Scottish Rock Garden Club Forum

General Subjects => Travel / Places to Visit => Topic started by: Matt T on November 08, 2013, 05:46:10 PM

Title: Mountain hay meadows of Transylvania
Post by: Matt T on November 08, 2013, 05:46:10 PM
Thought I'd share a few pics from a trip I made in July to the mountain hay meadows of Transylvania, to the Saxon Villages and the Csik Basin. These regions are well worth a visit for the meadows alone. In the week I was there we recorded about 380 species in flower! The mountain hay meadows are still managed using traditional methods, so they provide a great habitat for lots of species that have now disappeared from other parts of Europe.

Check out: http://www.fundatia-adept.org/?content=biodiversity (http://www.fundatia-adept.org/?content=biodiversity) and http://www.treasuresoftransylvania.org/ (http://www.treasuresoftransylvania.org/)

Astrantia major
Campanula glomerata
Cirsium eristhales
Clematis integrifolia
Consolida regalis
Title: Re: Mountain hay meadows of Transylvania
Post by: Matt T on November 08, 2013, 05:49:56 PM
Dianthus carthusianorum
Eryngium amethysinum
Eryngium arvensis
Euphorbia cyparissus
Galeopsis speciosus
Title: Re: Mountain hay meadows of Transylvania
Post by: Matt T on November 08, 2013, 05:51:38 PM
Gentianella germanica?
Gymnadenia conopsea
Lathyrus tuberosus
Lilium martagon
Linum flavum
Title: Re: Mountain hay meadows of Transylvania
Post by: Matt T on November 08, 2013, 05:53:45 PM
Linum hirsutum
Colchicum autumnale
Trifolium medium
Melampyrum biharicum
Mountain meadow
Title: Re: Mountain hay meadows of Transylvania
Post by: Matt T on November 08, 2013, 05:56:09 PM
Prunella grandiflorum
Salvia pratensis
Securigera varia
Trifolium pannonicum
Trollius europeaus
Title: Re: Mountain hay meadows of Transylvania
Post by: Maggi Young on November 08, 2013, 06:01:13 PM
What a treat to see these superb summer views in wet,cold, November.
For 380 species in flower you'll have needed a lot of camera batteries!
Title: Re: Mountain hay meadows of Transylvania
Post by: David Nicholson on November 08, 2013, 06:32:29 PM
Lovely set of images Matt, many thanks for posting them.
Title: Re: Mountain hay meadows of Transylvania
Post by: Armin on November 08, 2013, 08:14:06 PM
Matt,
phantastic flower meadows. 8) 8) 8) That's what I'm longing for - great biodiversity, no agriculture desserts.
This must be a paradise for butterflies and other insects, too.
Please post more images ;)
Title: Re: Mountain hay meadows of Transylvania
Post by: ArnoldT on November 08, 2013, 09:03:00 PM
Beautiful pictures.

I have to admit I had to look up where Isle of Benbecula, Western Isles was.

Title: Re: Mountain hay meadows of Transylvania
Post by: Matt T on November 18, 2013, 08:35:18 PM
This must be a paradise for butterflies and other insects, too.

The only thing more amazing tha n the profusion of wildflowers was the clouds of butterflies feeding on them! Here are a few, just because you asked Armin  :)

edit  by maggi to add names :
     Burnet moth
    Green forester moth
    Heath fritillary
    High brown Silver-washed fritillary
    Large copper
Title: Re: Mountain hay meadows of Transylvania
Post by: Matt T on November 18, 2013, 08:41:02 PM
Sorry, there's a grass stem between the swallowtail and the camera, which is why it's a bit blurred, but hope you'll agree it's a stunning butterfly nonetheless.

Also a couple of scenic shots. I can't recommend visiting these areas highly enough. I came home with 800+ photos and had to resort to the iPhone when the camera batteries died.


edit  by maggi to add names :
    Large ringlet
    Marbled white
    Meadow in shower
    Scarce swallowtail
    Viscri fortified evangelical church
Title: Re: Mountain hay meadows of Transylvania
Post by: Maggi Young on November 18, 2013, 09:03:35 PM
The Green forester in http://www.srgc.net/forum/index.php?topic=11043.msg287498#msg287498 (http://www.srgc.net/forum/index.php?topic=11043.msg287498#msg287498) is an amazing colour - never seen one of those.
Title: Re: Mountain hay meadows of Transylvania
Post by: Armin on November 20, 2013, 07:35:49 PM
Matt,
your images warm my heart :) Here it is lausy wet cold brrr...

The meadow is simply fantastic :o and realy nice butterflies, hard to find in my area.
Title: Re: Mountain hay meadows of Transylvania
Post by: mark smyth on November 20, 2013, 09:27:28 PM
lovely photos
Title: Re: Mountain hay meadows of Transylvania
Post by: Anthony Darby on November 22, 2013, 12:02:23 AM
I think your high brown fritillary is a silver-washed fritillary?
SimplePortal 2.3.5 © 2008-2012, SimplePortal