Paeonia parnassica

302_0148 [Paeonia parnassica]

 

This is a ‘luxury’ plant

or “the queen of all flowers” as an ancient Greek poet called it centuries ago. 

 

 

302_0160 [Paeonia parnassica]

 

It grows in North America, North Africa, Europe, Russia, China, India, and other places,

producing solitary flowers 7-13 cm wide

that are both beautiful to look at and peculiarly fragrant to smell.

It grows up to 65 cm tall in woodland clearings

at elevations ranging from 800 to 1300 m.

 

In Greece, there are 7-8 species which bloom in May

and remain in bloom for 2-3 weeks.

 

Paeonia parnassica is endemic to Mt. Parnassos

where the above pictures were taken

but it is also found on Mt. Elikonas.

 

 

_MG_5332 [shooting paeonia parnassica]

And here, the blogger in action

among a plethora of peonies on Mt. Parnassos.

 

The picture was taken by Stathis Tsekouras.

 

 

  

Iris tuberosa

802_8437 [Iris tuberosa]

 

Iris tuberosa (formerly Hermodactylus tuberosus)

is a short, perennial, typically Mediterranean plant

found in the area extending from from South France to the Balkans and Turkey.

 

In Greece, it can be found in every part of the country,

at heights of up to 1700 m,

provided the habitat is grassy, rocky, garrigue or scrub.

 

It flowers from March to May

and produces a solitary, scented flower.

 

 

 

803_4540 [Iris tuberosa]

The fruit of the plant.

 

It gradually dries and reveals the seeds inside. [See below.]

When they are ripe enough, they disperse and perpetuate their species.

 

The pictures above were taken on Mt. Hymittos ...

 

 

 

803_1194 [Iris tuberosa]

 ... while this picture is from the area of Dilesi [in Attica]

 

 

Campanula drabifolia

300_6309 [Campanula drabifolia]

 

A very short plant

found usually at low-level rocky places of Central and Southern Greece

but it can also be found much higher, up to 1000 m.

 

It flowers from March to May.

Its violet-blue flowers are small, between 10 to 15 mm.

 

 Photographed at the foot of Mt. Hymittos.

 

 

Campanula celsii

IMG_0575 [Campanula celsii]

 

 

801_4869 [Campanula celsii]

Campanula celsii is a biennial plant,

endemic to Attica and some nearby islands.

It grows in crevices and gaps of mountainous rocky slopes

at heights up to 800 meters.

It blooms from April to early July.

 

 

801_4873 [Campanula celsii]

 

A close-up of the flower:

 

It might be looking huge

but actually it hardly ever reaches 3 cm in length.

 

The pictures above were taken on Mt. Hymittos.

 

 

Ceratonia siliqua

803_3590 [Ceratonia siliqua]

 

The picture above shows a tree (called Ceratonia siliqua)

that I don’t see very often but it has attracted my photographic attention.

It is long-lived, evergreen and can become 5-10 m tall.

It originated from the eastern Mediterranean region

but it has gradually spread to the rest of the Mediterranean countries

and even further into Europe.

 

In Greece,

it is mainly found in Attica, in the Peloponnese and in many Aegean islands.

 

Here are some additional pictures

that may be justifying why it attracted my attention.

 

 

IMG_6373 [Ceratonia siliqua]

 Ceratonia’s leaves are deep green and shiny on the top

but underside, they are light-green.

 

 

803_5594 [Ceratonia siliqua]

Its flowers grow and hang from the tree-trunk and from branches.

 

In this picture, the flowers are in their initial stage of development

during September.

 

 

WPVV9109 [Ceratonia siliqua]

As they grow, they look like bunches of grapes!

 

 

803_5578 [Ceratonia siliqua]
 

 A close-up shot of mature flowers.

Ceratonia’s flowers are very small, have no petals, have a heavy smell

and can consist of male, female or both male and female reproduction organs

on the same tree.

 

 

IMG_3633 [Ceratonia siliqua]

 Fertilized flowers turn into fully shaped green fruit (10-30 cm x 1.5-3 cm) …

 

 

803_3596 [Ceratonia siliqua]

 

 

 … and gradually (when ripe) they become dark brown.

 

The process lasts almost a year, from Fall to the end of August!

 

At the age of 25-30 years,

a tree can give about 850 kg of nutritious fruit,

suitable for both animal and human consumption.

 

 

Easter wishes

[Easter wishes 2025]

 

 The text on this Easter card may be “all Greek”

to my non-Greek speaking friends,

so here is an explanatory note to them:

 

“Χριστός Ανέστη” means “Christ has Risen.”

It is the wish-phrase the Greeks wish each other for 40 days

beginning from the moment Jesus’ resurrection is declared by the priest

and joyfully chanted in church at midnight of Holy Saturday to Easter Sunday.

 

“Χρόνια Πολλά” means “May you live for many years”.

It is a wish-phrase we express immediately after “Χριστός Ανέστη”. 

 

So,

Χριστός Ανέστη! Χρόνια Πολλά to you all!

from Tagton

 

 

 

Ophrys tenthredinifera

301_5885 [Ophrys tenthredinifera]

Ophrys tenthredinifera is a diverse but always easily recognizable,

beautiful Mediterranean ophrys.

In Greece,

it is found in brushwood, in open stony areas and in shrub lands

of Central and Southern mainland Greece,

as well as on the islands.

 

It blooms from February to early May

at altitudes up to 1800 m and can be 10-30 cm tall.

Motacilla flava feldegg

304_5278 [Motacilla flava feldegg]

 

This is an elegant, colorful and highly distinctive small bird

widespread in South East Europe.

In Winter they emigrate to tropical Africa.

 

They feed on insects, spiders, worms and the like.

So, they prefer finding their food in damp fields

and in pastures with grazing livestock.

They apparently know that livestock will dislodge insects

from the ground making them more vulnerable to the birds.

 

Length: 17-18 cm

Lifespan: up to 5 years

 

Photographed near the Oropos wetland in Attica.