Spain a week in the South

[Tony Willis]

Whilst Mrs. W was away in Washington doing the culture thing I went to Spain for a week to look at narcissus. Before I am told I went at the wrong time I will say I have been this same week to look at the same plants successfully three times before. I flew to Malaga and drove up to stay at Ubeda for a visit to the Cazorla national park. Usually  the road through the park is dotted with several species of narcissus and other good things culminating  as one tops the rise to drop into Quesada with hundreds of Iris planifolia in flower. Not this year,not a single narcissus, only the few plants below for a long hard day.

Geranium sp.
Scilla sp.
Muscari sp.
Primula vulgaris
Crocus nevadensis (five in flower)
Iris planifolia   (five in flower)

[Tony Willis]

Feeling a little disappointed I moved on to Grazalema one of the 'white' towns passing another one  Zahara on the way.These towns are quite beautiful set usually on a hill amongst wonderful scenery. The area around Grazelema is usually great for narcissus but again not a one. Lots of other plants were in flower however with lots of orchids including thousands of Orchis mascula in a complete range of colours from purple to white. Some of the plants which I will then follow with the orchids.

unknown sp.
Romulea sp.
Cistus albidus (with crab spider)
Centaurea sp.
Hyacinthoides hispanica
Euphoribia characias
Rosacea sp.
Ornithogalum sp.
Helleborus foetidus
Cistus salvifolius

[Tony Willis]

A picture of Grazalema and one of Zahara then the orchids

Ophrys lutea
Cephalanthera longifolia (two pictures)
Ophrys speculum
Ophrys fusca
Orchis tridentata
Orchis mascula

[art600]

It is a pity that the Narcissus were not yet up/flowering, but you did see some excellent plants.

I appreciate all plants, it is just that I am only sucesful in growing the bulbous ones 

[Tony Willis]

It is a pity that the Narcissus were not yet up/flowering, but you did see some excellent plants.

I appreciate all plants, it is just that I am only sucesful in growing the bulbous ones 

Arthur

the lack of narcissus was a surprise but not a problem because like you I like all plants, but the first day with only a dozen flowering plants in total was not a good start, but it just got better from then on and the big advantage was I got to see lots of things I had not seen before particularly some of the orchids..

[Tony Willis]

After a few days at Grazalema I made my way back to Malaga visiting the area between Ronda and El Burgo which is very rich in plants again with many orchids and a few Narcissus cordubensis. After a poor start a  good finish to an overall excellent trip with lots of new species I had not seen before

Narcissus cordubensis
Fritillaria hispanica
Asphelodine albus
Ornothogalum reverchonii

[Tony Willis]

Finally the orchids near El Burgo

Aceras anthropophurum
Barlia robertiana
Ophrys lutea
Ophrys speculum two forms
Orchis mascula
Orchis italica
Ophrys tenthredinifera

[mark smyth]

Fantastic selection!

[Natalia]

Thank you for the wonderful photos!