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General Subjects => Travel / Places to Visit => Topic started by: Maritfri on August 30, 2015, 03:57:35 PM

Title: Iceland, a botanical expedition by the roadside
Post by: Maritfri on August 30, 2015, 03:57:35 PM
This summer we have finally realized the dream of traveling to Iceland :)

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We have not traveled around the whole island but chose to keep us in the area  Vestfirđir.

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And what expectations did we have to the trip? We wish to see historic Sites, wild and beautiful nature and enjoy the fantastic bird life in the fjords. Hopes of seeing puffins were highest on my wish list.

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All our wishes came true!

To be continued!

Marit :)
Title: Re: Iceland, a botanical expedition by the roadside
Post by: Maggi Young on August 30, 2015, 04:06:17 PM
Oh. Marit , what a great trip. Will look forward to seeing more photos like these!!
Title: Re: Iceland, a botanical expedition by the roadside
Post by: Maritfri on August 30, 2015, 04:14:09 PM
Hi Maggi!

Thank you, there's more to come :)

Marit

Oh. Marit , what a great trip. Will look forward to seeing more photos like these!!
Title: Re: Iceland, a botanical expedition by the roadside
Post by: Maritfri on August 30, 2015, 04:23:02 PM
All flowers are photographed near by the road. While the others had a break, I crawled around with the camera. Like a treasure hunt! Look what I found!

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Viola canina

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Viola tricolor

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Silene uniflora

Although planting hunt was exciting so I must admit that the meeting with the puffins was the most amazing experience of our trip.

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Fratercula arctica

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But we say as Winnie-the-Pooh, yes thank you to both!

To be continued!

Marit :)
Title: Re: Iceland, a botanical expedition by the roadside
Post by: Maritfri on August 31, 2015, 09:57:06 PM
Hi,

To get around the Island, right where we wanted, we had to rent a car. The roads were some places challenging even for us Norwegian, who are used to high mountains and steep cliffs :o

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Papaver radicatum

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Silene acaulis

The Puffins was photographed pć Látrabjarg bird reserve while the plants is found  throughout the area.

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Galium normanii

Marit :)
Title: Re: Iceland, a botanical expedition by the roadside
Post by: astragalus on August 31, 2015, 10:29:01 PM
What a wonderful trip!  Great pictures of the puffins, so you realized your dream.  The Papaver radicatum is lovely, such furry foliage.  More pictures, please.
Title: Re: Iceland, a botanical expedition by the roadside
Post by: Matt T on September 01, 2015, 06:53:57 AM
I love that P.radicatum too. Beautifully shot photographs Marit. Would love to see some more  :)
Title: Re: Iceland, a botanical expedition by the roadside
Post by: Tim Ingram on September 01, 2015, 07:24:26 AM
Echo Matt's thought's - lovely photos Marit, of an amazing place. I went to Iceland at the end of my degree in the late 1970's - to Lake Myvatn - a never forgotten experience. We didn't see any puffins but later saw these on Skomer Island off the SW. Wales coast.
Title: Re: Iceland, a botanical expedition by the roadside
Post by: johnralphcarpenter on September 01, 2015, 11:29:59 AM
I was there in the early 1970s, before I became interested in plants. Saw lots of birds though - must go back.
Title: Re: Iceland, a botanical expedition by the roadside
Post by: Maritfri on September 01, 2015, 04:44:35 PM
Hi astragalus,

Yes! My dreams came true :D
I have Papaver radicatum in the garden but it is less furry than the wild. I've also had a pink variant which came under the name Island, but it died after a few years.
Marit


What a wonderful trip!  Great pictures of the puffins, so you realized your dream.  The Papver radicatum is lovely, such furry foliage.  More pictures, please.
Title: Re: Iceland, a botanical expedition by the roadside
Post by: Maritfri on September 01, 2015, 04:49:40 PM
Thank you Matt :)

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To be continued 8)

I love that P.radicatum too. Beautifully shot photographs Marit. Would love to see some more  :)
Title: Re: Iceland, a botanical expedition by the roadside
Post by: Maritfri on September 01, 2015, 04:53:05 PM
Hi Tim,

We did not have time to visit Lake Myvatn this time but we hope to go there another year :)

Echo Matt's thought's - lovely photos Marit, of an amazing place. I went to Iceland at the end of my degree in the late 1970's - to Lake Myvatn - a never forgotten experience. We didn't see any puffins but later saw these on Skomer Island off the SW. Wales coast.
Title: Re: Iceland, a botanical expedition by the roadside
Post by: Maritfri on September 01, 2015, 04:55:14 PM
Yes you must!

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Numenius phaeopus

Marit :)

I was there in the early 1970s, before I became interested in plants. Saw lots of birds though - must go back.
Title: Re: Iceland, a botanical expedition by the roadside
Post by: Maritfri on September 08, 2015, 09:35:58 PM
Hi,

We did perhaps not spot any botanical sensations but it is always fun to watch the plants we know from the garden, and see how they grow in the wild?

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Salix callicarpaea


Marit :)

Title: Re: Iceland, a botanical expedition by the roadside
Post by: Maritfri on September 08, 2015, 09:46:50 PM
Some more pictures :)

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Platanthera hyperborea

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Dactylorhiza maculata

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Coeloglossum viride

Marit

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