White Eritrichium nanum on the Padon!!!

[Katherine J]

Hello dear Friends,
I am a rare plant nowadays on the Forums, but now I MUST tell you some news
About two weeks ago rambling on the black rocks of the Padon ridge, Dolomites, we found a white Eritrichium nanum!
Here you can see it. It was on an awful place above a huge precipice, so only my silly husband could reach it so close to make this pic without zooming.


Not too far from this place we found also Androsace helvetica on those volcanic rocks! I had read in Farrer's book about the Dolomites that he also found A. helvetica on the Padon.

[Magnar]

Thanks for sharing these wonderful pics,, very interesting 

[ranunculus]

Hi Katherine,
You are too rare a flower on the forum these days ... I totally agree!

Your discoveries on the Padon Ridge are doubly exciting as we will (hopefully) be near that very same ridge next week.
The eritrichium should hold it's flowers until then and the androsaces look set for a fortnight at least.

To those of you with this pleasure still to come the Padon Ridge is in a magnificent setting boasting a host of beautiful high-level alpines.

[Katherine J]

Cliff I wish you a very nice time and many such discoveries!

[Maggi Young]

Kata, we miss you very much when you are not here but we can forgive you when you return with such treasures! 

How exciting to find these plants... the photos are excellent, as ever.

Here's hoping that Cliff doesn't make too close a connection with his namesake cliff if he finds the white gem to photograph

[ranunculus]

Here's hoping that Cliff doesn't make too close a connection with his namesake cliff if he finds the white gem to photograph

I could always dangle Sue over the edge with aperture instructions!!!   

[Katherine J]

Cliff, I made a picture especially for you:

[ranunculus]

So many thanks Kata,
I know the spot very well and will strive to get up there (with Sue pushing from behind)! 

I was about to post the following image to give folks an idea of the grandeur of the place ... even on an overcast day.

Were the Ranunculus glacialis in bloom yet ... I fear we may be too late this year?

[Katherine J]

It was in bloom in some places, but I don't think it will be over by then. On the southern slopes everything was maybe a little earlier then usual, but on the north sides many flowers were still sleeping or just awaking.

[David Nicholson]

......It was on an awful place above a huge precipice..............

I await the close up Cliff, and do be careful and get Mrs B to check the policies befor you go

[ranunculus]

......It was on an awful place above a huge precipice..............

I await the close up Cliff, and do be careful and get Mrs B to check the policies befor you go

The camera's probably covered!   

[David Nicholson]

 

[Lesley Cox]

Such magnificent mountain country. In NZ, such a scene as Cliff's would be many miles from anywhere, remote and almost inaccessible yet in his picture, there is a little village nestled in the folds of the hills.

[ranunculus]

Such magnificent mountain country. In NZ, such a scene as Cliff's would be many miles from anywhere, remote and almost inaccessible yet in his picture, there is a little village nestled in the folds of the hills.

Quite right Lesley, in the picture you can make out the hairpin intense Pordoi Pass that carries many thousands of cars, coaches, motor cycles and (especially) bikes throughout the year.  There are hotels, restaurants, 'gift' (!) shops and enormous car parks at the top of the pass and mighty cable cars that transport thousands to the heights.   Winter sees massed skiing and all that that entails.

It is possible to escape the hordes and find beautiful high alpines in abundance.

[Julia]

Hi you must of been in the Dolomite's when the SRGC group were out there.
But you obviously were more adventurous then we were as none of use made it up on the side of the Pordoi ridge. Our President Liz Mills walked or should I say ran along the top with 2 others who are all very experienced orienteerers but missed lots of flowers.
I will post some pic'tures of our trip this week.