The Forgotten Forest – Polylepis
Alpine plants, Botanical travels, MountainsA recount of our trekking trip on the Inca trail to Machu Picchu – part II
We were just starting on the second day to eventually reach the highest point on the Inca Trail: Warmiwañusca Pass (in translation Dead Woman’s Pass) at 4265 m.…
A botanical trip to Chilean Andes – part II
Alpine plants, Botanical travels, Mountains
Another awesome trip, that shouldn’t be missed if you are in the region, is towards Embalse de Yeso. This is an artificial dam with an amazing alpine style lake at about 2500 m elevation. The narrow, gravely road follows dangerously close…
A botanical trip to Chilean Andes – part I
Alpine plants, Botanical travels, Mountains
This is a recount of a trip we were lucky to make a few years ago in the Chilean Andes. At the time, I had developed a mild new obsession for the rosulate Violas after seeing a few pictures and reading about them on the Botany Photo…
Gardens in the Mountains – Wasatch Mountains
Botanical travels, Mountains, Plant portraits, Wildflowers of North America
When hiking on the nearby trails doesn’t suffice anymore, we usually set out toward a mountain area to immerse in the richness of alpine landscapes. Two years ago at the end of July, we travelled to Snowbird, situated in the heart of scenic…
Campanula alpina and calcifuge friends
Alpine plants, Botanical travels, Mountains, Plant portraits
And after a while, following the trail and botanizing and/or admiring the scenery you’ll make it to the Omu Peak and Omu Chalet. It is time to have a snack, and finding a place to sit down (outside) is easily done. Careful though -…
Blossoms of snow
Alpine plants, Botanical travels, Mountains, Plant portraits
Although not considered an emblem flower of the Carpathian Mts., Leontopodium alpinum – the Alps Edelweiss is much sought after. Whenever we had friends coming with us, they always wanted to see it growing on the mountain. It is not…
And down we go…Aquilegia nigricans
Alpine plants, Botanical travels, Mountains, Plant portraits
Before leaving the Bucegi Plateau, one more look at the grassland plant communities in the alpine areas revels associations of Carex, Luzula, Festuca, Sesleria, Agrostis, Nardus,and Poa species - lots of them! In the summer time you’ll…
Still botanizing in the Bucegi Plateau
Alpine plants, Botanical travels, Mountains, Plant portraits
Geum reptans is an alpine gem of which I was able to collect a few seeds. Growing in crevices and spreading in mats over boulders, it was already past flowering during late July, and its ornamental fluffy seed heads were getting pink.…