Season wishes

Photo source: http://wallpapers.ae/classic-xmas-night-sky-wide-wallpaper.html
Adapted by the blogger

Please click on the picture for a better view.

Biarum tenuifolium subsp. abbreviatum

Biarum x8

Biarum x5

These pictures of Biarum tenuifolium_ssp_abbreviatum were taken over a series of recent years (including 2018) on the Hill of Philopappou in Athens.

They show the flower on various stages of development (more or less)
 
Please click on the pictures for a better view.

 

Colchicum cupanii

IMG_6254 [Colchicum cupanii]

A Colchicum cupanii near the top of Mt. Hymittos overlooking the city of Athens in the distance.

Photographed on October 31, 2018

Cetonia aurata

803_3450 [Cetonia aurata]

803_3469 [Cetonia aurata]

An impressively colored beetle with a striking metallic sheen! Often bronze, copper, violet, blue, or grey on top and bronze beneath. Due to the texture of its body its color changes depending on the angle the light strikes its body. At a specific angle it can appear to be colorless. It’s like looking at it through a polarizing filter!!! Amazing nature!
 
It’s about 20 mm long. It can fly fast. Active on sunny days. Feeds on flowers.
 
Photographed on Mt. Parnitha on October 11, 2018

Crocus pallasii

IMG_6295 [Crocus pallasii]

Photographed on Mt. Hymittos on October 31, 2018

Galanthus reginae-olgae

803_3561 [Galanthus reginae-olgae]

This is one of the four Galanthus reginae-olgae known to exist [as far as I know] on Mt. Hymittos.

Photographed on October 31, 2018

Symphoricarpos albus

IMG_5893 [Symphoricarpos albus]

Native to North America and much of Canada but also naturalized in many other countries. I have never seen it before in Greece. 

By the way, its name derives from Greek συν + φέρω + καρπούς meaning “bearing fruits together”. The picture above seems to justify this name.
 
Photographed on a hedge in a residential area on Mt. Vardusia on September 8, 2018

Ipomoea [purpurea?]

 IMG_5891 [Ipomoea purpurea]

Ipomoea is the largest genus in the plant family Convolvulaceae with about 500 species. The flower above most probably belongs to the species of purpurea but I leave the exact identification to the experts.
 
With identification put aside, I believe no matter how you call the flower, its beauty remains unquestionable [imho].
 
It is said to have originated from Mexico and Central America but apparently has spread almost all over the world.
 
Photographed in a residential area on Mt. Vardousia on September 8, 2018

Sternbergia lutea

803_3385 [Stembergia lutea]

803_3397 [Stembergia lutea]

Both photographed on Mt. Parnitha on October 11, 2018

Crocus laevigatus

803_3429 [Crocus laevigatus]

Photographed on Mt. Parnitha on October 11, 2018

Spiranthes spiralis

_8013536 [Spiranthes spiralis]

IMG_6189 [Spiranthes spiralis]

Both photographed on Mt Hymittos on October 14, 2018

Laetiporus sulphureus

_8013361 [Laetiporus sulphureus]

IMG_6047 [Laetiporous sulphureus]

This mushroom grows on tree trunks and branches.
In this case, it was found on a eucalyptus tree.
 
Photographed at Psichiko on October 02, 2018

SNFCC: a first view

802_8693 [SNFCC Cultural Center]

The Stavros Niarchos Foundation Cultural Center [above] was opened to the public in 2017. It is a complex that houses the National Library of Greece, the Greek National Opera and many other facilities. It is a well-visited structure.

The picture above shows my own first sight of the Center while I was approaching it one early evening.
 
Photographed in Athens on April 23, 2017
 
Please click on the picture for a better view.

Muscari comosum

803_1148 [Muscari comosum]

Photographed at Dilesi on April 09, 2018

Ornithogalum narbonense

803_1180 [Ornithogalum narbonense]

Photographed at Dilesi on April 09, 2018

Briza maxima

300_6334 [Briza maxima]

Photographed at Kaisariani on April 14, 2018

Peribatodes ilicaria

300_6550 [Peribatodes ilicaria]

This moth landed on the balcony of my apartment rather too often lately;
so often that I eventually couldn’t’ resist grabbing the camera for a quick shot.
Enjoy the “culprit”.

