Scottish Rock Garden Club Forum
General Subjects => Travel / Places to Visit => Topic started by: shelagh on June 21, 2013, 02:18:44 PM
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Brian and I went to the islands of Hiiumaa and Saaremaa and then on to Tallinn to see our friend at Tallinn Botanic Garden.
The islands were wonderful very peaceful especially Hiiumaa which is where I will start. Since few forumists are likely to have been I thought I would include some of the interesting places as well as plants.
We stayed at the Dagen Haus guest house pictured and were astounded by pictures from the 20s/30s which showed that the sea came right up the lane outside.
Next door was a derelict house with the thatched roof which is common on older properties and across the road a barn which reminded us of the Horreo (sic) seen in Spain with all the implements hanging on the walls.
Just beyond the barn you could see the tall grass/reed which is used for thatching and at the edge of the lane a fabulous stand of Plantains. (Sorry I rather like these plants).
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On our way to Kopu to see the light house we saw one of the windmills which were used to raise water mostly but occasionally for milling grain.
The Kopu light house was built in 1513 and is in the middle of the penninsula so it can be seen from both channels. Brian was brave enough to climb it.
Looking round the base I found Anchusa officinalis, Antennaria, and Ophrys insectifera.
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There were Primula veris everywhere but mostly finished. In the woods across the road from Kopu lighthouse we found lots of Hepatica leaves.
Also some catchfly and Twayblades but not in flower.
On our way back in a damp ditch at the roadside we spotted our first regiment of Orchis militare and our oly sighting of Primula farinosa.
We stopped in Kaina for a coffee and also because of a huge ruined church. Kaina is not very big and we wondered how they had ever filled it. It was built between 1422 and 1515. The two bastions either side of the entrance favoured a castle.
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At Ristna lighthouse we found Trientalis europaea and also what I imagine is, well I leave it to your imagination it was on the edge of the car park. Everywhere we went we found Orchis militaris.
At Tulitorni harbour there was a Wind Rose and though I pride myself on my historical knowledge I didn't know this.
When we headed back to get the ferry for the mainland we were greeted by this lady just about to sun herself.
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Excellent, Shelagh ... looking forward to more.
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... looking forward to more.
So do I Shelagh! Love reports from travels to such unknown (to us) countries!
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Thanks Cliff and Luit for your encouragement.
A smooth ferry crossing to Saaremaa the larger of the 2 islands we visited although that isn't strictly true because you sail to Muhumaa and then drive across a causeway to Saaremaa. We stayed in the main town on the island Kuressaare, the weather was very warm and sunny.
On our first morning we went to a nature reserve called Loode which means Oak wood.
We found a wealth of plants including some orchids/dactylorhiza which I thought I would leave un-named and ask readers to help me with identification.
A lot of the groundcover was Polygonatum and Convallaria it was very lush.
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There were a few areas which were fenced off and we could see Platanthera bifolia in there and Lychnis flos cuculi was in that area as well. Wild roses grew along the path which eventually led to the sea. We also spotted Aquilegia and Melampyrum.
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However we knew what we were really looking for and eventually found a small clump of Cypripedium calceolus. Then we carried on round a few bushes and found the mother lode. This picture just shows one direction they stretched in every direction and fairly took our breath away.
11 Convallaria majalis 2
12 Cypripedium calceolus
13 Cypripedium calceolus.
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My word, that's a lovely sight - very good to know there are places with so many fine plants growing undisturbed.
Mind you, by the looks of it, the whole trip was a delight - the area looks so clean and peaceful.
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You're right Maggi the whole reserve is huge and we saw 4 people all the time we were there.
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...We found a wealth of plants including some orchids/dactylorhiza which I thought I would leave un-named and ask readers to help me with identification ...
- in my opinion:
1) Dactylorhiza fuchsii
2) orchid from Orchis mascula group
3) Dactylorhiza incarnata
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Thanks Kristof.
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After that wonderful experience with the slipper orchids we carried on along the coast looking for lunch. In the grounds of a hotel we found Moneses uniflora and Orchis militare and on the beach itself Dianthus superbus, Alyssoides utriculata and the seedheads of Pulsatilla pratense.
