Spring in Summer - Swiss Alps Late June 2103

[tonyg]

I had my annual short break to Switzerland last weekend.  28 June-2 July.  Just as in the UK it had been a long codl winter over there.  Many of the classic alpine sites were still snowbound well into June, very unusual compared to recent years.  This along with the prevailing weather had an impact on my choice of location.  I chose to head South where the weather had been sunnier and a bit warmer, melting off more of the snow.  So most of my pics will be of Saas Fee area but I start on the edge of the Vaud Alps, with a visit to a friend met on another forum.

Hilary lives above the town of Aigle, between the end of lake Geneva and Martigny where the Rhone valley 'turns the corner.'  The slopes above and below her house were thick with meadow flowers in full bloom.  Here is a taste of what can be seen, including a shot of Hilarys View.  http://www.blipfoto.com/entry/3242644

Campanula glomerata - in the sunny meadows
Anthericum ramosum - first time I had seen it in nature.
Gymnadenia conopsea - massed on a bank behind the house.
Cepahanthera rubra - in light woodland nearby.

[tonyg]

Insect life aplenty in the warm sunshine.

Orchis apifera - there were ants crawling over some of the flowers.
By jiminy - A cricket!
several butterflies too 

[Knud]

Wonderful pictures, Tony, thank you for sharing. That Orchis is quite something, and the butterflies are just pretty.

Knud

[tonyg]

A belated return to winter.  First day in Saas Fee dawned wet.  A walk round the reservoir at Mattmark seemed the safest option.  By the time I got there the weather had turned .... but not for the better!

In the rocks above the path, just beyond the first tunnel - Eritrichium nanum, defying the conditions and also the photographer, it was well out of reach.

Silene acaulis - impervious to the conditions.

Saxifraga oppositifolia.  I don't usually see much of it as it flowers so early but this season is so late!

[tonyg]

The tiny Pinguicula alpina was prolific against damp rocks.

Daphne mezereum, another that is usually over before I arrive

Many fresh Pulsatilla alpina ssp apiifolia, a plant that was plentiful every day of the trip.  Another plant used to rough weather.

[tonyg]

At the top of the reservoir another of the early flowerers, Ranunculus keupferi.

As the weather began to relent, Primula hirsuta and Rhodiola rosea.