they can be quite nice, and in several seasons--esp the arrow leafed form p sagittatus--it has prettier flowers, earliest here of anything, then the flower stalks get taller and taller as they seed, making a great display of fluffy white seed heads, and leaves can become very large-up to 30cm long and rather upright, sometimes in large stands..
i'll post more pics in a different thread...

have fun with your summer of discovery!

Ragged Robin

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Re: Alpine Walks in Valais
« Reply #34 on: May 13, 2009, 07:05:46 PM »
The grass is growing by the day in the meadows and in between the stalks a myriad of wild flowers jewels. It great to just amble along and watch the butterflies and insects floating over them.  They are in such a hurry to find the latest nectar that they are here and there and gone before I've had time to focus.
Valais, Switzerland - 1,200 metres - Continental climate - rocks and moraine

Ragged Robin

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Re: Alpine Walks in Valais
« Reply #35 on: May 13, 2009, 07:08:46 PM »
more meadow flowers
Valais, Switzerland - 1,200 metres - Continental climate - rocks and moraine

Ragged Robin

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Re: Alpine Walks in Valais
« Reply #36 on: May 13, 2009, 07:13:22 PM »
In the woodland the silence is broken by a blackbird calling and the crack of a twig under foot.....plenty of good smells everywhere! The new growth on pine and birch weaves a pattern with mountain ash flowers.... light and dark mingle and flowers reach for the sunlight through the branches overhead whilst others linger where it's damp.
Valais, Switzerland - 1,200 metres - Continental climate - rocks and moraine

Ragged Robin

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Re: Alpine Walks in Valais
« Reply #37 on: May 13, 2009, 07:18:18 PM »
More woodland scenes....
Valais, Switzerland - 1,200 metres - Continental climate - rocks and moraine

Ragged Robin

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Re: Alpine Walks in Valais
« Reply #38 on: May 13, 2009, 07:19:52 PM »
woodland smells...
Valais, Switzerland - 1,200 metres - Continental climate - rocks and moraine

Lvandelft

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Re: Alpine Walks in Valais
« Reply #39 on: May 13, 2009, 07:38:31 PM »
I hope you don't mind Robin, but a few plants you pictured very nice here are wrong named.
For instance Viola biflora is not like this.
Geranium sylvaticum should be G. sanguineum and Ranunculus alpestris looks more like a Potentilla.
The Doronicum is a Hieracium.

But I fully agree, walking in spring in a mountain maedow is something special.
Luit van Delft, right in the heart of the beautiful flowerbulb district, Noordwijkerhout, Holland.

Sadly Luit died on 14th October 2016 - happily we can still enjoy his posts to the Forum

ranunculus

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Re: Alpine Walks in Valais
« Reply #40 on: May 13, 2009, 07:39:20 PM »
Lovely images Robin, many thanks for posting.  Just a gentle nudge that your Ranunculus alpestris is actually a potentilla ... probably P. sterilis or P. micrantha.

If you feel REALLY flush with money then I would heartily recommend Flora Helvetica by Konrad Lauber and Gerhart Wagner, but don't expect to be able to carry it in your rucksack.  :D
Cliff Booker
Behind a camera in Whitworth. Lancashire. England.

ranunculus

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Re: Alpine Walks in Valais
« Reply #41 on: May 13, 2009, 07:41:03 PM »
Exceptional timing, Luit ... you beat me by less than a minute!   :D
Cliff Booker
Behind a camera in Whitworth. Lancashire. England.

ranunculus

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Re: Alpine Walks in Valais
« Reply #42 on: May 13, 2009, 07:51:09 PM »
It is a very steep learning curve Robin, but always a joy to go to lessons.  :D   Your Ajuga pyramidalis is probably A. reptans or A. genevensis ... I would need to see the foliage.

Do not worry too much about names ... they will come.
Cliff Booker
Behind a camera in Whitworth. Lancashire. England.

Maggi Young

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Re: Alpine Walks in Valais
« Reply #43 on: May 13, 2009, 08:06:56 PM »
Robin, a lovely walk with super photos but what I am enjoying as much as anything are your delightful descriptions..... a real pleasure to read, Thank You  :D
Margaret Young in Aberdeen, North East Scotland Zone 7 -ish!

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Ragged Robin

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Re: Alpine Walks in Valais
« Reply #44 on: May 13, 2009, 08:07:11 PM »
Thanks to all, I was waiting for the avalanche of miss-ID's but I only have my french book of flora of the Mountains and searching on the web.  However, if it is not a bore to correct me I would greatly appreciate some help on the ascent of the steep learning curve  ;D
Valais, Switzerland - 1,200 metres - Continental climate - rocks and moraine

 


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