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Next morning we set off towards the Meteor crater at Kaali but stopped along the roadside and found Lychnis viscaria, Vincetoxicum hirundinaria, more fly orchids and Anemone sylvestris in lovely drifts.
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The crater was shaded by large trees and had some water in it. It relies on precipitation to keep the water level up. The map and info board showed that there were several more smaller craters nearby.
Back in Kuressaare we looked at the Castle and its wonderful ramparts with the best moat I have ever seen. Then on to the harbour where I almost managed to get Brian into the picture.
Next morning we ferried back to the mainland and on to Tallinn.
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Tallinn Botanic Garden was looking better on this visit. last time they had had a particularly bad winter and all the Roses, Paeonies and Iris had been devastated.
On entering the Garden there was a new venture an exhibition of Lichens, Mosses and Tree fungi. They have also produced booklets in several languages including English.
I see the names of plants appear on the bottom of my pictures so I'll leave it at that.
Booklets
Cladina stellaris
Cladonia crispata
Fomitopsis pinicola
Lichens
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The last of the Moss pictures first and then we headed to some new raised beds outside the Palm House. Lots of lovely Alliums here but you can see how dry it had been.
Moss Project
Allium alexeianum
Allium crenulatum
Allium karataviense
Allium jesdianum
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Our friend Krista Kirotar who is in charge of the Alpinaarum had been doing a lot of replanting There is a picture of her here in her usual pose.
Estonia is very flat and so the rock garden is really a series of terraces and I am amazed at the plants that can survive an Estonian winter.
Brian really likes the Arnica angustifolia so we shall have to look out for it.
Krista
Rock Garden View
View 2 rock garden
1. Amsonia orientalis
2. Arnica angustifolia (2)
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A wonderful clump of D. fuchsii and Dodecatheon meadia also an unusual yellow composite and Dictamnus albus which Krista said was extremely poisonous.
3. Dactylorhiza fuschii
4. Dictamnus albus
5. Dodecatheon meadia
6. Hypochaeris uniflora
7. Lupinus nootkatensis.
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Potentilla alchemilloides another plant that took Brian's eye and Potentilla 'Nuuk' which when we had it only produced about 3 flowers. Obviously too warm in Bury for it.
8. Meum athamanticum
9. Polemonium reptans
10. Potentilla alchemilloides
11. Potentilla Nuuk
12, Ranunculis acris
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Potentilla 'Nuuk' which when we had it only produced about 3 flowers. Obviously too warm in Bury for it.
Crumbs, that's not something you hear very often ..... "too warm in Bury..."
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A huge patch of Raoulia which I wouldn't have thought would have enjoyed several months under snow but who knows.
13. Raoulia tenuicaulis
14. Rhodo camschatican
15. Scilla litardierei
16. Tetragonolobus maritimus
17. Viola elatior
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No Maggi you certainly don't. Hope you and the BD are feeling a bit better.
Last time we came the Iris beds had been decimated by the bad winter, it was nice to see them back almost to their best.
A couple of favourites here.
The Peony beds needed another couple of weeks except for my all time favourite Peony delavayi.
Well Estonia is a wonderful country and the islands are the place for a quiet lazy holiday.
19. Iris Howard Weed 1947
18. Iris bed 2
20. Iris crispette 1954
absolute favourite peony delavayi
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No Maggi you certainly don't. Hope you and the BD are feeling a bit better.
Well Estonia is a wonderful country and the islands are the place for a quiet lazy holiday.
We're feeling all the better for enjoying this "trip" with you and Brian, Shelagh - just what the doctor ordered !
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... and Potentilla 'Nuuk' which when we had it only produced about 3 flowers. Obviously too warm in Bury for it.
Too warm for it too, then, here in zone 3! Planted it about 10 years ago; it lost its compact form in short order... it still persists though with a flower here and there.
Enjoying your photos! How wonderful that they grow and display lichen there!
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Picture #16 seems wrongly named. It is bright purple, yet
Tetragonolobus maritimus has yellow pea flowers.
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Shelagh that looks a wonderful place. i wouldn't mind a visit there in the future. Thanks for sharing this with us.
Angie :)
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You may be right Diane. It is a plant I don't know and so now I always follow Johnny D's advice and take a picture of the label. Maybe the nearest label wasn't the correct one.