Scottish Rock Garden Club Forum

General Subjects => Travel / Places to Visit => Topic started by: Gerdk on November 02, 2014, 12:09:30 PM

Title: Western Crete - for autumn flowers
Post by: Gerdk on November 02, 2014, 12:09:30 PM
Here are some impressions from a trip to Crete from the second half of October. In the beginning it was still hot and dry and the autumnal rains didn't reach this part of the Island. It was not until 3 days before we left that there were some strong rainfall and decreasing temperatures. We were told that the onset of this change was  later than usual. Nevertheless there was sufficient moisture in elevated areas and inside the gorges to let some species bloom. Also it seems that some species - Cyclamen, Prospero and  Sternbergia for instance - did not need water and (or) a drop in temperatures for a start.
Title: Re: Western Crete - for autumn flowers
Post by: Maggi Young on November 02, 2014, 12:14:09 PM
Only a plantsman could be concerned that there were hot temperatures and too little early rain in their holiday destination , Gerd!!  ;) ;D
Wonderful old trees.
Title: Re: Western Crete - for autumn flowers
Post by: Gerdk on November 02, 2014, 12:22:27 PM
Only a plantsman could be concerned that there were hot temperatures and too little early rain in their holiday destination , Gerd!!  ;) ;D
Wonderful old trees.

Yes, indeed we met a couple from Wales and I told them that I was waiting for rain. They were amazed and told me that they hoped so much for continuity of the sunny conditions.
Thanks god there are a lot of forumists here which share my taste for unusual weather conditions during holidays.

Gerd
Title: Re: Western Crete - for autumn flowers
Post by: Gerdk on November 02, 2014, 12:36:27 PM
Part 2

1. Waterfall at Argiroupolis - on the route to Gipari Gorge
2. Inside the Gipari Gorge
3. Sternbergia - Gipari Gorge - impossible to associate with lutea, sicula or greuteriana
4. Sternbergia lutea - from Afrata - probably escaped
5. Sternbergia in Polirrinia - the first we met - according an English lady acquired in the UK - not collected in Crete!

to be continued
Title: Re: Western Crete - for autumn flowers
Post by: Gerdk on November 02, 2014, 12:45:33 PM
Part 3

1. - 4. Cyclamen graecum Rodopou Peninsula - leaves were absent in most occasions
5. Prospero autumnale (Scilla autumnalis)

to be continued

Title: Re: Western Crete - for autumn flowers
Post by: Gerdk on November 02, 2014, 12:52:33 PM
Part 4

1. Ranunculus bullatus
2. Colchicum cretense - Omalos Plateau
3. Crocus laevigatus - on the road to Omalos
4. + 5. Narcissus miniatus/obsoletus Gipari Gorge

to be continued
Title: Re: Western Crete - for autumn flowers
Post by: Tony Willis on November 02, 2014, 02:14:08 PM
Gerd

glad you had a good time and saw some flowers. i collected a seed pod from a cyclamen on the Rhodopou peninsular some years ago. Not very exciting leaves but lovely flowers so perhaps you got it at it's best time.
Title: Re: Western Crete - for autumn flowers
Post by: Gerdk on November 02, 2014, 04:17:46 PM
Tony,
Despite it was more or less bonedry during the time we were there we admired masses of Cyclamen graecum
on the way from Afrata to Rodopos.

Gerd
Title: Re: Western Crete - for autumn flowers
Post by: Gerdk on November 02, 2014, 04:36:11 PM
Part 5

1. Erica manipulifera
2. Omalos Plateau
3. unknown Asteraceae - perhaps Taraxacum gymnanthum - from a distance it looks like the sought-after Sternbergia
4. Entrance of the Samaria Gorge - from Omalos
5. Chania - sight from the Venetian Harbour

to be continued



Title: Re: Western Crete - for autumn flowers
Post by: Gerdk on November 02, 2014, 04:39:49 PM
and the end


1. the arrival of the first rains
2. - 4.  last greetings from summer

Gerd
Title: Re: Western Crete - for autumn flowers
Post by: Julia on November 02, 2014, 04:54:07 PM
Lovely pictures thank you for showing them
Title: Re: Western Crete - for autumn flowers
Post by: Gerdk on November 03, 2014, 08:28:27 AM
Julia,
Thank you - it was my pleasure to show them.

Gerd
Title: Re: Western Crete - for autumn flowers
Post by: ian mcenery on November 03, 2014, 09:17:08 AM
Gerd thank you for sharing your trip with us . You have certainly whetted my appetite to  return to western Crete
Title: Re: Western Crete - for autumn flowers
Post by: David Nicholson on November 03, 2014, 10:13:59 AM
Lovely set of pictures Gerd
Title: Re: Western Crete - for autumn flowers
Post by: Maggi Young on November 03, 2014, 12:37:33 PM
I know from the messages I receive, Gerd, that it is not only "stay-at-homes" like me who love these threads - we all  thank you!
Title: Re: Western Crete - for autumn flowers
Post by: Robert on November 03, 2014, 05:18:09 PM
Gerd,

A very busy week for me at the farmers' market. I finally have had time to look at your photographs from Crete. It looks like there is still wild terrain in Crete and many plants to see. Thank you so much for sharing them!

Like the folks in Crete, we are finally getting some "winter" rain and snow.
Title: Re: Western Crete - for autumn flowers
Post by: Susan on November 03, 2014, 07:45:01 PM
Wonderful photos, thank you, Gerd.  Did you walk the Samaria Gorge or is it closed at this time?

Susan
Title: Re: Western Crete - for autumn flowers
Post by: Gerdk on November 04, 2014, 07:52:19 AM
Thank you for kind comments alltogether! Just after my third journey to Crete I believe there is much more to admire
there.

Susan: No, we did not walk into the gorge (it was open) because of the terrible weather conditions at the time we reached the entrance.
Even the mules left the gorge   ;) - see attached pic!

Gerd
Title: Re: Western Crete - for autumn flowers
Post by: ArnoldT on November 04, 2014, 12:55:46 PM
Wonderful pictures Gerd.

Thanks for sharing.
SimplePortal 2.3.5 © 2008-2012, SimplePortal