Spiranthes spiralis

802_7225 [Spiranthes spiralis]

Spiranthes spiralis is a charming, small wild orchid

widespread across the Mediterranean.

 

In Greece,

it grows in a variety of habitats at elevations of up to 1,300 m

and blooms from September to November,

producing 5–25 tiny, whitish flowers, each up to 5 mm wide,

arranged spirally around the flower spike.

This distinctive arrangement gives the plant its name.

 

The leaves begin to appear in early autumn

but do not fully develop until spring.

 

 

 

801_0884 [Spiranthes spiralis]

the spiral arrangement of the inflorescence

 

 

 

801_0887 [Spiranthes spiralis]

 A close shot of a different plant

showing details on the tiny flowers

 

 

Colchicum bivonae

801_7647 [Colchicum bivonae]

302_1967_Colchicum bivonae]

Colchicum bivonae is an autumn-flowering plant

that blooms from early September to mid-November

in mountainous regions (300-1300 m) of Italy, the Balkans and Greece

(but not in Crete or the Cyclades islands).

 

It becomes 10-15 cm tall

and produces beautiful, purplish-pink flowers

which grow single or in clusters of up to 6-7

with their leaves developing later in Spring.

Their long tepals (50-60 mm) are arranged in the form of a cup

and offer a beautiful sight.

 

Beautiful flower but also highly poisonous

due to the toxic chemical colchicine

that exists in all parts of the plant:

the leaves, the flower and especially in the bulb.

 Still, one of my favorites!

 

 

Sternbergia lutea

300_7091 [Sternbergia lutea]

 

301_3732 [Sternbergia lutea]

301_3652 [Sternbergia lutea]

 

Sternbergia lutea is a crocus-like, perennial, bulbous flower

endemic to the Mediterranean countries.

In Greece,

it is widespread in stony and dry locations, in scrub-lands, and in forest clearings,

usually at low altitudes.

It blooms from September to November

and may reach a height of 25cm.

Due to its beautiful golden-yellow flowers,

it is often used as an ornamental plant in gardens, and even in pots.

In the wild they grow solitary or in clusters.

 

The pictures were taken at the foot of Mt. Hymittos.

 

 

 

“Pareja” at the Colosseum

302_1201 [Deredia]

This image shows Pareja (Couple), a piece of work

by the Costa Rican master sculptor Jorge Jiménez Deredia.

It was displayed as part of an open-air exhibition of Deredia’s work

near the Colosseum in Rome in 2009.

 

Cast in polished bronze with a dark patina finish and featuring smooth, ovoid forms,

the piece captivated my attention.

The more I looked at the two faces, the more captivated I became.

It is hard to explain why, even today.

 

Much later,

I read that the artist had created these intertwined, serene figures

to symbolize serenity, unity, love and human interconnection.

 

I am sharing these images

in case anyone may have missed this exhibition of monumental works.

 

 

 

302_1201 [Deredia]

 a trimmed section of the image

 directing your eye straight to the two faces

 

 

 

302_1326 [Deredia]

 

an extra image from the same exhibition

highlighting Deredia’s artistic style.

 

 

Colchicum sfikasianum

804_1013 [Colchicum sfikasianum]

 

802_6942 [Colchicum sficasianum]

 

Colchicum sfikasianum is a perennial autumn flower,

endemic to Greece

in S. Peloponnese, Mt. Hymittos in Attica and in some Ionic islands.

It grows in sunny stony and rocky places

mainly at heights of up to 500 m.

When it is in bloom, it has no leaves. They appear in spring.

Its flowering, together with the Cyclamen,

signifies the beginning

of the new flower-shooting season for us wild flower photographers!

 

A note of caution!

All parts of the plant are poisonous, as is the case with all colchicums!

 

 

Two sides of the same "coin"

 

801_1309 [Kolokotronis]

While walking along Stadiou Street in central Athens,

I found myself standing beside this statue

and decided to photograph it.

The low angle of the sunlight and the strong contrast

turned the rider into a striking silhouette.

At first, I was pleased with the result,

but when I later looked at the image on the computer screen,

something about the rider's head looked odd.

I wondered why.

 

 

801_1309 [Kolokotronis]

 Curious to solve the mystery,

I processed the image to bring out some of the details

hidden in the shadows.

 

The rider's helmet emerged,

explaining the unusual shape of the silhouette,

and his identity became immediately clear

— at least to any Greek viewer.

 

The newly revealed details of the horse were an additional bonus.

 

For my non-Greek readers:

the rider is Theodoros Kolokotronis (1770–1843),

the Commander-in-Chief of the Greek forces

during the War of Independence of 1821 against Ottoman rule.

The statue stands in front of the Old Parliament building in Athens.

 

 

Lilium chalcedonicum

302_0801 [Lilium chalcedonicum]

 

A Lilium chalcedonicum in the process of flowering.

A new marvel is being born! Compare with the image below!

 

 This impressive, perennial wild flower is endemic to Greece

and to south Albania.

 

In Greece,

it grows in cool, relatively shady habitats at elevations of 500–700 m

on Mounts Olympus, Pindos, Taygetos, and Parnon,

as well as on several islands in the western Aegean Sea.

It grows to 90 cm tall

and from June to late August,

it produces 1–6 spectacular red flower heads, each about 5 cm across.

 

As a rare species,

it is protected under Presidential Decree 67/81,

which prohibits collection of specific rare flowers from the wild

for decorative purposes.

 

 

301_2920 [Lilium chalcedonicum]

 A spectacular and unusual flower head

with its characteristic curved petals that grow upwards

while the flower head is always turned downwards!

 

 

A street lamp and something else!

_MG_4579 [street lamp]
 

A beautiful old-style three-head street lamp.

 

In spite of its beauty, though,

what attracted my attention first was not the lamp itself

but a bottle hanging from it!

Now when, how, why, or by whom the bottle was placed there,

is up to anyone’s imagination to find out.

And certainly, you are free to try yours!

 

The picture was taken in a cosmopolitan European city.