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Author Topic: Alpine Walks in Valais  (Read 87023 times)

Maggi Young

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Re: Alpine Walks in Valais
« Reply #375 on: May 10, 2010, 08:42:23 PM »
How delightful.... crocus time in the Alps......and here today in Aberdeen it was trying to snow!
Margaret Young in Aberdeen, North East Scotland Zone 7 -ish!

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tonyg

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Re: Alpine Walks in Valais
« Reply #376 on: May 10, 2010, 09:30:12 PM »
 :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :)

And the shot of the caltha over the river is fab too!

I always end my crocus talk with the thought that I can look forward to mid-summer crocus on holiday after I have finished collecting seed at home.  Last night I was collecting seed and today .....  :)

ranunculus

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Re: Alpine Walks in Valais
« Reply #377 on: May 10, 2010, 10:17:17 PM »
Viewing these tremendous images near O'Hare airport in Chicago, Robin.  Beautiful contrast to the flowers we have been experiencing in Mid-West gardens over the past few days and totally different to the things we will see on the next leg of our lecture tour in Washington, D.C.
Many thanks for posting.
Cliff Booker
Behind a camera in Whitworth. Lancashire. England.

Maggi Young

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Re: Alpine Walks in Valais
« Reply #378 on: May 10, 2010, 10:58:47 PM »
A quick Forum Fix, provided by an internet connection during an airport wait is a grand way to pass the time and keep all the international rock gardeners in touch with each-other.  8)
Bon voyage for the continuation of your North American Tour, Cliff.... I do hope you are getting some time to take photos as well as show them??
Margaret Young in Aberdeen, North East Scotland Zone 7 -ish!

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Lvandelft

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Re: Alpine Walks in Valais
« Reply #379 on: May 10, 2010, 11:12:47 PM »
Robin, walking in such Crocus fields must be like entering a candy shop, isn't it?  8)
Thanks for sharing!
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

Ragged Robin

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Re: Alpine Walks in Valais
« Reply #380 on: May 10, 2010, 11:33:02 PM »
So glad you all enjoyed the Crocus meadows wherever you are.....even in transit!  Not only Crocus were flowering but Corydalis too, as far as the eye could see, and some interesting colours against the rocks
Valais, Switzerland - 1,200 metres - Continental climate - rocks and moraine

Ragged Robin

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Re: Alpine Walks in Valais
« Reply #381 on: May 10, 2010, 11:43:54 PM »
Cut off in the winter the chalet owners are returning to the hamlet here and it is a thriving community for the rest of the year.  With plenty of fresh water plants spring up dramatically on the ground or in rock crevices, like the Primula Hirsuta (For Armin, especially)
Valais, Switzerland - 1,200 metres - Continental climate - rocks and moraine

Maggi Young

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Re: Alpine Walks in Valais
« Reply #382 on: May 10, 2010, 11:58:11 PM »
Wonderful pictures!
Impossible to "walk" in these meadows.... it would be too cruel to walk on the flowers!  :o :-X I'd have to just stand and stare........ :)
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 #383 on: May 11, 2010, 12:07:27 AM »
Thanks Maggi
I did pick my way through the Crocus with great care - Jazzy didn't but they sprang up again no problem! It is hard to imagine how small these Crocus are and you have to focus to see them from above but once the camera is at ground level all is revealed  :D This was about the first day of flowering so they were in peak form and I was thrilled to capture them the day before returning to the UK  8)
Valais, Switzerland - 1,200 metres - Continental climate - rocks and moraine

Maggi Young

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Re: Alpine Walks in Valais
« Reply #384 on: May 11, 2010, 12:19:50 AM »
Perfect timing, Robin... what a shame it would have been for you ( and us!!) to have missed the sight.
Have a good trip!
Margaret Young in Aberdeen, North East Scotland Zone 7 -ish!

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Luc Gilgemyn

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Re: Alpine Walks in Valais
« Reply #385 on: May 11, 2010, 10:38:25 AM »
Great Spring views once again Robin !
The Crocus look fabulous !  Thanks a lot for showing and have a good trip !!
Luc Gilgemyn
Harelbeke - Belgium

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Re: Alpine Walks in Valais
« Reply #386 on: May 11, 2010, 02:15:17 PM »
Luc, it certainly was great to see Spring in the Alps before leaving and I have to say it was warmer there than here  :)

Thanks to you and Maggi for your good wishes.

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

Lesley Cox

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Re: Alpine Walks in Valais
« Reply #387 on: May 11, 2010, 09:29:29 PM »
How can you bear to leave such a place Robin? Thanks for these amazing pictures. While Franz and Thomas have tamed the Crocus lawn, this wild version is surely the best of all.

Like Tony though, my favourite picture is the very first with the Caltha newly sprung from cold earth to gaze across the water. :)
Lesley Cox - near Dunedin, lower east coast, South Island of New Zealand - Zone 9

Ragged Robin

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Re: Alpine Walks in Valais
« Reply #388 on: May 12, 2010, 12:04:01 AM »
I have to say, Lesley, it was really hard to leave with something new appearing each day with the arrival of Spring.  However it was very satisfying to see the amazing Crocus meadows in all their glory as the two days before had been shrouded in mist. The Caltha are truly wonderful in their generous golden flowering when everything still seems so dry and dead - a real promise of a new season to enjoy and a feeling of regeneration along the waterways.
Valais, Switzerland - 1,200 metres - Continental climate - rocks and moraine

cohan

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Re: Alpine Walks in Valais
« Reply #389 on: May 13, 2010, 05:11:25 AM »
great show--spring really comes with a vengeance there :)
very lucky that you were able to catch that meadow before leaving! how long will you be away?

 


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