Spring Gentian (Gentiana sierrae). Endemic to Spain's Sierra Nevada grows between 1800m and 3200m. Lucky enough to see loads of these beautiful flowers today in a high valley at 2300m
part 1 @pagan@3goodthings Went out for what I thought would be just a bit of fresh air and brief chores, as it was raining just before I went out. In fact it cleared slightly off and on, didn't rain and--continued:
I was able to find 8 species of wildflowers that either started since I was out last Thurs, or had started to flower in earnest since then plus
several more things flowering in the gardens, some nice views in bits of sun when it came
what I thought would be very quick jaunt onto the farm to look at Caltha turned into a longer walk, lots of photos and video and enjoying a beautiful spring afternoon as things begin to green--continued: #wildflowers#nature
Having not done a real hike since November, it seemed the perfect time to launch myself on ~40 miles over 3 days backpacking.
Day 1 started in old growth redwoods, passed remains of homesteading, then climbed past a selection of trees to one of the old growth redwood backpacking camps.
I managed to squeeze in one more hike in the #Boise foothills before the weekend crowds descend. Many spring wildflowers and Lark Sparrows along the 6-mile loop kept me entertained. #Idaho#hiking#wildflowers
A popular German legend tells that a medieval knight was walking with his beloved along the bank of a river. The lady, seeing the beauty of some small bright blue flowers, asked the gentleman to pick them for her. The knight, bending down next to the river to pick the flowers, fell into the water. The weight of the armor prevented him from floating, but before sinking, he shouts: “Don't forget me!”, and throws these flowers at his lover. #macrophotography#wildflowers#spring#legend#donotforgetme#nature
Is my small raised bed meadow a 'habitat'? Absolutely.
Ignoring the multitude of tiny flies, aphids and mites and looking just at the medium to large more ornate insects and spiders, the species count grows by at least five a week during the warmer months.
That despite my inattentiveness and their propensity to hide. Many are authentically meadow creatures, common there but not ordinarily in gardens.
The ability of insects to home in on a tiny patch is extraordinary. Though from their perspective it is a vast jungle with many different microclimates.
It acts as a hotel between larger wild patches and as home in its own right. Anyone with a garden can and should do this.