Photographed at Holargos on May 01, 2018

Nigella damascena

300_6587 [Nigella damascena - flower]

The flower ...

300_6572 [Nigella damascena - fruit]

and ... the fruit

Both photographed at Schinias on May 03, 2018

 

Ptilostemon chamaepeuce

300_6656 [Ptilostemon chamaepeuce]

Photographed on Mt. Parnitha on May 15, 2018

Lomelosia hymettia

300_6669 [Lomelosia hymettia]

A close-up on the flowers

300_6674 [Lomelosia hymettia]

Both photographed on Mt. Parnitha on May 15, 2018

 

Total lunar eclipse 2018

803_2198 [Total lunar eclipse 2018]

While planning the eclipse shoot, I fancied capturing the whole duration of the eclipse in one composite shot. 
When I arrived on the spot, I realized - to my frustration - there was nothing more impossible, given the unusually long duration of the eclipse and the limitations of my equipment. So, I had to compromise and shoot only the first half of it, as seen above.

In the center of the picture, above the Temple of Poseidon, one can see the planet Mars, the guest star of the night!

Photographed at Sounio on July 27, 2018
 
Please click on the picture for a better view.

 

Full Moon at Sounio

803_2070 [Full Moon at Sounio]

The picture was taken about 200 meters northeast of the Temple of Poseidon at Sounio
a few minutes before the total lunar eclipse started on July 27, 2018.

Please click on the picture for a better view.
 

Cephalanthera damasonium

300_778 [Cephalanthera damasonium]

Photographed on Mt. Parnitha on May 15, 2018

Cephalanthera rubra

802_9267 [Cephalanthera rubra]

Photographed on Mt. Parnitha on June 21, 2017

Gladiolus illyricus

803_1444 [Gladiolus illyricus]

Photographed at Schinias on May 04, 2018

Arum italicum

300_6556 [Arum italicum]

Photographed at Schinias on May 03, 2018

Anacamptis palustris

300_6648 [Anacamptis palustris]

Photographed at Schinias on May 03, 2018

Campanula spatulata

300_6737 [Campanula spatulata]

Photographed on Mt. Parnitha on May 15, 2018

Dianthus deltoides

300_6693 HF [Dianthus deltoides]

Photographed on Mt. Parnitha on May 15, 2018

Ophrys tenthredinifera

AAA7242 NX [Ophrys tenthredinifera]

 Photographed in Evoia on March 28, 2009

Anacamptis coriophora subsp. fragrans

300_6568 [Anacamptis coriophora fragrans]

Photographed at Schinias on May 03, 2018

Trifolium stellatum

803_1158 [Trifolium stellatum]

Photographed at Dilesi on April 09, 2018

Limodorum abortivum

300_6502 [Limodorum abortivum]

300_6491 [Limodorum abortivum]

A close-up from the same flower

Both pictures photographed on Mt. Hymittos on April 26, 2018

Petrorhagia dubia [velutina]

300_6346 HF [Petrorhagia dubia [velutina]]

The actual flower is less than 10 mm across.
In the picture above, it was deliberately blown up to make details stand out.

Photographed on Mt. Geraneia on April 20, 2018

Asphodelus fistulosus

300_6379 [Asphodelus fistulosus]

Photographed on Mt. Geraneia on April 20, 2018

Tulipa australis

300_6276 [Tulipa australis]

Photographed on Mt. Hymittos on April 14, 2018

Orobanche crenata

300_6429 [Orobanche crenata]

Photographed on Mt. Geraneia on April 20, 2018

Smilax aspera

300_6215 [Smilax aspera]

Photographed at Dilesi on April 10, 2018

Tordylium apulum

IMG_1835 [Tordylium apulum]

Photographed at Kaisariani on April 14, 2018

Ophrys argolica

300_6288 [Ophrys argolica]

300_6288 [Ophrys argolica]

A magnified section of the picture at the top
 
Photographed on Mt. Hymittos on April 14, 2018

Tulipa hageri

300_6223 [Tulipa hageri]

300_6240 [Tulipa hageri]

Please click on the picture for a better view.

Both photographed on Mt. Parnitha on April 12, 2018