Nigella damascena

304_6587 [Nigella damascena]

Nigella damascena,

commonly known as “Love-in-a Mist”,

is an attractive, annual plant growing in the mediterranean region

and much of Europe.

 

It may be the most easily recognizable flower

probably because of its numerous prominent stamens,

its five, striking, pale-blue or white, petal-like structures

and of its feathery leaves

which are divided into narrow thread-like segments.

 

The plant is found in grassy or dry habitats

at elevations up to 1400 m,

it blooms from April to June 

and produces flowers of about 30-40 mm across.

IMG_0485 Nigella damascena]

A damascena flower in its white form

IMG_803_6213 [Nigella damascena]

 After flowering,

the plant’s female reproductive organ inflates

to form a spherical fruit up to 30 mm across

and is surrounded by a mesh of bracts similar to the leaves. 

 

804_2029 [Nigella damascena]

The fruit gradually dries out

and finally opens to release seeds that fall on the ground

and cause the plant to reappear

almost at the same spot year after year!

Reflections

IMG_1216 [Reflections]

Three years ago,

I felt the need for a short vacation,

even though summer had not yet arrived.

 

I was not asking for much:

just a cozy little hotel with a clean room,

a comfortable bed, good food,

and a "royal" breakfast by the swimming pool. 

Some beautiful reflections in the pool would have been a bonus,

as I have always enjoyed looking at them.

 

I am happy to say

that I found everything I was looking for,

including the reflections, at the hotel shown above.

 

If you too are fond of reflections,

click on the picture to view them in higher resolution.

 

The photograph was taken shortly after dawn,

when most guests were still asleep

and the only thing you could hear outside

was ... the silence!

  

Chrysanthemum coronarium

804_2687 [Chrysanthemum coronarium]

 

Chrysanthemum coronarium is a widely prevalent, annual plant

of the Mediterranean region.

It grows in fields and wastelands and becomes 20-80 mm tall.

It grows in large numbers, one close to the other,

and generates numerous, striking yellow flower heads

which create a strong contrast with the plant’s green leaves.

 

In Greece,

coronarium appears in two variations that are almost identical,

with the standard variation having all-yellow flower heads

 and a bi-color variation having yellow and white tepals.

Both variations bloom from March to May.

  

 

 

804_2695 [Chrysanthemum coronarium]

 The yellow flower heads of the most common variation.

They are 30-60 mm across.

 

 

 

804_2560 [Chrysanthemum coronarium]

The flower head of the bi-color variation.

 

 

 

804_2563 [Chrysanthemum coronarium]

 It is not unusual to see both variations grow next to each other.

 

Both variations are also cultivated in gardens.

 

 

 Photographed at the foot of Mt. Hymittos

 

 

Once on Skyros ...

 

IMG_6426 [seashell]
 

Once,

while on vacation on the Greek island of Skyros,

I was searching the beach for unique seashells to photograph.

 

I hadn't found anything more interesting than this lone shell,

so I snapped the photo and, slightly disappointed,

headed in a different direction while thinking of a change of plans.

 

  

DSCN0164 [leg shadow]

A bit later,

I was surprised to see the setting sun casting

a long shadow of my body right in front of me.

 

I instantly forgot about the seascape I was planning to shoot

and once again, I pressed the button

capturing my giant shadow and letting the seascape wait.

 

Looking at my long shadow-legs,

I thought for a moment

that I was one of those admirable people

who can walk on stilts!

 

By the way, 

you don’t remember when it was the last time

you saw someone walking on stilts?

That’s OK. Watch the short video below to see them in action!

 

 

 

 

Consolida tenuissima

804_2764 [Consolida tenuissima]

Consolida tenuissima is an annual plant endemic

to the mountains of Attica, Evia, and Skiros.

It becomes up to 50 cm tall

and can be seen in bloom from April to June.

It is usually found in Scrublands, Rocky slopes, Forest clearings,

and Uncultivated fields at heights from 200-900 m.

 

However,

when one sees it on the mountain,

it is good to remember that it is included

in the “Red Data Book of Rare and Endangered Plants of Greece (RDB 2009)”

and that it is designated as “Vulnerable”.

 

 

 

804_0018 [Consolida tenuissima]

 Flowers are small, about 10 mm across,

with a spur that reaches 15 mm in length.

 

 

Ornithogalum arabicum

IMG_7551 [Ornithogalum arabicum]

 

Greece is home to more than 20 species of Ornithogalum

but Ornithogalum arabicum is probably the largest and most distinctive.

 

Although it can normally reach the height of 80 cm,

the plant in the picture was hardly 30 cm tall.

 

It blooms from April to May

and produces a cluster of up to 25

bowl-shaped, pure-white flowers of about 5 cm across each.

 

It flourishes on rocky places and fallow grounds

of West and Central Mediterranean countries.

It is also cultivated in gardens.

 

 

IMG_7555 [Ornithogalum arabicum]

 A close-up of the flower revealing details.

 

The dark ovary dominating the center

makes arabicum easily recognizable.

 

The pictures were captured in an unused plot

within the residential area of Athens.

 

 

 

 

Anacamptis collina

302_4938 [Anacamptis collina]

 

Anacamptis collina (previously known as Orchis collina)

is a widespread, perennial wild orchid

native to the Mediterranean countries and to West Asia.

 

In Greece, however,

it is quite rare and found only sporadically

in Central Mainland, in Peloponnese, in some Aegean islands

and in Crete where it is more common.

 

It grows in diverse habitats,

including hilly areas, brushwood, meadows and open forests,

from low elevations to around 1300 m.

 

Depending on weather conditions,

it may appear in two consecutive periods; in January and in March.

Or it may not appear at all!

 

On the other hand,

it may be a short plant (10 cm) at lower altitudes, such as Attica,

or a tall, robust one at higher altitudes

where it may reach a height of 40 cm!

 

The picture above was taken on the island of Irakleia

and shows the upper part of a tall and robust plant.

 

 

Cercis siliquastrum

803_1349 [Cercis siliquastrum]

 

Cercis siliquastrum is one of the most beautiful and impressive trees of Greek nature.

It reaches a height of 8-10 meters and blooms in March and April.

With its pink-purple flowers that appear in early spring,

it transforms the gray winter landscape into a wonderful feast of color.

It flourishes both in Semi-mountainous environments and in residential areas.

 

 

303_7005 [Cercis siliquastrum]

Its thousands of small flowers grow directly

from the trunk and the branches.

 

 

803_1350 [Cercis siliquastrum]

 The flowers, combined with the green leaves which appear at a later time,

compose a beautiful "mosaic" of nature.

 

 

804_2621 [Cercis siliquastrum]

  

Arranged in clusters, the flowers cover any free space available

on the trunk and the branches.

 

 

804_2707 HF [Cercis siliquastrum]

 A cluster of flowers in isolation.

 

 

804_2621 [Cercis siliquastrum]

The flowers slightly magnified for details to be visible

 

  

 

804_2633 [Cercis siliquastrum]

 

 

A single flower: 2 cm in length + the stalk

 

It could be seen as one of the tesserae

that compose the mosaic of nature mentioned above.

 

By the way,

the beautiful tree Cercis siliquastrum is connected to an old legend.

According to the story,

Judas—the disciple who betrayed Christ—

felt deep regret for what he had done

and hanged himself from a tree of Cercis siliquastrum.

For this reason,

people often call this tree the “Judas Tree.”