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| 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.
Saturday, December 22, 2018
Season wishes
Please click on the picture for a better view.
Saturday, December 15, 2018
Biarum tenuifolium subsp. abbreviatum
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| Biarum x8 |
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| 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.
Saturday, December 8, 2018
Colchicum cupanii
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| 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
Saturday, December 1, 2018
Cetonia aurata
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| 803_3450 [Cetonia aurata] |
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| 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
Saturday, November 24, 2018
Saturday, November 17, 2018
Galanthus reginae-olgae
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| 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
Saturday, November 10, 2018
Symphoricarpos albus
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| 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
Saturday, November 3, 2018
Ipomoea [purpurea?]
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| 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
Saturday, October 27, 2018
Sternbergia lutea
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| 803_3385 [Stembergia lutea] |
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| 803_3397 [Stembergia lutea] |
Both photographed on Mt. Parnitha on October 11, 2018
Saturday, October 20, 2018
Wednesday, October 17, 2018
Spiranthes spiralis
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| _8013536 [Spiranthes spiralis] |
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| IMG_6189 [Spiranthes spiralis] |
Both photographed on Mt Hymittos on October 14, 2018
Saturday, October 13, 2018
Laetiporus sulphureus
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| 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
Saturday, October 6, 2018
SNFCC: a first view
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| 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.
Saturday, September 29, 2018
Saturday, September 22, 2018
Saturday, September 15, 2018
Saturday, September 8, 2018
Peribatodes ilicaria
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| 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
Saturday, September 1, 2018
Nigella damascena
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| 300_6587 [Nigella damascena - flower] |
The flower ...
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| 300_6572 [Nigella damascena - fruit] |
and ... the fruit
Both photographed at Schinias on May 03, 2018
Saturday, August 25, 2018
Ptilostemon chamaepeuce
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| 300_6656 [Ptilostemon chamaepeuce] |
Photographed on Mt. Parnitha on May 15, 2018
Saturday, August 18, 2018
Lomelosia hymettia
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| 300_6669 [Lomelosia hymettia] |
A close-up on the flowers
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| 300_6674 [Lomelosia hymettia] |
Both photographed on Mt. Parnitha on May 15, 2018
Saturday, August 11, 2018
Total lunar eclipse 2018
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| 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.
Saturday, August 4, 2018
Full Moon at Sounio
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| 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.
Saturday, July 21, 2018
Cephalanthera damasonium
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| 300_778 [Cephalanthera damasonium] |
Photographed on Mt. Parnitha on May 15, 2018
Saturday, July 14, 2018
Saturday, July 7, 2018
Saturday, June 30, 2018
Saturday, June 23, 2018
Saturday, June 16, 2018
Saturday, June 9, 2018
Wednesday, June 6, 2018
Saturday, June 2, 2018
Anacamptis coriophora subsp. fragrans
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| 300_6568 [Anacamptis coriophora fragrans] |
Photographed at Schinias on May 03, 2018
Saturday, May 26, 2018
Saturday, May 19, 2018
Limodorum abortivum
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| 300_6502 [Limodorum abortivum] |
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| 300_6491 [Limodorum abortivum] |
A close-up from the same flower
Both pictures photographed on Mt. Hymittos on April 26, 2018
Saturday, May 12, 2018
Petrorhagia dubia [velutina]
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| 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
Wednesday, May 9, 2018
Asphodelus fistulosus
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| 300_6379 [Asphodelus fistulosus] |
Photographed on Mt. Geraneia on April 20, 2018
Saturday, May 5, 2018
Wednesday, May 2, 2018
Saturday, April 28, 2018
Saturday, April 21, 2018
Wednesday, April 18, 2018
Ophrys argolica
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| 300_6288 [Ophrys argolica] |
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| 300_6288 [Ophrys argolica] |
A magnified section of the picture at the top
Photographed on Mt. Hymittos on April 14, 2018
Saturday, April 14, 2018
Tulipa hageri
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| 300_6223 [Tulipa hageri] |
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| 300_6240 [Tulipa hageri] |
Please click on the picture for a better view.
Both photographed on Mt. Parnitha on April 12, 2018