Estonian Odyssey

[shelagh]

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).

[shelagh]

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.

[shelagh]

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.

[shelagh]

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.

[ranunculus]

Excellent, Shelagh ... looking forward to more.

[Lvandelft]

... looking forward to more.

So do I Shelagh! Love reports from travels to such unknown (to us) countries!

[shelagh]

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.

[shelagh]

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.

[shelagh]

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.

[Maggi Young]

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.

[shelagh]

You're right Maggi the whole reserve is huge and we saw 4 people all the time we were there.

[K Andrzejewski]

...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

[shelagh]

Thanks Kristof.

[shelagh]

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.

[shelagh]

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.